Second album by Sparklehorse (aka Mark Linkous) released in 1998 on Capitol Records. Like it's predeccesor, the catchily entitiled Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, Good Morning,Spider tends to be a melancholy affair in the lo-fi tradition.
Before making this album , Linkous spent a long time in hospital convalescing following an overdose (he almost died). His recovery seems to have been a redemptive process from past depression. Shards of optimism light up this album, but darkness still lurks in the corners.
Tracklisting
- Pig
A gentle guitar strum gives way to a full on riff with distorted vocals. A wake up call.I wanna be a tough-skinned bitch but I don't know how
The track ends with a haunting Sparklehorse-esque soundeffect.
- Painbirds
This may have been inspired by Linkous' recovery from near death.
Oh yeah, here come the painbirds
- Saint Mary
The name of the hospital where Linkous was treated. A moving tribute to the nurses who cared for him. The most delicate guitar/violin and cello combination.
Blanket me with love
and keep me from burning..
The only things I really need
Is water, a gun and rabbits
Let me rest my fevered cheek
upon your warm, sweet bellies
- Good Morning, Spider
A haunting interlude. Behind the soporific strings, something is scrabbling around...
- Sick of Goodbyes
Radio friendly tuneful track.
- Box of Stars
A short but touching track about fantasy and escape
- Sunshine
A standout track of the album. The music is warm and intimate, the voice almost whispers. Vic Chesnutt accompanies. Beautiful. She covered me with wings
and held my head and said 'Poor thing'
- Chaos of the Galaxy/Happy Man
This track is really two in one. It opens with some scary soundeffect with disembodied voice and then 'Happy Man' starts with radio interference. Finally 'Happy Man', (a stomping ringing-guitar track) proper begins. Some might suggest that this an anti-hit, hidden behind layers of wierdness.
- Hey Joe
Written by Daniel Johnston, this is an affectionate cover.There's a heaven and
there's a star for you
- Come On In
A downbeat nursery rhyme and an aching request. Piano and Cello thicken the atmosphere
- Maria's Little Elbows
A track about the pain of loneliness offset by a hummable tune. She said 'I've really come to hate my body
and all the things that it requires in this world
I beat you're out there getting drunk with all your friends
and it will get you in the bathroom of a Texaco
- Cruel Son
An antidote to the previous few tracks, an in-your-face rocker. Ends with dizzying strings to lead into the following track.
- All Night Long
An evocative track which conjures visions of magical trips along the West Virginian highway.
- Ghost of his smile
A dirty rough guitar adorns this song.
- Hundreds of Sparrows
A beautiful melody and Linkous' fragile voice makes this one of the best tracks of the album. Shades of Grant Lee Buffalo.
The tree you planted has become fecund
with kamikaze humming birds...
Your hair upon my chest
and I can feel the pillow of your breast
- Box of Stars (Part Two)
- Junebug
A pretty country style track.