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Showing posts sorted by relevance for query handsome family. Sort by date Show all posts

Sep 15, 2016

Album Review: The Handsome Family - Unseen

The Strange and Wonderful Handsome Family Keeps it Blissfully Weird with Unseen
By Kevin Broughton

It’s fitting that the Handsome Family – husband and wife duo Brett and Rennie Sparks – used their trademark wry, ironic humor in naming their latest LP “Unseen.” Until a couple years ago they weren’t just largely unheard; they were barely on anyone’s radar at all. Oh, they had a cult following in the U.S. and as is often the case with offbeat American acts, a larger, more vigorous fan base in Europe and the U.K.

Then Matthew McConaughey plucked one of their tunes, “Far From Any Road” as the opening theme for season one of HBO’s True Detective. Never mind that it was released a dozen years earlier (and written, no kidding, about fire ants in the driveway of their Albuquerque home) millions of fans of the compelling mini series scanned the scrolling credits wondering, “Who is that band?” And around the globe the duo’s streaming and downloading exploded, just like that. Looking back, I’m shocked the Coen brothers haven’t made heavy use of them.

Unseen, the HandFam’s 11th studio album in a 23-year career stays true to their Western gothic, surrealistic roots. Quirky, seemingly random, and downright strange characters and stories blend with spacey, yet sparse instrumentation and Brett’s penetrating, rangy baritone. The finished product seems paradoxical: Dark and mournful; soothing and peaceful; sad and wryly funny; hypnotic and irresistible. I can’t quit listening to it.

“Gold,” the album’s opening cut, finds a gut-shot robber lying in a ditch, looking up at a spiral of $20 bills dancing on the air. Brett once stopped off at a convenience store and saw such a whirlwind of bills and thought, there’s no happy story behind this. And that was all lyricist Rennie needed to weave a graphic, tragic tale. Heck, forget a sound track; the Coens need to write a script around this song.




William Crookes
And who knew William Crookes – British chemist, discoverer of the element thallium and inventor of the vacuum tube – was deeply into spiritualism? Rennie Sparks, that’s who. “Gentlemen” is a fittingly haunting tribute to that portion of his life, perfectly pitched with Brett’s rumbling, low bass. “Gentlemen, I tell you now. I swear, the truth. I saw the table rise; the teacup flew.” The final stanza, with about three layers of Brett’s overdubbed harmonies with himself is testament to his beautiful, deep range. Other cuts find him singing falsetto high tenor harmony to his wife’s melody. Strange and beautiful.

“The Silver Light” should be depressing; there’s nothing happy about gambling addicts pissing their money away in a casino. But the beautifully blended vocals and instrumentation give it an “oh well, it’s still pretty” feel.

The songs are heavily laden with minor chords and make lots of use of the baritone guitar. There’s only one tune approaching upbeat (“The Sea Rose”), and while they’re lyrically downers, the magical, layered harmonies (Brett’s got more range than any baritone/bass on the planet) give all the songs a spacey, almost happy air. It’s all the more striking when you know he recorded the whole thing in his home studio.

It’s rare to find a band with a sound so distinct it’s truly theirs and no one else’s, sui generis in the literal sense. You’ve never heard anyone like The Handsome Family, and you never will. Comparisons to any other are futile. Grab this one up and you’ll wear it out.

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Unseen is out tomorrow, September 16, and is available on The Handsome Family website, Amazon, iTunes, and the usual outlets.

Aug 26, 2016

2 New Videos: The Handsome Family - Gold & Back in My Day

From the forthcoming album Unseen.

If you don't know of The Handsome Family but they sound familiar... they did the theme song for True Detective season 1.







Oct 12, 2018

Farce the Music Halloween Playlist 2018


Here's a new Halloween "mixtape" for 2018, featuring 33 creepy-ass country, 
Americana, R&B, blues, and rock tunes for your listening displeasure. This year's edition is more atmospheric and disconcerting than last year's more party-hardy mix. Spotify playlist below.


Dec 27, 2016

Kevin's Top 10 Albums of 2016


We won't necessarily post every contributor's votes for best album, but we'll share with you this week some of our individual top albums lists. Here is Kevin Broughton's.


Broughton’s Top Albums, 2016


1.  Austin Lucas, Between the Moon and the Midwest.

One of two or three genuine country music masterpieces in a year of hearty competition, I wrote in May that “somebody better pack a lunch if he wants to displace this as the best country album of 2016.” Several worthy folks did, yet here’s your champ.  Lucas didn’t write and arrange; he composed. The heartache is real, the vocals brilliant. Oh, and as a bonus it packs the finest duet of the year, with Lydia Loveless.

