Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse
Dark Night of the Soul
Posted 8/27

Campus Correspondent Review By Matthew Paulus,
North Central College

It may be difficult at times for the public to truly grasp the tension between an artist and their respective record label. While not all relationships of this type ensure conflict, consumers can hardly go a year without hearing about this band splitting from their label, or that group releasing their latest album independently. This situation took full effect in the summer of 2009 when a dispute between EMI and Danger Mouse delayed the official release of his collaboration with Sparklehorse an entire year.

Entitled Dark Night of the Soul (Capitol/EMI), the aforementioned record is a diverse compilation of songs written and co-composed by Danger Mouse (aka Brian Burton of Gnarls Barkley fame) and Mark Linkous (aka Sparklehorse). These two artists/producers also worked alongside an all-star lineup of indie rockers during the collection’s creation, including The Strokes’ front man Julian Casablancas, Iggy Pop, The Flaming Lips and The Pixies’ leader Black Francis, to name a few.

The tracks on Dark Night of the Soul vary quite tremendously from one to the next, yet they have an overall haunting theme engrained within. Perhaps this element is magnified since the album was released shortly after the tragic suicide of Linkous a few months prior. Songs range from the spacey and wonderfully deliberate “Star Eyes (I Can’t Catch It),” to the James Mercer written, static infused (and aptly titled) “Insane Lullaby.” The Mouse/Horse plus guest singer combo are at their best away from powerful and static rock tunes, such as the mediocre “Pain.”