Performer Notes

Sparklehorse: Mark Linkous (vocals, various instruments).
Additional personnel: Bob Rupe (vocals, bass); David Charles (acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards, bass, drums); Mike Lucas (pedal steel guitar); Dennis Herring (vibraphone); Armstead Wellford (bass); Johnny Hott (drums, percussion); David Bush (drums); Paul Watson (effects).
Producers: Mark Linkous, David Charles, Dennis Herring.
Recorded at Sound Of Music, Richmond, Virginia; Static King, Virginia; Bad Animals, Seattle, Washington.
VIVADIXIESUBMARINETRANSMISSIONPLOT is an impressive debut, sprung fully formed from the head of Sparklehorse songwriter Mark Linkous. A melancholy ode to rural America, the album meanders between sparse, whispered lullabies like "Heart of Darkness" and distortion-drenched rockers like "Hammering the Cramps" while remaining oddly cohesive.
Opening with the sleepy "Homecoming Queen," Linkous immediately quotes Shakespeare ("A horse, a horse...my kingdom for a horse...") and establishes his seemingly contradictory lush/lo-fi sound. Not content with structured songs alone, he also adds bursts of noise, samples, and tape loops to the mix on tracks like "850 Double Pumper Holley," "Little Bastard Choo Choo" and "Ballad of a Cold Lost Marble." Linkous has obviously done his musical and cinematic homework, revisiting Neil Young's "burned-out basement" (from "After the Gold Rush") in "Spirit Ditch," and quoting characters played by Roberto Benigni and Tom Waits from Jim Jarmusch's film DOWN BY LAW in "Sad & Beautiful World." In fact, despite extremely different vocal styles, Waits is frequently cited by Linkous as a major influence, and hints of Waits' oddball aesthetic are present throughout the album. Ultimately, however, it's Linkous' own vision that carries this rustic, ramshackle masterpiece.

Professional Reviews

Spin (12/95, p.125) - 7 (out of 10) - "...an almost Hawthornian Gothic. Linkous broadcasts his perambulatory figures and `Dear Prudence' balladry from some right scary places....a tremolo crush of organs, tape loops, and fuzz vocals--like listening to the Velvet Underground in the cells of Angola..."

Option (1-2/96, p.118) - "...engaging triumphs of low fidelity, but the sound is not `lo-fi' per se. Clear, sparse guitar lines drift along soft rhythms on most tracks, with off-kilter instrumental flourishes erupting every so often..."

Melody Maker (12/21-28/96, pp.66-67) - Ranked #20 on Melody Maker's list of 1996's `Albums Of The Year.'

Melody Maker (5/11/96, p.49) - Bloody Essential - "...Fanbloodysoaraway heedlessheartachetastic....my oh my, the boy's songs are fine....Lavishness beyond hoping for in 16 brief tracks and a million ideas: a gobsmackingly confident debut album without a bad idea..."

NME (Magazine) (12/21-28/96, pp.66-67) - Ranked #10 in NME's 1996 critics' poll.

NME (Magazine) (5/4/96, p.56) - 9 (out of 10) - "...Songs that are as fragile as a bouquet of rotting roses, heavy American gothic masterpieces delivered so hushed you can hear a feather drop....unconditionally recommended to all those who feel that life just might be one bad joke..."

Album: Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (180 Gram Vinyl) [VINYL+7"]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Homecoming Queen
2)	Weird Sisters
3)	850 Double Pumper Holley
4)	Rainmaker
5)	Spirit Ditch
6)	Teras on Fresh Fruit
7)	Saturday
8)	Cow
9)	Little Bastard Choo Choo
10)	Hammering the Cramps
11)	Most Beautiful Widow in Town
12)	Heart of Darkness
13)	Ballad of a Cold Lost Marble
14)	Someday I Will Treat You Good
15)	Sad & Beautiful World
16)	Gasoline Horseys
1)	Waiting for Nothing
2)	Happy Place

Album: Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot (180 Gram Vinyl) [VINYL+7"]
#	Song Title	Time
1)	Homecoming Queen
2)	Weird Sisters
3)	850 Double Pumper Holley
4)	Rainmaker
5)	Spirit Ditch
6)	Teras on Fresh Fruit
7)	Saturday
8)	Cow
9)	Little Bastard Choo Choo
10)	Hammering the Cramps
11)	Most Beautiful Widow in Town
12)	Heart of Darkness
13)	Ballad of a Cold Lost Marble
14)	Someday I Will Treat You Good
15)	Sad & Beautiful World
16)	Gasoline Horseys
1)	Waiting for Nothing
2)	Happy Place