Thursday, December 24, 2009

Worst. Richard. Thompson. Cover. Ever.

Okay, it's no secret that I have a highly inappropriate crush on Zooey Deschanel. And yes, I like some M. Ward stuff, which includes his work with Deschanel as She and Him.

But their version of Richard and Linda Thompson's brilliant "When I Get to the Border" just flat out sucks.



Not to mention it's all too much of a piece with most of the amateur hour vaguely psychedelic folk-rock crap that's currently fashionable with today's hepsters (I'm talking to you, Fleet Foxes!)

As for Ward's recent take on Buddy Holly's "Rave On," I haven't made up my mind yet.



The whole thing is a little deliberately sub-aquatic for my taste, and it seems to miss the fricking point of the song.

But sweet jeebus, at least it's more listenable than that Thompson cover...
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11 comments:

  1. Elroy12/24/2009 12:14 AM

    It sounds like they never listened to the original, to the detriment of the song. Sheesh!

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  2. Dave Lifton12/24/2009 12:51 AM

    How can you do Rave On without sounding like you're raving?

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  3. FD13NYC12/24/2009 2:03 AM

    It's an injustice when people don't stay close or true to the original when they're covering songs. Dave is right, when you listen to Buddy's own version you tap your foot, something. Ward's version puts you to sleep. Bore people with your own originals, if they're even listening.

    The Thompson cover is even worse. These self indulgent little twits.
    Oh, and I love Zooey too!

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  4. Anonymous12/24/2009 7:21 AM

    Re: Border - They turn a suicide/death song into a happy song.

    Re Rave On - This version needs Viagra something Buddy Holly never needed.

    I couldn't finish listening to either song.

    ROTP(lumber)

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  5. David12/24/2009 8:35 AM

    1. flaccid
    2. anemic

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  6. Tierra Madre Horse Sanctuary12/24/2009 8:53 AM

    My dear Steven - 'twas a lump of coal you put into our auditory stockings this morning. Although I do agree with you on Zooey. Her sister, too.

    Now there's a fantasy.......

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  7. gillian holroyd12/24/2009 8:53 AM

    covering buddy holly is sacrilegious-

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  8. Anonymous12/24/2009 11:08 AM

    Only the Beatles should be allowed to cover Holly songs.

    -mcpart

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  9. The Kenosha Kid12/24/2009 11:38 AM

    Replace Zooey Deschanel with Hope Sandoval and the song would be a winner.

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  10. cthulhu12/24/2009 2:19 PM

    mcpart sez: Only the Beatles should be allowed to cover Holly songs.

    Back in the '90s, Richard Thompson often ended his solo acoustic shows with a stellar cover of Holly's Not Fade Away. I think that RT should cover Holly anytime he wants.

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  11. Dave Lifton12/24/2009 2:48 PM

    Here's a killer cover of Rave On by someone who understands Buddy Holly pretty well.

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