2.  Brent Cobb, Shine on Rainy Day.

A terrific breakout album from a kind and humble Georgian, this record’s beauty lies in its simplicity. Yes, Nashville, it’s possible to sing about the joys of rural living without sounding forced, contrived, and stupid. Country music needs more Brent Cobbs. Maybe a dozen.

3.  Sturgill Simpson, A Sailor’s Guide to Earth.

I’m probably in the minority, thinking this record is better than the blockbuster Meta Modern Sounds in Country Music. Then again, the Grammy folks grew a brain and made it an “album of the year” nominee in addition to best country album. Sturgill does it his way again, while telling the Nashville suits to pound sand. He’s the baddest ass in music, and we should all thank him.

4. Jack Ingram, Midnight Motel.

It’s the Texan’s best work yet, by a wide margin. And man, it’s sad. Wistful in some spots, forlorn and outright hopeless in others, the one upbeat number is “I’m Drinking Through It.” (“Sometimes you’re thirsty, sometimes you just need a drink.”) Not an album you’ll listen to on a regular basis, but its authenticity shines through in Ingram’s soulful vocals and sparse arrangements.

5. Flatland Cavalry, Humble Folks.

“Easy on the ears, heavy on the heart,” according to the band’s website. Yep. Bossman Trailer nailed it in his review. This one’s a real keeper.


6.  Robbie Fulks, Upland Stories.

Let’s get this out of the way: Robbie Fulks is a bona fide musical genius and a real man of letters. It’s fitting that this album was inspired by James Agee’s nonfictional literary triumph, Let Us All Praise Famous Men. The record’s first track, “Alabama at Night,” snagged a Grammy nomination for best folk song. Fulks, an elder statesman at the iconic Bloodshot Records, is the true triple threat: Guitar virtuosity, brilliant lyrics, and a pure high tenor. If he has a peer in the craft, I’ve yet to hear him.

7.  Cody Jinks, I’m Not The Devil.

Another genuinely great country album in a year when the “neo-traditionalists” are gaining traction. Packed with spiritual themes, this record should be an exemplar to any bros out there who’d like to try something real for a change.

8. Blackberry Smoke, Like an Arrow.

Their best record yet, and it straddles the country and rock worlds with perfect balance.

9.  The Handsome Family, Unseen.

It’s weird and wonderfully addictive. I dare you to find a comparison. Go ahead. Try.


10.  The Flat Five, It’s a World of Love and Hope.

It’s five of Chicago’s best doing the happiest album of the year. Everybody needs to listen to this album once a week.


Mar 6, 2013

Feel Bad for You Mixtape: March 2013


It's time again for the monthly FBFY compilation from your favorite group of misfits, bloggers, music fans and heathens. March's theme is Couch By Couchwest (scroll down and check out the poster I designed for CXCW13!)... which is coming next week! This edition of the mix includes tunes from The Handsome Family, Kings of Leon, X, Will Kimbrough and more.

Download/comment here: http://feelbadforyou.atruersound.com/

Or stream below:

Jan 4, 2013

FTM Top 75 Albums of 2012: 1-20


A first-half-of-the-year release unfairly hurts some albums on these year-end lists. That wasn't the case for this year's #1 album, There is a Bomb in Gilead. From my May review:
"The forthright Lee Bains III and The Glory Fires emerges onto the scene already
a full-fledged force to be reckoned with on this fantastic debut.
Mixing garage rock, country soul and southern swagger into an effortlessly authentic blend, Lee and the boys give a spirited go at every style across 11 spotless tracks. From the driving exploration of faith on album opener "Ain't No Stranger," through the sin, searching and nostalgia of the middle to the hymn-inspired closing title track, there isn't a weak point on the album."

Standout tracks: Sundown in Nashville, Picture From Life's Other Side (with Hank III)

See review here.

