The Days of Lore

Now we can see … and hear

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009 | musiX, pdX, politiX | No Comments

I awoke this morning to the scent of hope … and coffee. And it smelled so good. Yesterday, Barack Hussein Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States of America, and with that, things have already changed. His speech was good—not great—I’ll give it a 7.5. Put it next to any speech by George Walker Bush, and it’s an 11.5. Aretha Louise Franklin’s performance: a solid 10. She still brings it. So, enough talk about her hat.

With all of these feel-good feelings and scents and sounds I was reminded of my interview with The Thermals’ Kathy Foster in December. I asked her what the new record would be like given the changes taking place in the Oval Office. Of course, 2006’s The Body, The Blood, The Machine was a punchy punk rock diatribe on the state of affairs under neo-conservative Christian influence. Foster calls Now We Can See (out April 7 on KRS) more of an “Obama record.”

“It’s mostly written from the perspective of someone who’s died and is looking back at their time on Earth, realizing their own mistakes and those humanity has made. Now we can see! Yes we can!”

I like her feel-good optimism. The new album is one of my most highly anticipated—i.e., you haven’t heard the last of me doting over Now We Can See. Now you can listen.

“I Let It Go” - The Thermals (demo, Now We Can See)

Tags: Aretha Franklin, Barack Hussein Obama, Kathy Foster, Now We Can See, The Thermals

Cat Power covers … covers

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 | musiX | 4 Comments

More covers? Chan Marshall has made quite a career interpreting the works of others … and probably the only artist today who can get away with it. Well, most of the time. On some songs she’s brilliant, on others she’ll leave you scratching your head … or dozing off.

I just got my hands on Dark End of the Street, six covers that didn’t make it on to Cat Power’s Jukebox, released in January of this year. Marshall fares well when she puts her soul into soul numbers from Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. Her version of Redding’s “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)” is a sassy stunner. I was actually looking forward to hearing what she would do with CCR’s “Fortunate Son,” which has been covered by everybody (typically keeping with the spirit of the original). Marshall vamps it up here … doesn’t work. Another good example of how Cat Power can melt your heart, but she can also break it. Boo hoo.

Track listing for Dark End of the Street and other notable artists who’ve covered the songs. (Original artist is listed first).

“Dark End of the Street”: James Carr, Flying Burrito Brothers, Elvis Costello, The Afghan Whigs, Ryan Adams, Aretha Franklin, Frank Black.
“Fortunate Son”: Creedence Clearwater Revival, Bob Segar, Pearl Jam, Sleater-Kinney, The Circle Jerks, .38 Special, Bruce Springsteen.
“Ye Auld Triangle”: Dominic Behan (for his 1954 play The Quare Fellow), The Pogues, The Dubliners, Bob Dylan with The Band, Dropkick Murphys, Jeff Tweedy.
“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)”: Otis Redding, The Rolling Stones, Ike and Tina Turner, Seal, Barbara Mandrell.
“Who Knows Where the Time Goes”: Sandy Denny, Judy Collins, Charlie Louvin, Matthew Sweet, Nina Simone, Kate Wolf, Susanna Hoffs.
“It Ain’t Fair”: Aretha Franklin.

Now, if I can just figure this out: Is it better to cover a mediocre song well, or to cover a great song poorly? Discuss.

“I’ve Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)” - Cat Power

Tags: Aretha Franklin, Cat Power, Chan Marshall, Dark End of the Street, Jukebox, Otis Redding