On the way into college I was listening to the new Susanna Hoffs/Matthew Sweet album of cover versions, Under The Covers Vol. 2. Oh, those bastards.
First, the mewling sun-bleached pair reduce John Lennon's thoroughly nasty, misanthropic, self-pitying, cry of rage 'Gimme Some Truth' to a Sunday afternoon's expedition down the shopping mall, feeling a little affronted at the choice of check shirt the shop assistant is wearing, but what the hey, it's a free world after all.
Next, they miss what makes Blondie's "Dreaming" so incredible (Clem Burke's unfettered drumming). I've had cause to complain about dire mistreatment of Blondie already - hi there Yorke - but, if anything, this is worse. In mitigation, Radiohead have a singer who can't sing. Hoffs has no such excuse (her cover of "I'll Keep It With Mine" with Rainy Day is still one of the most exquisite things I've heard). But, fuck man! The drums! THE DRUMS!!! How could you reduce such expressive drumming to a mundane "and-a-one, and-a-two, and-a-three..." romptetomtetomte soulless clicktrack? Is that a real drummer there in a studio? Then sack him.
HE'S FUCKING CRAP.
Here's the original, in case you were missing it. (1:52, if you're wondering.)
(From Facebook)
ReplyDeleteJason Reynolds
though maybe that was Ric Menck from Velvet Crush playing drums on that (could it be? it doesnt seem like how you'd describe him behind a kit)
August 19 at 11:29am · Delete