Rennie and Bret Sparks are the husband and wife team that make up The Handsome Family. Their particular brand of alt-country (or even Gothic country at times) has an often macabre and murderous storytelling quality to it, which may be why I find it so interesting. This handsome couple have been plying their trade since 1993, while Through the Trees was recorded and released in 1998 after Brett was hospitalized due to a breakdown and subsequently diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. The emotional impact of such an experience can be felt throughout this gem of an album. The first two tracks alone will leave you drained as well as enlightened, simultaneously.
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