See review here.
RIYL: Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Lucero, Two Cow Garage

Does this band have a signature sound, or what? Turnpike Troubadours are (is?) distinctive, vibrant and unique (so unique in fact, that I used two synonyms for that word in the same description). Disregard my haphazard writing and just know that they've come into their own on Goodbye Normal Street
Songwriting doesn't get much better in this day and age.
Standout tracks: Good Lord Lorrie, Empty as a Drum, Gin, Smoke, Lies

From Kelcy's November review (note - we'll also post Kelcy's favorite albums of '12 later on, 
so I should probably do my own write-up here, but I'm lazy)
"In summary, if you're a fan of anything that Cody Canada, Seth James, Jeremy Plato, Steve Littleton or have done in the past you will love this album.  If you're a fan of good bluesy rock n roll you will love this album.  Shoot, if you're just a fan of good music with some substance, you need to pick up a copy.  So get Adventus & celebrate the true Arrival of The Departed on the scene."
Standout tracks: Prayer for the Lonely, Set It Free, Sweet Lord
A true comeback album, 3 Pears finds the country legend mixing rock, soul, country and his undying swagger into a welcome set of memorable songs that will never get played on Clearchannel radio.
Standout tracks: It's Never Alright, A Heart Like Mine, Rock It All Away

Standout tracks: Pocket Full of Misery, Rosalia

(Condescending Wonka says) Oh you thought West Coast rap was dead? 
Have you heard Kendrick Lamar?
Standout tracks: B*tch Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle

Real country is alive and well. The Trishas are proof. The vocals and harmonies are beyond reproach. The songwriting is the thing for me though. High, Wide and Handsome shows Nashville how to write a hooky, lyrically clever song without leaning on cliches and marketing. The Trishas are no one-note act - they give us a portrait of strength on the album, but they also give us vulnerability. In other words, reality.
Standout tracks: Over Forgiving You, Mother of Invention, The Fool

Standout tracks: More Than I Can Handle, Harold Wilson, Desperate People

I want to personally thank Killer Mike for relighting my fire for hip-hop. Obviously, I focus mostly on alt-country and rock, but I've been a rap fan since the late 80's. I just thought intelligent, fiery, well-crafted hip-hop was a thing of the past. (Obviously there's a whole rap underground that I'm discounting with that statement, but there are only so many hours in the day for listening to music.) R.A.P. Music is a bold statement, both lyrically and sonically. Producer EL-P (whose own album is further down this list) provides a brutal, old-school-leaning bed for the rhymes. Mike flows like he actually cares about what he's saying. He's clearly a real person - in one verse he's cursing the political system; in the next he's praising his family. There's little talk of bling and booty on this record....because real people don't have to dwell on generalities and boasts when they discuss life. Killer Mike is as real as it gets.
Standout tracks: Big Beast, Reagan, Butane


The indie-country Svengali delivers his most consistent album to date with Family Man
It's a cohesive, passionate look at (mostly) the everyman side of country music royalty. 
On these very pages, I once dismissed Shooter's music, voice and image but no longer... 
so long as he continues to deliver music this engaging and tuneful. 
Standout tracks: The Long Road Ahead, Daddy's Hands

The indie world buzzed and bowed for this band from ...duh, Alabama, as soon as their EP hit the scene in 2011. That hype turned a lot of people off or built up their expectations far too high, but for me, Boys & Girls was a delivery on the promise of that Extended Play. Throw some Muscle Shoals soul, New York garage rock and folk sensibility into a blender and the Shakes are what results. It's more than that, though. Their songwriting is strong, their musical chops are exciting and Britanny Howard's voice is a thing of beauty.
I can't wait to see where they go from here.
Standout tracks: Hold On, Heartbreaker, I Ain't the Same




Like Shooter Jennings, Matt King was an artist I once didn't "get." Given time with his music however, I've changed my tune. Matt is a country singer with a very distinct vision. He also has a signature sound. That's rare in this day and age. Apples and Orphans is full of wit and anger in equal amounts. While politics and the environment are common themes, Matt explores these themes with an old-timey aesthetic and warm approach that never seems preachy, even when it is. His music is at times experimental, steampunk (whatever that means), ragtime or pure country. It's always passionate.
Standout tracks: Back to Baltimore, Jasmine and Gypsies

May 17, 2012

The Pastures of Madison County

I was able to make it back to this year's incarnation of Pickin' in the Pasture, a family and friends event in Madison County, MS starring Fireman John's BBQ, Drew Kennedy's beard and usually Josh Grider and/or Matt Skinner, after I missed 2011. I won't do a big write-up like I did in 2010, but it was another great show. Our three heroes, along with Josh Grider's lovely wife, a lovely bassist named Chris and a lovely drummer named (___?) played a full band/four singer concert for the family, friends, dogs and a blogger. They took turns trading solo tunes (Drew Kennedy did "Vapor Trails" among others), cover songs (Josh Grider and his wife did a great version of Johnny and June's "Jackson") and co-writes (Matt Skinner did both an electric and an acoustic version of the haunting Corb Lund co-write "One Left in the Chamber"). It was a fun time and here are the pictures to prove it!

Matt Skinner, Josh Grider and Drew Kennedy tuning up pre-show.

