Undercovers
So yesterday I went to see United 93, which was a far better film than I imagined. I’m not sure what I expected it from it, but it wasn’t as depressing as it could have been, nor was it flag-wavingly patriotic, my other main fear for it. In it’s place was a well thought out character study of how people deal with a crisis. It’s incredibly brutal at times, particularly the final frames, but well worth the effort.
On the other end of the entertainment scale, I saw the finale to Everwood yesterday, which has been one of my favourite shows of the past few years. The show is the biggest casulty of the WB and UPN merger, meaning there wasn’t room on the schedule for it with such classics as Seventh Heaven and America’s Top Model needing a place. It’s a shame that it ended so suddenly, and the rewrites of the finale did lead to a happy ending overload, but it was a satisfying enough conclusion to a great series.
Oh, right, we’re here for music? Today is one of the fun covers posts I’m afraid, as I’ve got a bunch of other fun site related work to get done this afternoon.
MP3 Pavement – The Killing Moon (expired) (Echo & The Bunnymen)
‘The Killing Moon’ is a defining song to both music fans of the 80s and Donnie Darko fans, and this Pavement version does it justice. Recorded at a BBC session in 1997 and released as part of the ‘Major Leagues’ EP, it keeps the abstract feel of the original while still giving it a sound that is undeniably Pavement. Malkmus’ adds his typically lethargic vocals, and somehow manages to start singing about ‘cucumbers’ and ‘cabbage’ by the end of the song.
MP3 Ryan Adams – Wonderwall (expired) (Oasis)
Take one overrated song from a pretty crappy band, put it through the Ryan Adams depression process and the result isn’t actually as bad as you would think. It’s far from perfect, the computer trickery on Adams’ voice really does the song no favours at all, yet it still manages to hold one’s attention for it’s four minutes runtime. It doesn’t seem possible, but Adams also seems able to make the song seem even more self-important than it did before. Quite a feat given how crappy the words are when you actually pay attention to them.
MP3 The Decemberists – Up The Junction (live) (expired) (Squeeze)
‘Up The Junction’ is just about the only Squeeze song that I really like, although I haven’t really explored a great deal of their back catalog. The Decemberists version keeps the fun, upbeat feel of the song, even with the pretty miserable subject matter. It also manages to suit Colin Meloy’s voice perfectly, which is pretty weird as he’s about the last person to sound working class from Clapham, but there you go.
That’s all for now folks. I’d also advise that you check out Nothing But Green Lights, the new blog from Mike, who was behind the excellent Take Your Medicine. I’ll warn you now that it’ll take a little getting used to if you have an aversion to green though.
Actually I think it’s just Ryan Adams being self-important, turning a classic tune into something whimpery and foggy. Saying “give it back” and “bring it back” instead of “throw it back” flatlines this song. I especially like it when he sings “backbeat”, but there isn’t one.
Hello, i’m french and i love “wonderwall” by Ryan Adams and if you are okay, i’d like you to send me the song.
Thank you!!!
Gaëlle