Sparklehorse

Sparklehorse 組建于1994年底，是來自美國維吉尼亞的獨立樂隊。 多年前，一位美國青年在英國一家旅館里因耽溺嗑藥過量而終至崩潰，陷入了瀕臨瘋狂邊緣的燥郁癥患者，結(jié)果他還因那次的崩潰讓他的上身一直壓著雙腳長達數(shù)小時之久，導(dǎo)致最后下半身終身癱瘓而必須倚靠輪椅來度過余生。這位殘疾的青年不是別人，正是Sparklehorse的首腦人物Mark Linkous。然而，Mark Linkous的故事雖讓人讀來悲慘感傷，但說真的，Linkous并不需要藉此騙錢賺人熱淚或暗中鼓勵人們多去義捐購買他的專輯，好讓他可以從此不必再如此痛苦挹郁不絕。相反的，就因他這身已注定殘缺的身軀與靈魂驅(qū)策著他，讓他反而更能超越常人的觀點而看清了人世間的真假虛偽、衰敗腐朽以及死亡。Sparklehors的音樂做的出奇的美，——而且是種奇異的美，他們的靈感源于實際存在的聲響和空間經(jīng)驗主義。Sparklehorse的音樂是可以感動你一下午的。那種陰郁的對生活的眷戀，一旦穿透了演唱上的萎靡以及吉他演奏上的舒緩乏力，還是會讓你感受到其音樂深處的孔武。
大事記
1996年，Sparklehorse名副其實地以鄉(xiāng)村迷幻式的憂傷和美麗，發(fā)行了他們的第一張專輯《Viva Dixie Submarine Transmission Plot》
1998年，發(fā)行了第二張專輯《Good Morning Spider》承接前面一張《Viva Dixie Submarine Transmission Plot》的Sparklehorse依然風(fēng)采迷人——九八年的這張《Good Morning Spider》證明了田園音樂詩人Mark Linkous的藝術(shù)天賦并不因為加入大廠牌便失色。然而把它與上張專輯相比是必然的事情，因為它不僅延續(xù)了前者印象派油畫般的音樂創(chuàng)作手法，而且在音樂制作和編排上也顯得更為精雕細琢。
2000年，發(fā)行了EP《Distorted Ghost》
2001年，發(fā)行了第三張專輯《It's a Wonderful Life》給《It's a Wonderful Life》一個最好的詮釋：在最怪異的時候，只要活著就很美好。
2006年，發(fā)行了第四張專輯《Dreamt For Light Years In the Belly of a Mountain》。
Sparklehorse was essentially singer/songwriter Mark Linkous, an alumnus of the mid-80s indie band the Dancing Hoods. A tenure in the Johnson Family (later known as Salt Chuck Mary) followed, as did stints sweeping chimneys and painting houses; he began working as Sparklehorse in 1995, honing his spooky, lo-fi roots-pop in the studio located on his Bremo Bluff, VA, farm. After a demo made its way to the offices of Capitol Records, Linkous signed to the label to issue Sparklehorses acclaimed debut Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, scoring an alternative radio hit with the single Someday I Will Treat You Good. In early 1996, after a Sparklehorse live date in London, Linkous nearly died when he passed out after mixing Valium with prescription antidepressants; throughout the 14 hours he spent unconscious on his hotels bathroom floor his legs were pinned under the rest of his body, and the prolonged loss of blood circulation nearly left him crippled. Many months and countless surgeries later he was back on his feet, his struggle and recovery providing inspiration for 1998s Good Morning Spider. Linkous collaborated with PJ Harvey and the Cardigans Nina Persson on 2001s radiant Its a Wonderful Life. In between that album and 2006s Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain (which featured contributions from Tom Waits and Danger Mouse), Linkous contributed songs to the soundtrack of the film Laurel Canyon and produced Daniel Johnstons 2003 album Fear Yourself.