Mark Linkous RIP

[Pat K]

If you ask me, the four proper Sparklehorse albums are all pretty equal in quality, but I'd say the best jumping-off point would be album #2, Good Morning Spider - it's a good distillation of all the different things he does (did, *groan*). The debut Vivadixiesubarinetransmissionplot is a little bit more on the alt-country tip than the others, and albums 3 and 4 get into a lot of crazier production, but Good Morning Spider is a little bit of everything.  Vic Chesnutt sings backing vocals on one of the songs, too, if you're in the mood for a suicide duet.

[Martin]

My local paper ended their obituary on an odd note, claiming Linkous had to amputate both his legs following that overdose ten-something years ago. I don't know much about the man, but even Wikipedia says that "Subsequent surgeries saved both legs but left him wheelchair-bound for six months; his legs never fully regained their original strength."

[break]

Pretty hard to go wrong with any of it, so i'll just say that "Good Morning Spider" and "It's a Wonderful Life" should definitely not be missed.  

What a punch in the gut this news was, an irreplaceable loss.  

[Emerson]

I worked with Mark and considered him a friend. Incredibly sweet, thoughtful dude. Fucking wrenching.

[sonicdork]

Mark Linkous was one of my all-time favorite songwriters. He wrote such haunting and beautiful pop songs. Such a horrific loss. He was supposed to play the Vic Chesnutt tribute show a few weeks ago in Athens, but he cancelled at the last minute.