Mark Linkous, A Flawed Hero

by Robin Hilton

Anyone who's suffered from a mental illness will tell you that they spend a lot of time and emotional energy saying "no" to all the wrong impulses. No, life isn't as hopelessly gloomy as you think. No, there isn't more anguish than joy in the world. No, your life isn't without value or purpose. This past Saturday, in the middle of the afternoon, on the first beautifully sunny day the eastern half of the U.S. has seen in ages, Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse said "yes" to the worst possible impulse and took his own life. He shot himself in the heart, with a gun he owned, in an alley behind a friend's house in Knoxville, Tenn. He was 47.

Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse

For longtime fans of Sparklehorse, news that Mark Linkous had committed suicide probably didn't come as a complete surprise. His songs, though beautifully produced and even life-affirming at times, were often consumed by darkness and pain. He battled drug use and depression, and spent much of the past decade living as a recluse. But in recent years, it seemed Linkous had fought off whatever demons haunted him. He toured with a new album in 2007. He built a new studio and entered a period of prolific collaboration, working with all-star casts on last year's Dark Night of the Soul and In the Fishtank. According to his publicist, Linkous was in the process of completing a new Sparklehorse album for release later this year. So for me, his death was a tremendous, utterly heartbreaking shock.

Life rarely makes much sense. It unfolds mysteriously, evolves and often erupts in wildly unpredictable ways that rattle our nerves. In its ugliest moments -- and, sure, in its beautiful ones, too -- we turn to artists to help us sort through our wriggling tangle of emotions, because they possess that special voice needed to articulate and illuminate what's otherwise a baffling maze of conflicting thoughts. For many people, myself included, Mark Linkous was one of those voices. His music and poetry was like life itself: It was sad and beautiful. For some, it was simply good craft, offering a brilliantly rendered view of both human suffering and our capacity for love. For others all too familiar with the music's most sorrowful moments, it offered intimate companionship; a voice that said, "You are not alone."

The death of Mark Linkous comes just two months after singer-songwriter Vic Chesnutt committed suicide, leaving puzzled fans of both artists to wonder how such tragedies could happen, or how they could have been prevented. It's hard to comprehend how someone you rely on to make sense of the world could do something so senseless. In some ways, it feels like betrayal. But both were clearly in the grip of something they couldn't control. For many, depression is a terminal illness like any other.

Neither Vic Chesnutt nor Mark Linkous were terribly successful commercially. They never drew legions of screaming fans, won a Grammy or had a gold record. But both could reach into the hearts and minds of those fortunate enough to hear their music and leave them with the belief that they were common friends. I'll selfishly miss the prospect of new Vic Chesnutt and Sparklehorse records in the coming years, though there are likely to be posthumous releases. But more than anything, I'll miss the comfort of knowing they're out there, soldiering on and making their way in the world. They were our flawed heroes. They were survivors. And the world is a little lonelier without them.

5:58 PM ET | 03- 9-2010 | permalink

comments () |

Mark Linkous Of Sparklehorse Has Died

by Robin Hilton

Mark Linkous, the voice and imaginative mind behind the psych-folk-rock group Sparklehorse, has committed suicide, Rolling Stone magazine reports.

"It is with great sadness that we share the news that our dear friend and family member, Mark Linkous, took his own life today," the singer's family said in a statement. "We are thankful for his time with us and will hold him forever in our hearts. May his journey be peaceful, happy and free. There's a heaven and there's a star for you."

Mark Linkous gives an in-studio performance for The Current

Mark Linkous released four albums under the Sparklehorse name, beginning with 1995's Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot. His most recent projects included a collaboration with Danger Mouse on the all-star album Dark Night of the Soul, and working with electronic musician Christian Fennesz on 2009's In the Fishtank. Linkous was nearly finished with a new record, due out on Anti Records later this year.

Mark Linkous struggled with depression and inner demons for years, pouring many of those feelings into the gloomy but gorgeously produced music of Sparklehorse. In 1996, he nearly died after taking a mix of valium and antidepressants while on tour. He passed out in a bathroom in a position that cut off circulation to his legs for 14 hours. When paramedics attempted to straighten his legs, Linkous suffered a heart attack. He eventually recovered, but required multiple surgeries to repair damage to his limbs.

