Song(s) of the Day # 3,492 Sparklehorse

 

Some artists you have to live through their narrative to truly appreciate their music. Especially if the narrative ends sadly. That happened with me with, Kurt Cobain. Jeff Buckley to a lesser extent. Grant McLennan. Certainly. Elliott.

With the much revered and (by some) missed, Mark Linxous, I can admire the product but I can't weep and wail for the man, like some do. Because I wasn't there. Although I was aware of Sparklehorse at the time, I didn't listen to them with any real attention when Linxous was alive.

So I can't really bring what's required to the table when listening to Sparklehorse's posthumously released new album Bird Machine. A personal perspective and investment. I can't call him a genius because he wasn't one for me. It didn't hurt me listening to it this morning. I didn't think 'Oh Mark. His life was so sad....' 

Nor did I think of the heartbreak I experienced whie Sparklehouse were putting out records. Or more accurately CDs. Linxous for me is a CD artist. I don't think 'Oh Mary Lou'. She treated me like actual shit. For ages. Tore out my heart and laughed in my face as she chucked it on the grass in front of me and leaped up and down on it in her high heeled stilletos laughing some more, almost hysterically while I cried. What a bitch! And I gave her my Sparklehorse cds too. And never got them back.

I do quite like Bird Machine. Of course it is what it is. A set of cast offs. Not considered essential enough to release until now. There are some great songs here. Ones which would have graced any Sparklehorse album. There are some that are demos and half baked ideas That no one really needs to hear. I'll give it further listens and pay more attention to Linxous and Sparklehorse records in general. But genereally this is not my party and never will be. I have Kurt, Grant and Elliot for that experience should I want it.