Josh Grider accompanies his wife on guitar.

Drew Kennedy has a wallet chain. Remind you of anybody??

The band in reverse.

Matt Skinner tearing it up on guitar. 

The tall and handsome Josh Grider is now a Nashville songwriter. Please don't write about trucks, Josh!


Josh Grider with two future bluegrass or country superstars. Seriously, they were great!
Sidenote: Josh has gotten really good on the guitar.


Electric show-closing barn-burner "Ain't Livin' Long Like This"

The beginning of the late-night acoustic jam.

Annnnd, this isn't from Pickin' in the Pasture, but here's a video of Matt Skinner performing the awesome tune "One Left in the Chamber."

Dec 18, 2017

All Farce the Music's "Best of" Albums Lists Since 2008




All Farce the Music's "Best of" Albums Lists Since 2008

With all the 2017 "Best of" lists coming out (Our 2017 list should be ready later this week) 
it's time for a recap of which albums topped our lists in past years. 

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No links, no summaries, no pretty album covers, just lists.
Who knows? 
Maybe you'll see something you've been forgetting to check out.

2016
1. Sturgill Simpson - A Sailor's Guide to Earth
2. Cody Jinks - I'm Not the Devil
3. Lori McKenna - The Bird and the Rifle
4. Brent Cobb - Shine On Rainy Day
5. Austin Lucas - Between the Moon and the Midwest
6. Justin Wells - Dawn in the Distance
7. Flatland Cavalry - Humble Folks 
8. Drive-by Truckers - American Band
9. Blackberry Smoke - Like an Arrow
10. Caleb Caudle - Carolina Ghost
11. A Tribe Called Quest - We Got it From Here…
12. (tie) Jeff Shepherd & the Jailhouse Poets - s/t
12. (tie) The Sword - Low Country
14. Luke Bell - s/t
15. Car Seat Headrest - Teens of Denial
16. Brandy Clark - Big Day in a Small Town
17. Elizabeth Cook - Exodus of Venus
18. Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward - Bomber Heights
19. Arliss Nancy - Greater Divides
20. Quaker City Night Hawks - El Astronauta

2015
 (2015 was the first year we did a staff-voted list)
1. Turnpike Troubadours - s/t
2. James McMurtry - Complicated Game
3. Jason Isbell - Something More Than Free
4. Chris Stapleton - Traveller
5. Whitey Morgan - Sonic Ranch
6. American Aquarium - Wolves 
7. The Yawpers - American Man
8. Ray Wylie Hubbard - The Ruffian's Misfortune
9. John Moreland - High on Tulsa Heat
10. Jonathan Tyler - Holy Smokes
11. Father John Misty - I Love You, Honeybear (tie)
William Clark Green - Ringling Road (tie)
Jason Boland and the Stragglers - Squelch (tie)


2014
1. Sturgill Simpson - Metamodern Sounds in Country Music
2. The War on Drugs - Lost In the Dream
3. Adam Faucett - Blind Water Finds Blind Water
4. Hiss Golden Messenger - Lateness of Dancers
5. Old 97's - Most Messed Up
6. Lydia Loveless - Somewhere Else
7. Run the Jewels - RTJ2
8. Kelsey Waldon - The Goldmine
9. Pallbearer - Foundations of Burden
10. Lee Ann Womack - The Way I'm Livin'
11. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - Dereconstructed
12. Stoney Larue - Aviator
13. Tami Neilson - Dynamite!
14. Cory Branan - The No-Hit Wonder
15. Fire Mountain - All Dies Down
16. St. Paul and the Broken Bones - Half the City
17. Don Williams - Reflections
18. Matt Woods - With Love From Brushy Mountain
 19. Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives - Saturday Night/Sunday Morning
20. Jimbo Mathus - Dark Night of the Soul

2013
1. John Moreland - In the Throes
2. Jason Isbell - Southeastern
3. Sturgill Simpson - High Top Mountain
4. Arliss Nancy - Wild American Runners
5. Drew Kennedy - Wide Listener
6. Run the Jewels - RTJ
7. Brandy Clark - 12 Stories
8. Austin Lucas - Stay Reckless
9. Fifth on the Floor - Ashes and Angels
10. Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose
11. The National - Trouble Will Find Me
12. Kacey Musgraves - Same Trailer, Different Park
13. Shooter Jennings - The Other Life
14. Queens of the Stone Age - …Like Clockwork
15. Ha Ha Tonka - Lessons
16. Son Volt - Honky Tonk
17. Guy Clark - My Favorite Picture of You
18. Possessed by Paul James - There Will Be Nights When I'm Lonely
19. Vince Gill and Paul Franklin - Bakersfield
20. Todd Farrell Jr. and the Dirty Birds - All Our Heroes Live in Vans

