The Wilderness Sportsman » Music

RIP Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse

Mike — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 17:59:46 +0000

Readers of this blog know we post music videos occasionally and discuss music. Today it is with a heavy heart that I post about the death of one of my music heroes, Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse.

Sparklehorse got their start in the 90′s with great records like
Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot and Good Morning Spider. In the 2k’s, Linkous released the amazing It’s a Wonderful Life and Dreamt For Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain. Linkous crafted these beautiful, woodsy alternative psych folk records. They were a perfect match for our woods and waters and I often listen to Sparklehorse while traveling to our great parks and forests.

Thanks for all the great music, Mark. I really appreciate it.

I’d like to post some fantastic tracks by Sparklehorse in remembrance this special artist:

“Comfort Me”:

dreamed I was born on a mountain on the moon
Where nothing grows or ever rots
I dreamed that I had me a daughter
who was magnificent as a horse

“Sunshine”

there will come a time gigantic
waves will crush the junk that I have saved
when the moon explodes or floats away
I’ll lose the souvenirs I made
la la la

“Gold Day”

“Sea of Teeth”:

WS Music Club – The Flaming Lips with “Evil”

Mike — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:08:07 +0000

This track is off of their new 2009 masterpiece, “Embryonic”. This record fits in with a lot of what we talk about on the Wilderness Sportsman. There is a nature/technology/balance theme running throughout the record. One of the last songs is called “Watching the Planets”, which is a tribal, earthy song. Previous to that track however is “Evil”, a song about the evil we all have inside of us, and whether we choose to trigger it or not. I think the readers of this blog who enjoy rock music will really like this album, both musically and lyrically. There are numerous references to animals, nature, the galaxy, etc.

The track “Evil” was especially haunting to me as I drove through the west, witnessing the dead coyotes hanging from the ranch fences and the numerous roadkill all over the highways. I looked up at the rural sprawl that pushes ever closer to the mountain sides,and the encroaching light pollution. I saw one of my favorite meadows which was once an amazing place to see moose now being drained and evened for a trophy home. I saw no moose that trip even though it was the rut. They had gone.

Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips wrote “Evil” after hearing a story about an African village which befriended a baby hippo. This animal was the star of the village. They considered it “one of them”, and the animal provided great joy to the children. However, one summer a group of American hunters came into the village. The baby hippo enthusiastically rambled up to the hunters, and they promptly shot and killed the animal. No reason was given, just that they “got a kick out of it”.

Which person are you? Do you bring light or darkness into this world with the decisions you make?

You can listen to the song in the player below:

I wish I could go back
Go back in time
I wish I could go back
Back in time

I would have warned you
Those people are evil
And it’s hard to understand
I’ll never understand

I wish I could go back
Go back in time
But no one ever really can
Go back in time

Oh, I would have shown you
Those people are evil
And they’ll hurt you if they can
I’ll never understand
Understand

WS Music Club: Weezer performing “I Want You To” on Letterman

Mike — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 07:31:43 +0000

This track is from their new album “Raditude”. Great performance here:

WS Music Club: Steve Earle doing “Colorado Girl” by Townes Van Zandt

Mike — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:29:42 +0000

Earle actually released a Townes Van Zandt cover album this year, called “Townes”. It’s excellent. Van Zandt was one of the finest songwriters ever, and IMHO was instrumental in the formation of alternative country, a miraculous respite form the awful garbage nu-country that plagues the airwaves. Notice how Letterman pauses the introduction to give tribute to Townes. Very cool, and an outstanding performance by Earle. Enjoy below in HD:

WS Music Club The Flaming Lips launch Embryonic

Mike — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:19:03 +0000

The Flaming Lips performing “Watching the Planets” on Conan the other night. Their new album “Embryonic” just came out yesterday and it’s outstanding. Lots of lyrics about space and nature. Very powerful record. Check it out if you can.

WS Music Club: The Dirty Projectors with “Stillness Is the Move”

Mike — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:07:33 +0000

Strange stuff, but quite good. Check it out.

WS Music Club: The Flaming Lips at Pitchfork Festival

Mike — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 07:49:09 +0000

Nothing like the great Flaming Lips to start the weekend. This is from the Chicago Pitchfork Festival July 19th. Watch them perform “She don’t Use Jelly” and “Do You Realize?”:

WS Music Club: Rest in peace Jay Bennett

Mike — Mon, 25 May 2009 06:19:13 +0000

Just heard the sad news that former Wilco member Jay Bennett passed away. Those of you following modern music probably are familiar with the excellent albums “Being There”, “Summerteeth” and “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot”. He was a huge part of that band, even though they went separate ways after Yanke Hotel Foxtrot. Jay was only 45. Here are a couple tracks from that album.

Celebrating Earth Day

Mike — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:27:39 +0000

Happy Earth Day everyone!

If you are in the DC area, check out the Flaming Lips show at Earth Day Fest. Well worth it.

Link

WS Music Club: Paul McCartney opens Coachella 2009

Mike — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:23:10 +0000

Let it Be (a fitting music track for roadless areas, eh?):