10:14 AM ET | 03- 7-2010 | permalink

comments () |

Dorks Gather For Listening Party

by Robin Hilton

This weekend, All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen, intern Will Butler, NPR Music contributor Mike Katzif and I will gather at Bob's sweet suburban pad to listen to some of the greatest, most astounding music ever recorded: our own. Each of us spent the month of February writing and recording an entire album, as part of the RPM Challenge and, for better or worse, we're going to sit together and play our records for one another. If you see a mushroom cloud form over Silver Spring, Md., mid-afternoon on Sunday, you can safely assume it's from the powerful convergence of our songs meeting at once in the same room, not unlike the energy released during nuclear fusion.

Every February, The Wire, a weekly music magazine in Portsmouth, N.H., issues an open invitation to musicians everywhere to produce an album in four short weeks. In 2006, the first year of what they call the RPM Challenge, 165 bands participated. This year, they had more than 2,000.

For my album, I collaborated with Mike Katzif and Meg Ruddick, a former All Songs Considered intern with a gorgeous voice. We called ourselves Golden Days and the album It Was Over Before We Began. People assume that artists (writers, musicians, painters, and so on) create because they're overwhelmingly inspired to -- that they have a brilliant idea or deep feeling that leads them on a quest to actually realize that idea or feeling in a tangible way. The truth is, most of the time, it just comes down to making stuff up. That's what's so great about the entirely arbitrary deadline of the RPM Challenge: It compels participants to take action. As the saying goes, 90 percent of success is just showing up.

This is one of the songs I wrote for our album, with Meg on harmonies and Mike on electric guitars. It's called "Year of Dreams." (You can download the whole album here.)

Here's host Bob Boilen on his RPM Challenge:

I've composed a lot of music in the past 30 years, but I've never written an actual song until now. A song is a tune with words. My music has always been instrumental and mostly experimental. I started playing synthesizer in a psychedelic dance band in 1979 (Tiny Desk Unit), but that's as close as I've come. So for this RPM Challenge, I decided to write and sing three songs. I'll long remember this record for the struggles I had to overcome.

First off, I can't count. My songs change at seemingly random bars, and the structure is done entirely by feel. Also, I'm new to lyric-writing. Here's what works for me: I'll write a lot and toss away anything that feels like it isn't working. And I don't worry if it doesn't all make sense. Repeated listening usually makes it all cohere. Also, as I've learned from so many interviews over the years, the intent of the lyricist usually has little to do with the interpretation of the listener.

As for singing, just imagine being naked in front of a lot of strangers and then, when you get comfy with that idea, imagine that you've discovered there are a lot of TV cameras scanning your body. Once you get through that, it's easy. It took me 30 years of music-making to do it, and I'm loving it.

This is the fourth year I've done the RPM Challenge. The first year, I did it with my former Tiny Desk Unit bandmates. The past three years, our guitarist Michael Barron and I did it together, sharing sound files over the Web and making music under the name Danger Painters. This time around, our album is called iii, and this song is called "Monkey Time." (You can download the whole album here).

Here's Mike Katzif on his RPM Challenge:

This is my third RPM Challenge in four years, but the first where I haven't worked long distance, sending tracks back and forth, Postal Service-style. And while that can work wonders if your best friends are dispersed cross-country like mine are, it can feel like you're working in a sensory deprivation tank. It's pretty hard to describe a sound you're going for over instant messaging chats and email strings. I was excited to work with Robin and Meg, not only because we all live in the same area, but also because we had long talked about getting together to start a band. RPM, and its looming deadline, is often just the catalyst you need to get started. The month goes by at a frenetic pace, and any free moment is typically spent weighing how to best represent the song you have in your head with just getting it done so you can move on to the next one. I've found there's always stuff left over that should be rerecorded or remixed. But having perfectly produced tracks really isn't the point. It's mostly about the creative process, learning the craft a little, and trying to accomplish something you can feel proud of.

