{{use mdy dates|date=June 2023}} {{use list-defined references|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox album | name = Bird Machine | type = studio | artist = [[Sparklehorse]] | cover = Sparklehorse - Bird Machine.jpg | alt = The album title written in black handwriting on a white background | released = {{Start date|2023|09|08}} | recorded = 2009 | studio = *Electrical Audio, Chicago, Illinois, United States<ref name="ltw" /> *Montrose Recording *Static King, Hayesville, North Carolina, United States | genre = | length = {{Duration|m=43|s=49}} | label = [[Anti- (record label)|Anti-]] | producer = *Matt Linkous *Melissa Moore Linkous *Alan Weatherhead | prev_title = [[Dark Night of the Soul (album)|Dark Night of the Soul]] | prev_year = 2010 | next_title = | next_year = }} {{quote-box|align=right|width=20%|"Some of it was done. Some of it was close. And anything that we added was intended to enhance it, not to embellish it. We wanted to bring out what was there."|—Matt Linkous on finishing the music of his brother Mark for ''Bird Machine''<ref name="guard" />}} '''''Bird Machine''''' is the fifth and final studio album from American [[indie rock]] band [[Sparklehorse]], released on September 8, 2023 by [[Anti- (record label)|Anti-]]. The album was mostly recorded before the 2010 death of bandleader [[Mark Linkous]], and has received acclaim from critics.
==Recording and release== The music for ''Bird Machine'' was recorded by Sparklehorse prior to [[Mark Linkous]]' 2010 suicide. Linkous' brother Matt oversaw unreleased music and found the track "It Will Never Stop" in 2022.<ref name="iwns" /> In June 2023, the full album was announced, made up of older recordings, with additions made by Matt and Melissa Linkous,<ref name="announce" /> based on the kinds of musical contributions they had made to prior Sparklehorse recordings.<ref name="tape" />
The initial tracks were recorded with [[Steve Albini]] and were intended to be the band's fifth studio album prior to collaborating with [[Danger Mouse (record producer)|Danger Mouse]] for ''[[Dark Night of the Soul (album)|Dark Night of the Soul]]''.<ref name="pmannounce" /> "Scull of Lucia" was previewed on July 11.<ref name="scull" />
==Reception== {{Music ratings | ADM = 7.8/10<ref name="ADM">{{cite web|url=http://www.anydecentmusic.com/review/13756/Sparklehorse-Bird-Machine.aspx|title=Bird Machine by Sparklehorse reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=June 5, 2025}}</ref> | MC = 86/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/bird-machine/sparklehorse|title=Bird Machine by Sparklehorse Reviews and Tracks|publisher=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bird-machine-mw0004020997|title= Bird Machine - Sparklehorse|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|last=Phares|first=Heather|access-date=September 9, 2023}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Beats Per Minute (website)|Beats Per Minute]]'' | rev2score = 82%<ref name="bpm">{{Cite web |last=Pickard |first=Joshua |date=2023-09-11 |title=Album Review: Sparklehorse – Bird Machine |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-sparklehorse-bird-machine/ |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Beats Per Minute |language=en-US}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[The Line of Best Fit]]'' | rev3score = 8/10<ref name="tlobf"/> | rev4 = ''[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]'' | rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="mojo">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.mojo4music.com/articles/new-music/sparklehorse-bird-machine-reviewed/|date=8 September 2023|title=Sparklehorse Bird Machine Reviewed: Thirteen years after Mark Linkous’s death, his final recordings come to light|last=Segal|first=Victoria|magazine=[[Mojo (magazine)|Mojo]]|access-date=11 August 2025}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[MusicOMH]]'' | rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="omh" /> | rev6 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev6score = 7.6/10<ref name="pm" /> | rev7 = ''[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]]'' | rev7score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="skinny" /> | rev8 = ''[[Sputnikmusic]]'' | rev8score = 4.2/5<ref name="sputnik" /> | rev9 = ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'' | rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="uncut" /> | rev10 = ''[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]]'' | rev10score = 7.5/10<ref name="utr" /> }}
