The Handsome Family is an alternative country and Americana band, formed in Chicago, Illinois,
and currently based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
History The band was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife
duo Brett Sparks and Rennie Sparks, along with drummer Mike Werner.
The band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes
the music.
Guest musicians complete the band line-up for recordings and live work.
Regarding the band name, Brett said in an interview: "It's just kind of a stupid name.
We used to have this really obnoxious drummer, and he used to call me 'Handsome', that was
his nickname for me, I think for sarcastic reasons...
And he wanted to call it the Handsome Family...and we thought it was funny, too.
We thought it was a good name."
Brett is originally from Odessa, Texas and Rennie from Long Island.
The band toured extensively throughout both America and Europe in support of early releases
Odessa and Milk and Scissors.
During that time, Brett suffered an emotional breakdown, resulting in his hospitalization
and diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Their third full-length album, Through the Trees, was written in the aftermath of these
events, and included a song inspired by Brett's experiences in the psychiatric unit.
The album was recorded in 1998, using Jeff Tweedy's mobile studio, and brought the band
to a wider audience.
It was named the "Best New Country Album of the Year" by UNCUT.
A growing following and raised profile allowed Brett and Rennie to give up their day jobs
and work on the band full-time.
They toured America and Europe again in support of the 2000 album In the Air.
In 2001, they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and released Twilight, with Allmusic opining
that the album leads "the listener down a lovely yet dark trail few would dare tread
twice".
In 2002, they released a live album, Live at Schuba's Tavern, a recording from the In
the Air tour from Chicago in December 2000.
They have subsequently released the albums Singing Bones, Last Days of Wonder, and Honey
Moon as well as the collections Smothered and Covered and Scattered.
The band's latest studio album, Wilderness, was released in May 2013.
The track "Far From Any Road," from the album Singing Bones, was used as the main title
theme song for HBO's 2014 crime drama True Detective by the show's music director, T
Bone Burnett.
Their songs have been covered repeatedly by musician Andrew Bird, including a full-length
album of covers released in 2014, Things Are Really Great Here, Sort Of…
Musical style The Handsome Family's style is a blend of
traditional country, bluegrass, and murder ballads.
Early recordings have rock elements, but these were less evident from 1996's Milk and Scissors
onwards.
Rennie's lyrics have a strong storytelling component, drawing on themes from Gothic fiction,
as well as American folk music, and often involving macabre subjects as murders, suicides
and ghosts.
Some songs are also based on actual historical figures or events, including the lives and
deaths of Amelia Earhart, Emily Shore, Robert Wadlow, Natalie Wood, and Nikola Tesla.
Discography Albums
Odessa Carrot Top Records / Scout Releases Milk and Scissors Carrot Top Records / Scout
Releases Invisible Hands Carrot Top Records / Scout
Releases Through the Trees Carrot Top Records / Loose
Music In the Air Carrot Top Records / Loose Music
Twilight Carrot Top Records / Loose Music Singing Bones Carrot Top Records / Loose Music
Last Days of Wonder Carrot Top Records / Loose Music
Honey Moon Carrot Top Records / Loose Music Wilderness Carrot Top Records / Loose Music
Compilations and Live albums Down in the Valley Independent Records
Live at Schuba's Tavern Digital Club Network Smothered and Covered Handsome Family Music
Scattered Handsome Family Music Singles
"My Beautiful Bride" b/w "Destroy, Destroy" Magwheel
References
External links Official website
2009 The Handsome Family Interview at Bandega.com the Handsome Family article May 2009
Article Glorious Noise: interview
Interview