2012
1. Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires - There is a Bomb in Gilead
2. Marty Stuart - Nashville, Vol. 1 Tear The Woodpile Down
3. Chris Knight - Little Victories
4. The Pollies - Where the Lies Begin
5. Turnpike Troubadours - Goodbye Normal Street
6. The Departed - Adventus
7. Dwight Yoakam - 3 Pears
8. Uncle Lucius - And You Are Me
9. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, M.A.A.D. City
10. The Trishas - High, Wide and Handsome
11. John D. Hale Band - More Than I Can Handle
12. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
13. Lindi Ortega - Cigarettes & Truckstops
14. Shooter Jennings - Family Man
15. Alabama Shakes - Boys & Girls
16. Arliss Nancy - Simple Machines
17. Darrell Scott - Long Ride Home
18. Jason Eady - AM Country Heaven
19. Matt King - Apples and Orphans
20. Lucero - Women and Work

2011
1. The Damn Quails - Down the Hatch
2. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Here We Rest
3. Hellbound Glory - Damaged Goods
4. Hayes Carll - KMAG YOYO
5. Jimbo Mathus - Confederate Buddha
6. Cary Anne Hearst - Lions and Lambs
7. Butch Walker and the Black Widows - The Spade
8. The Black Keys - El Camino
9. Adele - 21
10. Ponderosa - Moonlight Revival
11. Austin Lucas - A New Home, In the Old World
12. Kasey Anderson and the Honkies - Heart of a Dog
13. Stoney Larue - Velvet
14. Drew Kennedy - Fresh Water in the Salton Sea
15. Ryan Adams - Ashes and Fire
16. Pistol Annies - Hell on Heels
17. Wilco - The Whole Love
18. Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears - Scandalous
19. Mastodon - The Hunter
20. Will Hoge - Number Seven

2010
1. Jamey Johnson - The Guitar Song
2. Cee-Lo Green - The Lady Killer
3. Two Cow Garage - Sweet Saint Me
4. Austin Collins & The Rainbirds - Wrong Control
5. Big Boi - Sir Luscious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty
6. Joe Pug - Messenger
7. Trampled by Turtles - Palomino
8. Kasey Anderson - Nowhere Nights
9. Rodney Hayden - Tavern of Poets
10. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - I Learned the Hard Way
11. Paul Thorn - Pimps and Preachers
12. Truth & Salvage Co. - s/t
13. Dirty Sweet - American Spiritual
14. The Black Crowes - Croweology
15. Band of Horses - Infinite Arms
16. The Dillinger Escape Plan - Option Paralysis
17. Randy Houser - They Call Me Cadillac
18. Hellbound Glory - Old Highs and New Lows
19. The Black Keys - Brothers
20. Drive-by Truckers - The Big To-Do

2009
1. Charlie Robison - Beautiful Day
2. Ben Nichols - Last Pale Light in the West
3. Buddy and Julie Miller - Written in Chalk
4. Magnolia Electric Company - Josephine
5. Lucero - 1372 Overton Park
6. BettySoo - Heat Sin Water Skin
7. Wrinkle Neck Mules - Let the Lead Fly
8. Great Lake Swimmers - Lost Channels
9. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Tell 'em What Your Name Is
10. Drew Kennedy - An Audio Guide to Cross Country Travel
11. The Black Crowes - Before the Frost...Until the Freeze
12. Justin Townes Earle - Midnight at the Movies
13. Son Volt - American Central Dust
14. The Devil Makes Three - Do Wrong Right
15. Slaid Cleaves - Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
16. Joshua James - Build Me This
17. Switchfoot - Hello Hurricane
18. Miranda Lambert - Revolution
19. Krizz Kaliko - Genius
20. Mastodon - Crack the Skye

2008 
1. Drive-by Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark
2. Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song
3. Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones
4. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
5. Hayes Carll - Trouble in Mind
6. Sun Kil Moon - April
7. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
8. The Felice Brothers - s/t
9. Two Cow Garage - Speaking in Cursive
10. Fleet Foxes - s/t
11. NQ Arbuckle - XOK
12. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
13. Chris Knight - Heart of Stone
14. Metallica - Death Magnetic
15. Reckless Kelly - Bulletproof
16. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
17. Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life
18. Bruce Robison - The New World
19. The Steeldrivers - s/t
20. Drag The River - You Can't Live This Way


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