The Handsome Family – Honey Moon
Carrot Top 2009
Listen while reading:
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Finally we arrive in 2009. And so did the current Handsome Family record Honey Moon. I wrote about it earlier over at Velours Carpets For Lovers but I think the review uses way to many unnecessary metaphors. Whatever, the main intension has not changed since I penned it and I can just repeat, that I think Honey Moon is one of the best albums of 2009. After Last Days Of Wonder they had to raise the ante once more and – well – they totally did. Using Brett’s powerful and multifarious voice they created some of the most memorable tracks in their history like Linger, Let Me Linger or The Loneliness Of Magnets in the style of the reviewed If The World Should End In Fire (from Singing Bones) or These Golden Jewels (from Last Days Of Wonder). Doing so they followed the more country orientated path I mentioned earlier that initialized the second phase, as I call it. But besides the above mentioned songs, Honey Moon is just full of wonderful tunes combining all aspects of the work of The Handsome Family up to this point. And because this combination works out so well, I think Honey Moon will be their last record that will ever reach the highs of Through The Trees (1998). Please don’t get me wrong, I really hope they will continue to write such beautiful and awesome music but if you were on the top of the Mount Everest it is hard to get any higher. And if you manage to do so, here I quote myself from my first review, you will ascend to the everlasting gods of music. Let’s hope they will ascend, but being realistic, Honey Moon seems to be the indestructible wall they built themselves. If you never ever checked out the music of the band I dedicated the last week to, I highly recommend to do so right now. Even though Honey Moon is not better than Through The Trees, it clearly is one of the few records I ever listened to that plays in the same league. So don’t wait and explore for yourself what alt. country or southern gothic is all about (in my opinion) and find you a charming sing along alt. country album with grandiose melodies which is full of mysteries and fables – and magic.
Brett and Rennie Sparks as The Handsome Family
So, dear Common Folk Meadow readers, I hope you liked my little journey to one of my all time favorite bands and I hope you found some nice music you enjoyed. Don’t wait and buy all of their albums because I think The Handsome Family wrote and is about to write music history. Be part of it (so to say). I think here is the right place to thank all my frie…no, just kidding…I just want to thank Rennie and Brett with all of my heart for making such great music and I wish them all the best for the future. Thank you!
