Homecoming Queen – Sparklehorse (1995)
Sparklehorse is an American indie rock band sailing between pop and folk music. In 1995, the band, led by its frontman (Mark Linkous), released a first Lp : Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. A confusing opus: Travelling through melancholic pop and “starving rock”, Sparklehorse suggests a paradoxical music. Something like Dr. Jekyll, and Mr. Hyde !
If the American band knows how to make and build indie-rock hits (“Someday I will treat you good”, “Tears on a Fresh Fruits”), it is also gifted for “drumless” dark pop-songs (Spirit Ditch).
“Homecoming Queen” is one of these. The song serves at front door of this debut album and shows off Sparklehorse’s savoir-faire for straightforward, slow and black pieces to advantage. Shy notes are haunted by faraway ghost sounds and led by the bewitching voice of the singer.
The music draws its inspiration from nature, and especially animals. Pretty logical when you know that Linkous shuts himself away in his North Carolina farmhouse. His music is full of Spleen, haunted by two massive overdoses (1990, 1996).
After all, Linkous’ voice is one of his great qualities. Mixing his own singing with the pieces he composes, this artist has a talent for songwriting, especially melodies. Arrogant or intimist, it depends on the song.
“A horse, a horse
my kingdom for a horse
rattling on magnetic fields
Yes, I did use up
the last box of sparklers
before they went bad
got wet or decayed
Teeth what were sharp
are ground down and done
my crooked spine
becoming more brittle
what once grew straight
and tall towards the sun
absorbing back down
to dirt like a sponge”
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SparkleHorse Official Website
SparkleHorse Official Myspace
Further information on Wikipedia [en]
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