{{MCalbum|Bird Machine|positive|86|12}}<ref name="MC" /> Editors at [[AllMusic]] rated this album 4.5 out of 5 stars, with critic Heather Phares writing that "the chance to connect with his music for the first time once again is something like a miracle" and continued that "listening to ''Bird Machine'' is a heartbreaking, uplifting experience—in other words, a perfect tribute to the way he moved so many people".<ref name="allmusic" /> Bill Pearis of ''[[BrooklynVegan]]'' shortlisted ''Bird Machine'' as one of the best albums of September 2023, calling it "an instant classic we had to wait 13 years to hear".<ref name="bv" /> In ''Glide Magazine'', Ryan Dillon stated that "''Bird Machine'' guides you through exactly why Sparklehorse will never be forgotten, intensely dark emotions are put to free-falling melodies and set to the distorted textures that make a record undeniably Linkous" and the release puts "a stunningly beautiful bow on the Sparklehorse discography while being so distinctive and magically stirring, they stand in a spotlight all to their own".<ref name="glide" /> Writing for ''[[The Line of Best Fit]]'', John Amen scored the album 8 out of 10, commenting that "Linkous's lyrical dexterity, emotional depth, and gift for dark-pop hooks are once again on glorious display. He concluded that "''Bird Machine'' is a resonant final word from an enormously talented singer-songwriter".<ref name="tlobf" /> Writing for ''[[Louder Than War]]'', Tim Cooper characterized the release as "a familiar blend of the fragile and the furious" that is more than outtakes and unfinished work that is "unmistakably a Sparklehorse album from the moment it begins" that is "packed with hummable tunes".<ref name="ltw" /> Writing for ''[[MusicOMH]]'', John Murphy rated this release 4 out of 5 stars, stating that it "sounds like a fully fledged album" and "a record of off-kilter alt-rock with the unique voice of [Mark] Linkous adding an added emotional edge, knowing as we do, that's he effectively singing from the grave".<ref name="omh" />
In ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]'', critic Peter Baker shortlisted ''Bird Machine'' on music that readers needed to listen to that week and called it "an essential addition to [Mark Linkouss'] legacy".<ref name="nzh" /> Sam Sodomsky of [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] rated this album a 7.6 out of 10, calling it "a bittersweet cocktail of beauty and torment" and noting how Mark Linkous could combine contradictory emotions in his music.<ref name="pm" /> In ''[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]]'', Tony Inglis gave ''Bird Machine'' four out of five stars, stating that "rarely has a posthumous release felt so emotionally fitting, so lovingly rendered", continuing that Linkous' "oft-praised skill of managing to wrench childlike wonder from the depths of pain and self-flagellation runs across this set".<ref name="skinny" /> Sunnyvale of ''[[Sputnikmusic]]'' rated this album a 4.2 out of 5, calling it "a godsend" and "a comparatively straightforward set of tunes, wrapped into the most concise runtime ever for a Sparklehorse release".<ref name="sputnik" /> In ''[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]'', Jason Anderson scored this album 4 out of 5 stars, writing that this release "demonstrates no diminishment of confidence" and that the work "strongly suggests [that Mark Linkous] remained the same restlessly inventive artist that he'd been" in his early career.<ref name="uncut" /> In ''[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]]'', Ian Rushbury rated this album 7.5 out of 10, characterizing it as "a strong album and never sounds as if it's been pieced together posthumously".<ref name="utr" />
Editors at ''[[AllMusic]]'' included this on their list of favorite alternative and indie albums of 2023.<ref name="2023amgai" /> This was included in the 40 best independent albums of 2023 in ''[[BrooklynVegan]]''{{'}}s Indie Basement.<ref name="2023bvindie" /> Andrew Dansby of ''[[The Houston Chronicle]]'' included this among the 10 best alternative albums of 2023.<ref name="2023hc" />
==Track listing== All tracks are written by [[Mark Linkous]], except where noted.
#"It Will Never Stop" – 1:50 #"Kind Ghosts" – 2:52 #"Evening Star Supercharger" – 3:46 #"O Child" – 4:20 #"Falling Down" – 3:34 #"I Fucked It Up" – 1:42 #"Hello Lord" – 4:08 #"Daddy's Gone" (Linkous, [[Danger Mouse (musician)|Brian Burton]]) – 2:49 #"Chaos of the Universe" – 3:58 #"Listening to the Higsons" ([[Robyn Hitchcock]]) – 3:01 #"Everybody's Gone to Sleep" – 4:31 #"The Scull of Lucia" – 4:11 #"Blue" – 1:24 #"Stay" – 1:41
