Is Through the Trees a good place to start with The Handsome Family?

Yes, Through the Trees is recommended as a starting point for new The Handsome Family listeners. Melancholic melodies weave through haunting narratives, blending Americana with a deep sense of longing and spectral imagery. Through the Trees is The Handsome Family's third studio album, released after their breakthrough with 1996's Milk and Scissors. At this point in their career, the duo was solidifying their unique sound within the Americana and alternative country genres while expanding their lyrical themes to include more vivid storytelling and darker motifs.

Who is Through the Trees for?

Through the Trees works well if you're into steady mid-tempo reflective moments, haunting melodies for quiet evenings and evocative storytelling of rural life.

How many songs are on Through the Trees?

Through the Trees has 13 tracks, running approximately 44 minutes.

Through the Trees

The Handsome Family · 1998

44 min · 13 tracks · alternative country

Melancholic melodies weave through haunting narratives, blending Americana with a deep sense of longing and spectral imagery.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Weightless Again Start here — This opening track sets a reflective tone with its delicate instrumentation and introspective lyrics, showcasing the duo's ability to blend melancholy with beauty.
→
The Giant of Illinois — This song merges history with personal narrative, illustrating The Handsome Family's knack for storytelling that resonates with both past and present experiences.
→
Last Night I Went Out Walking — This track encapsulates the album's exploration of solitude and connection, featuring haunting imagery that lingers long after it's finished.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

66 /100

Alpine

Higher than 89% of albums we've rated

The album's blend of haunting narratives and atmospheric sound creates a distinct identity within alternative country.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features tracks that build on melancholic melodies, while the second half introduces more varied instrumentation and tempo changes.
Several songs incorporate vivid imagery and storytelling, with lyrics that often evoke a sense of place and atmosphere.
The arrangement frequently alternates between sparse instrumentation and fuller soundscapes, creating dynamic shifts in mood throughout.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 7/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 6/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

steady mid-tempo reflective moments
haunting melodies for quiet evenings
evocative storytelling of rural life
melancholic vibes for introspective walks

Maybe skip if you

seeking high-energy dance tracks
prefer upbeat, fast-paced songs

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — The album solidified their unique sound and received critical acclaim.
Themes: solitude in nature· Midwestern ghost stories
Career context: Through the Trees is The Handsome Family's third studio album, released after their breakthrough with 1996's Milk and Scissors. At this point in their career, the duo was solidifying their unique sound within the Americana and alternative country genres while expanding their lyrical themes to include more vivid storytelling and darker motifs.
Stylistic neighbors: The Civil Wars· Sufjan Stevens· Neko Case