The Handsome Family
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The Handsome Family is an American music duo consisting of husband and wife Brett and Rennie Sparks formed in
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
, Illinois, and as of 2001 based in
Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
. They are perhaps best known for their song " Far from Any Road" from the album '' Singing Bones'', which was used as the main title theme for the first season of the 2014 crime drama '' True Detective''. The band's tenth album, '' Unseen'', was released on September 16, 2016, the first new release on the band's own label Milk & Scissors Music and through long-time label Loose in Europe.


History

Husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Rennie Sparks (bass, banjo, vocals) formed the band in 1993, along with drummer Mike Werner. The band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes the music. Guest musicians complete the band line-up for recordings and live work.Strong, Martin C. (2003) "The Handsome Family", in ''The Great Indie Discography'', Canongate, . Regarding the band name, Brett said in an interview: "It's just kind of a stupid name. We used to have this really obnoxious drummer, and he used to call me 'Handsome', that was his nickname for me, I think for sarcastic reasons... And he wanted to call it the Handsome Family... and we thought it was funny, too. We thought it was a good name." Brett is originally from Odessa,
Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...
and Rennie from
Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United States and the 18 ...
.Layne, Joslyn " The Handsome Family Biography, ''
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Music ...
'', Macrovision Corporation
The band toured extensively throughout both America and Europe in support of early releases '' Odessa'' (1994) and '' Milk and Scissors'' (1996). During that time, Brett suffered an emotional breakdown, resulting in his hospitalization and diagnosis of
bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of Depression (mood), depression and periods of abnormally elevated Mood (psychology), mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevat ...
. They wrote their third full-length album, '' Through the Trees'', in the aftermath of these events, and included a song inspired by Brett's experiences in the psychiatric unit. They recorded the album in 1998, using Jeff Tweedy's mobile studio, and brought the band to a wider audience. '' UNCUT'' named it the "Best New Country Album of the Year". A growing following and raised profile allowed Brett and Rennie to give up their day jobs and work on the band full time. They toured America and Europe again in support of the 2000 album ''
In the Air IN, In or in may refer to: Places * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Inde ...
''. That year, Rennie's book of short stories, ''Evil'', was released by Chicago publisher Black Hole Press. In 2001, they moved to
Albuquerque Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding i ...
, New Mexico, and released '' Twilight'', with Allmusic opining that the album leads "the listener down a lovely yet dark trail few would dare tread twice". In 2002, they released a live album, '' Live at Schuba's Tavern'', a recording from the ''In the Air'' tour from Chicago in December 2000. The duo appeared in the 2003 documentary ''
Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus ''Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus'' is a 2003 documentary film about the American South starring Jim White. Commissioned by the BBC, it documents the intersection of country music and Christianity in the United States. It was inspired by Whi ...
'', as well as the soundtrack album released two years later. They have subsequently released the albums '' Singing Bones'' (2003), '' Last Days of Wonder'' (2006), '' Honey Moon'' (2009), and '' Wilderness'' (2013) as well as the collections '' Smothered and Covered'' (2003) and ''
Scattered Scattered may refer to: Music * ''Scattered'' (album), a 2010 album by The Handsome Family * "Scattered" (The Kinks song), 1993 * "Scattered", a song by Ace Young * "Scattered", a song by Lauren Jauregui * "Scattered", a song by Green Day from ' ...
'' (2010). Their latest album, '' Unseen'' was released in September 2016. The track "Far from Any Road," from the album '' Singing Bones'', was used as the main title theme song for HBO's 2014 crime drama '' True Detective'' by the show's music director,
T Bone Burnett Joseph Henry "T Bone" Burnett III (born January 14, 1948) is an American record producer, guitarist and songwriter. He rose to fame as a guitarist in Bob Dylan's band during the 1970s. He has received multiple Grammy awards for his work in fil ...
. ''
The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'' included season one's opening sequence in their list of the "Ten of the Best" title sequences on television. Their songs have been covered repeatedly by musician Andrew Bird, including a full-length album of covers released in 2014, ''
Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of… ''Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of...'' is American singer-songwriter Andrew Bird's eighth solo studio album. It was released on June 3, 2014 through Wegawam Music Co. The album is a collection of covers of The Handsome Family, an American ...
'' In late 2022, Bird also contributed to Phoebe Bridgers's holiday cover of their song "So Much Wine" off of ''
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'' alongside Bridgers's partner Paul Mescal and bandmates Marshall Vore and Harrison Whitford. The proceeds from sales of the cover, as with all of Bridgers's holiday covers, go to the Los Angeles LGBT Center.


