Milk and Scissors

Milk And Scissors
Studio album by the Handsome Family
Released	May 14, 1996
Recorded	Kingsize Sound Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois
Length	40:35
Label	Carrot Top
Producer	Dave Trumfio, The Handsome Family
The Handsome Family chronology
Odessa (1994) Milk And Scissors (1996) Invisible Hands (1997)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[2]
Tom Hull – on the Web	B+ ( ) [3]

Milk and Scissors is the second album by the American band the Handsome Family. ^{[4] [5]} It was released on May 14, 1996 by Carrot Top Records, and by Scout Releases in the same year.

Production

The production of the album was interrupted by Brett's brief stay in a mental hospital. ^[6]

Critical reception

The Chicago Tribune called Milk and Scissors "one of the finest albums of 1996." ^[7] The Chicago Reader called it "wonderfully depressing." ^[8]

Track listing

All music by Brett Sparks and all lyrics by Rennie Sparks, except as noted

1. "Lake Geneva" – 3:11
2. "Winnebago Skeletons" – 4:13
3. "Drunk By Noon" – 2:51
4. "The House Carpenter" (traditional, arranged by The Handsome Family, inspired by Clarence Ashley's 1930 recording) – 3:36
5. "The Dutch Boy" – 3:51
6. "The King Who Wouldn't Smile" – 2:35
7. "Emily Shore 1819-1839" – 4:34
8. "3-Legged Dog" (Darrell Sparks)– 4:34
9. "#1 Country Song" (Brett Sparks) – 3:35
10. "Amelia Earhart vs. The Dancing Bear" - 3:13
11. "Tin Foil" - 2:41
12. "Puddin' Fingers" (Mike Werner) - 1:41

Personnel

• The Handsome Family:
  • Brett Sparks - guitar, vocals, dobro, organ, harmonica, lap steel
  • Rennie Sparks - bass, vocals
  • Mike Werner - percussion
• Diane Murphy - band photo
• Brad Miller - cover photo
• Design by Rennie & Mike with Sheila Sachs ^[9]

References

1. "Milk and Scissors - The Handsome Family | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
2. Larkin, Colin (May 27, 2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN   9780857125958 – via Google Books.
3. Hull, Tom (May 10, 2021). "Music Week". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
4. "Handsome Family". Trouser Press. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
5. "The Handsome Family | Biography & History". AllMusic.
6. "Handsome Family - Tragic songs of life - Page 3 of 4". No Depression. November 1, 2003.
7. Kot, Greg. "FAMILY FEELINGS". chicagotribune.com.
8. Vowell, Sarah. "Handsome Family". Chicago Reader.
9. cf. Brett & Rennie Sparks (1996): Credits. In Milk And Scissors [CD booklet]. Chicago: Carrot Top Records.

External links

• The Handsome Family official website