Review: The Handsome Family “Honey Moon”
The Handsome Family is not your ordinary band - or, for that matter, your run-of-the-mill married couple. Brett and Rennie Sparks are The Handsome Family, and "Honey Moon" is a terrific blend of country, blues and rock that is carefully paced with expert production and instrumentation.
"Honey Moon" marks the Sparks' 20th wedding anniversary, and the couple's unique brand of Americana music is not the bright, cheery music made by many married couples. The Handsome Family's dark and penetrating music makes you question the essence of music and the core of your soul. Indeed, the band soars when presenting its own brand of deeply reflective lyrics.
The best song on the album is the classic country track "When You Whispered." This song has glorious, layered harmony and deserves to be a major country music chart hit. "When You Whispered" should be released to Texas country and alt-country radio immediately. The Handsome Family's more experimental tracks are also successful, and this is an album that reveals itself more fully upon each additional listen.
Brett and Rennie Sparks of The Handsome Family are truly music pioneers who have been influenced by many but copied no one. In these days of cookie cutter country and rock, The Handsome Family's "Honey Moon" proves that all the good ideas in music are not in the past. And fans of these original and innovative musicians can only hope for a second honeymoon a couple of decades from now. CountryChart.com
The best song on the album is the classic country track "When You Whispered." This song has glorious, layered harmony and deserves to be a major country music chart hit. "When You Whispered" should be released to Texas country and alt-country radio immediately. The Handsome Family's more experimental tracks are also successful, and this is an album that reveals itself more fully upon each additional listen.
Brett and Rennie Sparks of The Handsome Family are truly music pioneers who have been influenced by many but copied no one. In these days of cookie cutter country and rock, The Handsome Family's "Honey Moon" proves that all the good ideas in music are not in the past. And fans of these original and innovative musicians can only hope for a second honeymoon a couple of decades from now. CountryChart.com