The Handsome Family are an alternative-country duo formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife duo Brett and Rennie Sparks. The two live in Albuquerque, New Mexico and have released 10 studio albums including their new one Wilderness released in 2013 from Top Carrot Records. For much of their work Brett writes the music while Rennie, who also is also an author, writes the lyrics. The duo's lyrics have a close connection to the literary genre "American Gothic" and these elements are also found in early country and folk songs. These themes, much like the blues, revolve around death, doom, gloom and unavoidable self-destruction.
Handsome Family - Weightless Again
- Wikipedia, The Handsome Family
- Handsome Family, Official Site
- Last FM, Handsome Family
Originally slated to be Modest Mouse's debut album, "Sad Sappy Sucker" was shelved for several years until it's eventual release in 2001. This came after the popularity of smash hit album The Moon & Antarctica (3rd Planet, I Came as a Rat, Lives Like Weeds) released in June of 2000. The Moon & Antarctica dwarfed the group's early work on The Lonesome Crowded West (Polar Opposites) released in 1997 and Build Nothing Out Of Something (Never Ending Math Equation) a compilation album of work recorded from 1996 to 1998 that was released in early 2000.