==Personnel== '''Musicians''' *[[Mark Linkous]] – vocals (tracks 1–12, 14), guitar (1–3, 5–14), keyboards (1, 2, 9), drums (1, 2), bass (1), [[Speak & Spell (toy)|Speak & Spell]] (2), [[Casio SK-1|SK-1]] (3, 14), all instruments (4), "pling plong" (12) *Paul Dillon – bass (3, 5, 6, 8–12, 14), guitar (11) *Matt Linkous – guitar (3, 5, 9, 11, 12), table beat (7), [[drum machine]] (12) *Spencer Linkous – vocals (3, 5, 8, 9, 11), answering machine (4) *[[Jason Lytle]] – vocals (11, 12) *[[Stephen McCarthy (musician)|Stephen McCarthy]] – [[toy piano]] (3, 8), [[pedal steel]] (5, 7, 14), guitar (8) *Scott Minor – [[Electronic musical instrument|electronics]] (2, 12), Mellotron (3, 5, 11), keyboards (6, 9, 14); [[Reaktor]], [[arpeggiator]] (8); [[omnichord]] (10) *Melissa Moore Linkous – vocals (3, 8, 9, 11), violin (3) *Andrea Morici – piano (3, 5, 8, 11, 12), Wurlitzer (6, 9, 10, 14), vocals (10), [[Celesta|celeste]] (12) *[[Steven Nistor]] – drums (3, 5, 6, 8–11), [[Wurlitzer electronic piano|Wurlitzer]] (8), [[Mellotron]] (12), piano (14) *Alan Weatherhead – guitar (1, 6, 9), Mellotron (2, 3, 5, 8, 11), Wurlitzer (3), [[ARP Instruments|ARP]] (5), bass (7), keyboards (7, 9), [[baritone guitar]] (7, 8); [[Optigan]], [[harmonium]] (12)
'''Other personnel''' *[[Steve Albini]] – recording (3, 5, 6, 8–12, 14) *[[Greg Calbi]] – [[Audio mastering|mastering]] *[[Steve Fallone]] – mastering *[[Joel Hamilton]] – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]] *Mark Linkous – recording (1, 2, 4, 7, 13), artwork *Matt Linkous – [[Record producer|production]] (all tracks), recording (3, 5, 6, 8–12, 14) *Melissa Moore Linkous – production *Alan Weatherhead – production (all tracks), recording (3, 5, 6, 8–12, 14)
==Chart performance== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+ Chart performance for ''Bird Machine'' ! scope="col"| Chart ! scope="col"| Peak ! scope="col"| Duration (weeks) |- {{album chart|France|173|M|url=http://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-la-semaine/top-albums/?semaine=37?&annee=2023&categorie=Top%20Albums|title=Top Albums (Week 37, 2023)|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|artist=Sparklehorse|album=Bird Machine|rowheader=true|access-date=September 18, 2023}} |1 |}
==See also== *[[2023 in American music]] *[[List of 2023 albums]]
==References== <references>
<ref name="2023amgai">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2023/favorite-alternative-indie |title=Favorite Alternative & Indie Albums |date=n.d. |accessdate=2023-12-14 |website=[[AllMusic]] |publisher=[[RhythmOne]] |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name="2023bvindie">{{Cite web |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/indie-basement-top-40-albums-of-2023/ |title=Indie Basement: Top 40 Albums of 2023 |last=Pearis |first=Bill |date=2023-12-21 |accessdate=2023-12-21 |language=en-US |department=Indie Basement}}</ref> <ref name="2023hc">{{Cite news |url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/entertainment/music/article/best-albums-of-the-year-2023-18554370.php |title=Andrew Dansby picks his 10 best alternative albums of the year |date=2023-12-26 |department=Entertainment // Preview // Music |language=en-en |accessdate=2023-12-26 |issn=1074-7109 |oclc=30348909 |newspaper=[[The Houston Chronicle]]}}</ref> <ref name="announce">{{Cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2226727/posthumous-sparklehorse-album-bird-machine-announced/music/ |title=Posthumous Sparklehorse Album Bird Machine Announced |last=Breihan |first=Tom |website=[[Stereogum]] |department=New Music |date=2023-06-13 |access-date=2023-06-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name="bv">{{Cite web |website=[[BrooklynVegan]] |first=Bill |last=Pearis |language=en-US |access-date=2023-10-09 |date=2023-10-02 |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/indie-basement-best-songs-albums-of-september-2023/ |title=Indie Basement: Best Songs & Albums of September 2023 |department=Indie Basement}}</ref> <ref name="glide">{{Cite magazine |magazine=Glide Magazine |first=Ryan |last=Dillon |date=2023-09-07 |access-date=2023-09-07 |url=https://glidemagazine.com/295730/sparklehorse-remain-influential-and-impactful-with-posthumous-bird-machine-album-review/ |language=en-US |department=Album Reviews |title=Sparklehorse Remain Influential and Impactful With Posthumous 'Bird Machine'}}</ref> <ref name="guard">{{Cite news |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |date=2023-09-03 |access-date=2023-09-05 |last=Carnwath |first=Ally |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/03/mark-linkous-bird-machine-final-sparklehorse-album-brother-matt-melissa |title=Mark Linkous's final Sparklehorse album: words of love and beauty from beyond the grave}}</ref> <ref name="iwns">{{Cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2207544/sparklehorse-previously-unreleased-it-will-never-stop/music/ |title=Hear Sparklehorse's Previously Unreleased "It Will Never Stop" |last=Rettig |first=James |website=[[Stereogum]] |date=2022-12-06 |department=New Music |access-date=2023-06-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name="ltw">{{Cite web |website=[[Louder Than War]] |first=Tim |last=Cooper |date=2023-09-06 |access-date=2023-09-07 |url=https://louderthanwar.com/sparklehorse-bird-machine-album-review/ |language=en-US |department=Album Reviews |title=Sparklehores: Bird Machine}}</ref> <ref name="nzh">{{Cite news |newspaper=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ |date=2023-09-15 |access-date=2023-09-15 |last=Baker |first=Peter |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/viva/culture/what-were-listening-to-mitskis-haunting-celebratory-new-album-other-things-you-need-to-hear/BGBJAP545JBE3C2WNIBRRFEN7Y/ |title=What We're Listening To: Mitski's Haunting, Celebratory New Album & Other Things You Need To Hear |department=Culture}}</ref> <ref name="omh">{{Cite web |url=https://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/sparklehorse-bird-machine |title=Sparklehorse – Bird Machine |last=Murphy |first=John |website=[[MusicOMH]] |department=Album Reviews |date=2023-09-08 |access-date=2023-09-16 |language=en-GB}}</ref> <ref name="pm">{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/sparklehorse-bird-machine/ |title=Sparklehorse: Bird Machine |last=Sodomsky |first=Sam |publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |department=Albums |date=2023-09-14 |access-date=2023-09-14 |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name="pmannounce">{{Cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/new-posthumous-sparklehorse-album-announced/ |title=New Posthumous Sparklehorse Album Announced |last=Bloom |first=Madison |publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |department=News |date=2023-06-13 |access-date=2023-06-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name="scull">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/sparklehorse_listen_to_the_previously_unreleased_song_the_scull_of_lucia_fe |title=Sparklehorse – Listen to the Previously Unreleased Song "The Scull of Lucia" (Feat. Jason Lytle) |last=Ramkumar |first=Kat |magazine=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]] |department=News |date=2023-07-11 |access-date=2023-07-11 |language=en-GB |issn=1553-2305}}</ref> <ref name="skinny">{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[The Skinny (magazine)|The Skinny]] |first=Tony |last=Inglis |date=2023-09-07 |access-date=2023-09-08 |url=https://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/sparklehorse-bird-machine |language=en-GB |department=Arts & Entertainment / Music / Reviews |title=Sparklehores – Bird Machine}}</ref> <ref name="sputnik">{{Cite web |website=[[Sputnikmusic]] |author=Sunnyvale |date=2023-09-05 |access-date=2023-09-07 |url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/87533/Sparklehorse-Bird-Machine/ |language=en-US |department=Reviews |title=Sparklehores – Bird Machine}}</ref> <ref name="tape">{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Tape Op]] |first=Larry |last=Crane |date=September–October 2023 |access-date=2023-09-25 |url=https://tapeop.com/interviews/157/sparklehorses-bird-machine/ |issue=157 |language=en-US |department=Interviews |title=Sparklehorse's Bird Machine: The Legacy of Mark Linkous |author-link=Larry Crane (recording engineer)}}</ref> <ref name="tlobf">{{Cite web |title=Sparklehorse: Bird Machine Review – talents return once more {{!}} Indie |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/sparklehorse-bird-machine-talents-are-once-again-on-glorious-display |date=2023-09-08 |last=Amen |first=John |department=Albums |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=[[The Line of Best Fit]] |language=en-US}}</ref> <ref name="uncut">{{Cite magazine |magazine=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]] |language=en-GB |date=2023-09-15 |access-date=2023-09-15 |last=Anderson |first=Jason |title=Sparklehorse – Bird Machine |department=Reviews > Album |url=https://www.uncut.co.uk/reviews/sparklehorse-bird-machine-143764/ |issn=1368-0722}}</ref> <ref name="utr">{{Cite magazine |department=Reviews |issn=1553-2305 |language=en-US |magazine=[[Under the Radar (magazine)|Under the Radar]] |last=Rushbury |first=Ian |date=2023-10-31 |access-date=2023-11-01 |url=https://undertheradarmag.com/reviews/bird_machine_sparklehorse |title=Sparklehorse: Bird Machine (ANTI-)}}</ref>
</references>
==External links== *[https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/22/arts/music/sparklehorse-mark-linkous-bird-machine.html Mark Linkous Died in 2010. His Final Album Is a Family Affair.] *{{Discogs master}} *{{MBrgID}}
{{Sparklehorse}} {{Authority control}}
[[Category:2023 albums]] [[Category:Albums published posthumously]] [[Category:Anti- (record label) albums]] [[Category:Sparklehorse albums]]