Track Listing

1. Lake Geneva
2. Winnebago Skeletons
3. Drunk By Noon
4. House Carpenter
5. Dutch Boy
6. King Who Wouldn't Smile
7. Emily Shore 1819-1839
8. 3-Legged Dog
9. #1 Country Song
10. Amelia Earhart Vs. The Dancing Bear
11. Tin Foil
12. Puddin' Fingers

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #62683 in Music
• Released on: 1999-10-25
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Go ahead - click the button. You need this CD.
For many folk, I'm sure, life begins with Through the Trees, the album that won such well deserved acclaim and took off in the UK after a track featured on 'that' Uncut sampler. If you were worried that the Handsome's previous stuff wouldn't live up to that, or their most recent, glorious 'In the Air', then fear not, for this is every bit as good. There are no poor tracks, but some deserve a special mention. Sway along together to the lilting cowboy paean 'Drunk by Noon' - possibly the all time anthem to mediocrity with the deeply affecting chorus "Sometimes I flap my arms like a hummingbird, just to remind myself I'll never fly: Sometimes I burn my arms with cigarettes, just to pretend I won't scream when I die." Thrill to 'The House Carpenter's salutary tale, show-casing of Rennie Sparks seldom heard voice. 'Amelia Earhart vs. the Dancing Bear' is an upbeat sing-along recalling the last moments of the famous aviators life. Great poetry! However, the purchase price would still be a bargain were it only for 2 tracks that I believe should take pride of place in the esteem of anyone serious about this music/life business. First, the instrumental 'Puddin' Fingers'. No words of mine are sufficient to the task of describing this; its just magnificent. And then, on to one of, if not THE saddest, darkest, most tragic song ever written (and believe me, I've heard most of them!) 'Emily Shore 1819-1839' has been coughing up blood since the dogwoods bloomed. Join her, propped up on pillows, watching the snow fall, and trying, from her brief 17 years of life, to picture an end to it all. She does. The result is a song that seems to encapsulate the deepest essence of what the Handsome's do best. Bretts voice is perfect and this, to me, is just about the best thing Rennie has ever written. 'Twisted' is a word that frequently comes to mind when considering the songs of the Handsome family. This implies deformity, but the songs on this album and all those subsequent to it, are perfectly formed and shot through with a unique clarity that is a rarity indeed. The Handsome Family and their friends deserve to be fabulously rich. Please buy this stonker of a CD and help make this a reality.