This is one of the songs I wrote, with Meg on harmonies. Robin played drums and some of the percussive sounds. It's called "Come Tomorrow."

Here's All Songs Considered intern Will Butler on his RPM Challenge:

For me, RPM is no more than a great rationalization for shelving the anxieties that plague your creative conscience year-round. As I prepared to settle in for the challenge, I realized that, unless I made a concentrated effort to just humor my better instincts for a few weeks, I wouldn't get anything done. It's way too easy to let your internal critic get in the way and run the show; that applies not only to nervous, small-time musicians like myself, but even to the most admired songwriters of our day.

Thom Yorke once described writing an album as working with your own limitations, and I couldn't agree more. I would take that a step further, though, and say that it's about being able to accept and even embrace those limitations so that they don't get in the way of all the great things you actually have to offer. That's not to say I've achieved this in my own music. But I am proud of what I did with only borrowed instruments and a battery-powered 4-track this February. The song is "The Odds," and the album is called Talking to a Snowdrift. (You can hear more of Will's music here.)

3:50 PM ET | 03- 5-2010 | permalink

comments () |

'Dark Night Of The Soul' To Get Official Release

by Robin Hilton

A year-long dispute between Danger Mouse (Brian Burton) and EMI Records appears to be resolved, clearing the way for the long-overdue release of Dark Night of the Soul, the all-star album he produced with Sparklehorse's Mark Linkous. Though specifics of the dispute between the label and Danger Mouse remain unclear, Burton tells the BBC that they've resolved their differences and hope to release the record early this summer.

Dark Night of the Soul features guest appearances by Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, Vic Chesnutt, Grandaddy's Jason Lytle, Iggy Pop and others, and includes a book of surreal photos (inspired by the music) from filmmaker David Lynch. While the album's release was on hold during the dispute last year, Danger Mouse responded by releasing the book of photos along with a blank CD and a note telling fans to "use it as you will." At the same time, the album was widely leaked on the Internet, and included in NPR Music's Exclusive First Listen series.

Danger Mouse's latest project is a collaboration with The Shins' frontman, James Mercer, called Broken Bells. You can hear an early preview of the duo's new self-titled album in our Exclusive First Listen series.

11:08 AM ET | 03- 5-2010 | permalink

comments () |

Good News For Gang Starr Fans

by Will Butler

MC Guru, who had been comatose after having a massive heart attack Sunday night, is recovering. Today he issued a statement to AllHipHop.com, saying "I am doing fine and I am recovering! I am weak though! Solar is the only person who has the accurate info on my situation. Any info from anybody else is false! I appreciate your well wishes and all the love!"

It is unclear whether this was a cut at his partner DJ Premier, who has been providing updates on Guru's condition through his Twitter feed. Solar tells AllHipHop.com that "Guru is resting (and) the doctors say that he will fully recover." Doctors performed surgery on the 43-year-old Guru on Tuesday.

1:44 PM ET | 03- 3-2010 | permalink

comments () |

We Apologize In Advance: A Chopin-oply Of Chopuns

by Robin Hilton

Chopin-da Bear, by Lars Gotrich. (The Gallery Collection/Corbis, iStock)

I'm no fan of puns. But all day today, the staff of NPR Music has been consumed with finding new ways to rework composer Frederic Chopin's name. At first, it was stupid, but then it got funny, and then stupid again, and here we are. It all started because this year -- yesterday, to be exact -- marks the 200th anniversary of Chopin's birth. NPR Music is celebrating the occasion with a series of live performances, interviews and essays, and someone mentioned that we were in a state of Chopin-demonium from all of our exhaustive coverage, followed by the appropriate groans.

Here is a mere fraction of the Chopin puns we've been throwing around. Feel free to add your own in the comments section below.

You'll be Chopin-handling in the street if you lose this job.

Don't Chopin-der to such vulgarities.

Chopin-droid

Chopin-amatronics

I'm having Chopin-gs of guilt

Man up and stop being such a Chopin-sy

I hear Bob is having a Chopin-dectomy this week.

I'm having a Chopin-ic attack

Chopin-ic! At The Disco

Chopin-esthetic

Have a glass of Chopin-gne

Chopin your pencil!

