Sparklehorse
Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain
Label: Astralwerks / Emd
Release Date: September 26, 2006

North Carolina’s Sparklehorse are back - five years out from their lauded album It’s a Wonderful Life. But as we spin the disc, it seems the understated freak show that is the eccentric Mark Linkous is on a leash.

Sure, we hear the distinctive SP folk rock melodies and Linkous’ patterned vocals on the sad choruses, but there are fewer impromptu moments, pitch changes and vocal distortion - despite their collab with DJ Danger Mouse (the group also worked with Tom Waits and Steven Drodz (Flaming Lips).

It’s still a great album, and perhaps only more accessible for a group we weren’t sure we’d hear from again at one point. This one should be album #3 on a road trip from Minneapolis to Des Moines.

“Don’t Take My Sunshine Away” (RAM)

“Shade and Honey”(RAM)