Customer Reviews

Distorted Ghost

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i'd never heard Sparklehorse before i picked this up. i hadn't so much as seen anything about them aside from Mark in a Vox Amplifier ad. i got this because it was the cheapest Sparklehorse thing the store had. when i first listened to it, 'Happy Man' completely and totally blew me away; it is easily one of the best songs that i've ever heard, and the raw live version is even better. the other songs are just as good, though a little slower ... the slower songs are a good balance with the spacy rockingness of 'Happy Man'. the other Sparklehorse albums will be in my posession shortly.

First of all, it borders on the absurd to compare this to "Good Morning Spider", which is such a brilliant album that just about anything will pale in comparison to it. And second of all, this is a much better EP than James from SoCal might have you think. Thing is, these aren't really "new" songs, most of them have been around in one form or another for awhile now, existing mostly as b-sides. "Waiting For Nothing", a track that dates back to the "Vivadixie.." era, is utterly sublime and a favorite of many of the Sparklehorse fans I know. "My Yoke Is Heavy" is another Daniel Johnston cover that gleefully oscillates between quite balladry and crashing guitar rock. And I happen to love the live version of "Gasoline Horseys" here, it's an interesting departure from the LP cut which incorporates some wonderful sound samples. Don't be deterred, if you like Mark's other work, you'll more likely than not enjoy this EP immensely.

2 1/2

More like a fan ep then one for the casual listener, this dubious short length nonetheless can still introduce those irresistable qualities prevelent in this songwriter's quirky depression. Featuring two editions of their catchy, but rockin as hell "happy man" only proceed if you have checked out other full lenghts of the fractured pop rock.