I had a Chopin-wich for lunch.

Another great band: Chopin-tha du Prince

Somebody help Stephen -- he's going into Chopin-aphylactic shock!

Last night, we ate dinner at an Italian restaurant and had some Chopin-cetta and Chopin-icotta.

Chopin-taloons

Take a note down on this Chopin-phlet.

A film by Guillermo del Toro: Chopin's Labyrinth.

Chopin-zers: German tanks used in WWII.

4:30 PM ET | 03- 2-2010 | permalink

comments () |

Two Free Elliott Smith Downloads From Upcoming Reissues

by Will Butler

On April 6, independent label Kill Rock Stars will reissue Elliott Smith's first and last full albums, completing its library of the late singer-songwriter's independent releases. To promote the reissues, the label has made a remastered version of "Last Call" (Roman Candle) and "Twilight" (From A Basement On The Hill) available for free download (right-click or control-click the links to save the files).

Roman Candle & From A Basement On The Hill

Roman Candle, Smith's first album, was recorded in his then girlfriend's basement, and, as the story goes, only because she convinced him to mail it in to Portland-based Cavity Search Records did it ever see the light of day. The Kill Rock Stars founder, Slim Moon, vividly recalls his first real encounter with Smith's music at Kill Rock Stars' Web site. For the reissue, Roger Seibel, along with the Smith family's archivist, Larry Crane, have remastered the album, known for its scratchy, lo-fi home production. Roman Candle will also see its first U.S. vinyl release through the KRS reissue. From A Basement On The Hill was the last album that Smith worked on before his death in 2003. It was released posthumously on ANTI-Records.

The Songs (Right-click or control-click to save to your computer):

"Last Call" (Roman Candle)

"Twilight" (From A Basement On The Hill)

4:17 PM ET | 03- 2-2010 | permalink

comments () |

Video: New From OK Go

by Will Butler

After a struggle with the band's record label, OK Go has released a brand new video. And, thanks to the pleas of lead singer Damien Kulash, we (along with any other Web site out there) are able to embed it below. In a Feb. 19 NYTimes op-ed piece entitled "WhoseTube?", Kulash attacked his record label's decision to prevent OK Go's videos from being embeddable:

"In these tight times, it's no surprise that EMI is trying to wring revenue out of everything we make, including our videos. But it needs to recognize the basic mechanics of the Internet. Curbing the viral spread of videos isn't benefiting the company's bottom line, or the music it's there to support. The sooner record companies realize this, the better -- though I fear it may already be too late."

This time around, it wasn't too late. The label reneged on its policy, which is why today we're able to bring you OK Go's new video for "This Too Shall Pass," which features a Rube Godlberg machine that puts its predecessors to shame.

You can read more at the Monkey See blog, from Linda Holmes.

1:11 PM ET | 03- 2-2010 | permalink

comments () |

Gang Starr Rapper In Coma After Heart Attack

by Will Butler

Billboard.com reports this morning that rapper Guru, whose real name is Keith Elam, is in a coma. The MC is one half of the pioneering underground New York rap duo Gang Starr, that's been releasing critically acclaimed albums since the early '90s. Elam apparently suffered a heart attack over the weekend, and in a blog entry, the duo's producer, DJ Premier, said that MC Guru was "fighting for his life." Elam, 43, is scheduled to undergo surgery this week.

Guru (photo courtesy of artist)

12:44 PM ET | 03- 1-2010 | permalink

comments () |

Pink Floyd On Electric Shaver & Effects Pedals

by Bob Boilen

I've always been a big fan of Electro Harmonix effects pedals. In the mid '80s, their 16 Second delay box was able to capture sounds on the fly and loop them. I used them in live performance and it always felt like magic. This is a bit of a novelty for sure, but their gear still holds magic for me.

One of the news feeds I enjoy reading is all about electronic music. It recently had this video, a recreation of Pink Floyd's classic song, "Welcome to the Machine," performed with an electric shaver, a few guitars and a whole lot of pedals.

11:17 AM ET | 03- 1-2010 | permalink

comments () |