Twilight

Handsome Family | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 2, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Carrot Top Records
• ASIN: B00005OAI0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,574 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #27 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Alternative Folk
  • #33 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Contemporary Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Set in a shadowy netherworld, Twilight reasserts the Handsome Family's position as modern-day descendants of the ancient country-folk surrealists gathered on Harry Smith's celebrated Anthology of American Folk Music. Rennie Sparks's songs are filled with animals ("Birds You Cannot See" and "White Dog") and natural images that are both carefree ("Peace in the Valley Once Again") and unnerving ("Snow White Diner"). The lyrics masterfully blend compassionate insight and a real sense of drama and tragedy with an eye for detail and humorous asides. Brett's vocal croon and his background in both experimental avant-garde and Texas rockabilly insures that the duo's music continues to grow far beyond its country roots. The Handsome Family happily flout convention but their stark beauty still shines through--these are some of the strangest and most compelling songs in the warped but wonderful world of alternative country. --Gavin Martin

Product Description

In the world of the Handsome Family, it would appear that the glass is half full. The only problem is that the glass is either upside down or shattered on the floor. Riddled with dark and morbid tales of suburbia, murder, and the demise of carrying pigeons, the baker's dozen offerings seem animal-oriented, but still teem with an eerie old-time country & western sense of foreboding. Although the first track, "The Snow White Diner," seems uplifting with its "Layla"-like intro, the album waltzes along with keyboards and basic bare-bones accompaniment. Particularly pretty is "All the TVs in Town" and the spacy background of "Gravity." There is also a sense of this being a dysfunctional Christmas album, exemplified by "Birds You Cannot See." The husband and wife team of Rennie Sparks on keyboards and singer Brett Sparks lead the listener down a lovely yet dark trail few would dare tread twice. ~ Jason MacNeil, All Music Guide --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zippy says yippie!, November 7, 2002

By 

Nunyabiznez (Nunyabiznez) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twilight (Audio CD)

I didn't like this the first time I listened to it. Now I can't stop. Each time it gets better. There are few songs anywhere that uses a theramin to such perfection as does "Gravity". "Birds You Cannot See" , what lyrics, I have known about these birds since my childhood, I am glad someone else knows about them, now I feel better. "Cold, Cold, Cold", great winter driving through the mountains tune. My kids hate "country music" not that this is, and they usually comment on what i play, but when I put "Twilight" on they become real quiet, I mean really quiet. Maybe they think I finally went around the bend. I even hear my youngest mumbling along with this CD. Must be onto something.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jawdropping Beautiful Record, October 5, 2001

By 

P. Rosenzweig (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twilight (Audio CD)

The Handsome Family has succeeded again in improving on their enchanted craft. Rennie Sparks pens gorgeous poems filled with characters and situations as real and lonely as I've ever known. Husband Brett Sparks sings them with a warm, deep, baritone voice that would make George Jones blush. The beautiful irony of this warm/cold complement lingers with me long, long after each listen. The instrumentation on this record is spare and (again) warm, with precious little departure from their past triumphs.

I suppose these words could be said of truly ANY Handsome Family record. As one who's familiar with them all I can say, with total astonishment, that this is a new height.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The hits just keep on comming!, June 12, 2006

By 

andrew johnstone (Morrinsville, New Zealand) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Twilight (Audio CD)

Brett and Rennie understand that darkness dosen't need to be all dark, nor strangeness wierd. These tunefull songs are clever, funny, and catchy, all the while hinting at the mysteries that lurk behind the ordinariness of day to day existance. Nothing like it. This is our third Handsome Family album, we love them all, glorying in the eccentricity. Besides, my wife goes all weak at the knees under the power of Brett's awesome baritone.