Musical style

The Handsome Family's music has been classified as
gothic country Gothic country (sometimes referred to as gothic Americana, Southern Gothic, the Denver sound, or even simply just dark country) is a genre of country music rooted in early jazz, gospel, Americana, gothic rock and post-punk. It's lyrics focus on ...
or gothic Americana, alternative country, avant-country,
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whi ...
, country blues, country rock, gothic folk, roots rock and traditional country. The Handsome Family's style is a blend of
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, whi ...
, bluegrass, and murder ballads. Early recordings have rock elements, but these were less evident from 1996's ''Milk and Scissors'' onwards. The duo's penchant for a tongue-in-cheek, macabre approach has been noted by many critics; Andy Fyfe of ''
Mojo Mojo may refer to: *Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in voodoo Arts, entertainment and media Film and television * MOJO HD, an American television network * ''Mojo'' (play), by Jez Butterworth, made into a 1997 film * '' ...
'' called them "Americana's ghostly Sonny & Cher." A.V. Club reviewer Christopher Bahn compared their music to "a collaboration between
Hank Williams Hank Williams (born Hiram Williams; September 17, 1923 – January 1, 1953) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. Regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century, he reco ...
and
Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allan Poe (; Edgar Poe; January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor, and literary critic. Poe is best known for his poetry and short stories, particularly his tales of mystery and the macabre. He is wid ...
." Rennie's lyrics have a strong
storytelling Storytelling is the social and cultural activity of sharing stories, sometimes with improvisation, theatrics or embellishment. Every culture has its own stories or narratives, which are shared as a means of entertainment, education, cultural pr ...
component, drawing on themes from
Gothic fiction Gothic fiction, sometimes called Gothic horror in the 20th century, is a loose literary aesthetic of fear and haunting. The name is a reference to Gothic architecture of the European Middle Ages, which was characteristic of the settings of ea ...
, as well as American folk music, and often involving macabre subjects as murders, suicides and ghosts. Some songs are also based on actual historical figures or events, including the lives and deaths of Amelia Earhart ("Amelia Earhart vs. the Dancing Bear", on '' Milk and Scissors''), Emily Shore ("Emily Shore 1819–1839", on ''Milk and Scissors''),
Robert Wadlow Robert Pershing Wadlow (February 22, 1918 July 15, 1940), also known as the Alton Giant and the Giant of Illinois, was an American man who was the tallest person in recorded history for whom there is irrefutable evidence. He was born and raise ...
("The Giant of Illinois", on '' Through the Trees''), Natalie Wood ("Natalie Wood", an outtake from '' Twilight'', which appears on '' Smothered and Covered''), and
Nikola Tesla Nikola Tesla ( ; ,"Tesla"
''Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary''.
; 1856 – 7 January 1943 ...
("Tesla's Hotel Room", on '' Last Days of Wonder''). The title of ''Last Days of Wonder'' is a reference to
Puritan The Puritans were English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries who sought to purify the Church of England of Roman Catholic practices, maintaining that the Church of England had not been fully reformed and should become more Protestant. ...
scientist and witch-hunter Cotton Mather's 1693 book '' Wonders of the Invisible World'', which Rennie found intriguing because of what she called its "madness brimming under the surface of things."


Discography


Albums

*'' Odessa'' (1994) Carrot Top Records / Scout Releases *'' Milk and Scissors'' (1996) Carrot Top Records / Scout Releases *'' Through the Trees'' (1998) Carrot Top Records / Loose *''
In the Air IN, In or in may refer to: Places * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Inde ...
'' (2000) Carrot Top Records / Loose *'' Twilight'' (2001) Carrot Top Records / Loose *'' Singing Bones'' (2003) Carrot Top Records / Loose *'' Last Days of Wonder'' (2006) Carrot Top Records / Loose *'' Honey Moon'' (2009) Carrot Top Records / Loose *'' Wilderness'' (2013) Carrot Top Records / Loose *'' Unseen'' (2016) Milk & Scissors Music / Loose ;Compilations and Live albums: *'' Down in the Valley'' (1999) Independent Records (Ireland only release) *'' Live at Schuba's icTavern'' (2002) Digital Club Network Schubas'',_for_the_TWO_Schuba_brothers..html" ;"title="2424 North Lincoln Avenue#Lincoln Hall">Schubas'', for the TWO Schuba brothers.">2424 North Lincoln Avenue#Lincoln Hall">Schubas'', for the TWO Schuba brothers.*'' Smothered and Covered'' (2002) Handsome Family Music *''
Scattered Scattered may refer to: Music * ''Scattered'' (album), a 2010 album by The Handsome Family * "Scattered" (The Kinks song), 1993 * "Scattered", a song by Ace Young * "Scattered", a song by Lauren Jauregui * "Scattered", a song by Green Day from ' ...
'' (2010) Handsome Family Music * "Tower of Song" - ''Too Late to Pray: Defiant Chicago Roots'' (2019) Bloodshot Records


EP's

*'' Invisible Hands'' (1997) Carrot Top Records / Scout Releases (Vinyl only release) *'' In the Forest of Missing Airplanes'' (2007)


Singles

*"My Beautiful Bride" b/w "Destroy, Destroy" (1999) Magwheel (7" split w/ Sackville) *"Drunk by Noon" b/w "The Blizzard" (2008) Carrot Top Records *" Far from Any Road" (2015)


References


External links


Official website2009 The Handsome Family Interview at Bandega.comthe Handsome Family article
May 2009
Glorious Noise: interviewInterviewWTF Pod with Marc Maron podcast episode interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Handsome Family, The American alternative country groups Gothic country groups Musical groups established in 1993 Musical groups from Chicago Mint Records artists 1993 establishments in Illinois Musical groups from New Mexico Loose Music artists