Thank God I don't live in Austria

[pitchfork.com]

Xiu Xiu is fine, but unleashing Deerhoof on Unknown Pleasures seems appallingly cruel. They should just stick to making their own music unlistenable and leave Joy Division alone.



Post Edited (02-03-10 18:18)

I'm amazed that covering Joy Divison still hasn't gone past the hipster expiration date. Maybe because the umpteen-million remakes of "Love Will Tear us Apart" have finally exhusted that song, they're moving on to the rest of the JD catalogue.

Reminds me of the '80s when everyone started covering the Velvets.

Joy Division's version of "Sister Ray" just leaned around the credenza and told me to say "hello."

"You should hear our version of 'Louie Louie.' Whoa!"

What's the animus against Deerhoof? They are a pretty rockin' outfit.

I can't give you song titles, breno, but the leadoff track from just about every Deerhoof album rocks like a mofo. They often do get bogged down in the dee-doo-dee-doo silliness like "Dog On The Sidewalk" later on their albums, but there are always some great rockers mixed in as well.

What Nosepail said.

I've never been able to get into them, and God knows I've tried. But I'm willing to try again.

Give me a list of 10 or so of their songs that you believe might win me over and I'll be glad to check them out again. Wouldn't be the first time I hated something the first few times I listened to it and ended up loving it later.



Post Edited (02-03-10 23:37)

i'm with breno...

Joy Division covers always have annoyed me, because they practically always suck. In 30 years (can't believe it's been that long), I've only heard two groups do even a listenable job of covering "Love Will Tear Us Apart." One of them was New Order.

My own band used to cover "Transmission" and "Digital." Listening to the old tapes, though, I'm embarrassed by those renditions.

Speaking of awful covers, I heard something truly pitiful this evening at the grocery: a Muzak version of "Get Up Stand Up."

Liked Low's version of "Transmission," but I'm having trouble coming up with any other JD covers that I cared much for.

Low's "Transmission" forms a nice little trinity with Galaxie 500's "Ceremony" and that version of "Disorder" that Bedhead did.

All three were fairly slow, quiet bands and the covers work out nice on a mix CD. If you're into that sort of thing.

breno-
Nick Cave has a unique take on LWTUA, the Simple Minds not so much
Galaxie 500 did a great one (can't remember which)
NiN did an awful one
I like Versus' straight reading of 24hrs

As for Deerhoof, I dont think a list of songs would be useful. They are album-oriented noise rock (more rock than noise) with kick ass guitar and squeaky Japanase vocals. I can see where that wouldnt be your cup of tea, but I wouldnt say that listening to them do some JD covers would be "appalingly cruel". But then again, I am no Ian Curtis worshipper, so I wouldnt consider even the worst cover version of their songs any great sacrilege.

I listened to the clips of Deerhoof's recent album on iTunes today and concede that my judgement of them is out of date and unfair - the album I'd had that put me off them was The Man, the King, the Girl, which I honestly did not realize was 13 years old. It didn't seem like it was that long ago that I'd had the album and had a very negative reaction to it. It just seemed like five or six years ago to me, but it must have been 1997 or 98, because it hadn't been out very long when I picked it up.

The newer stuff sounded pretty good - especially Friend Opportunity - and I'll likely obtain a copy of that album in the near future to be sure. The vocals still are a stumbling block, which is kind of puzzling to me since I like Shonen Knife, Yoko and Asobi Seksu, so the Japanese vocal style is not a problem for me, and I loved Altered Images, so little girl vocals aren't a problem for me either, but this particular combination does give me pause.

But I can see how I might be a convert, so I'm glad I badmouthed them if the defense of them changes my mind.

i would like to try some of this deer.

Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white,
clean and bright
You look happy to meet me.
Blossom of snow
may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever.
Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Bless my homeland forever.

(Sob)

Hoip, was that from Unknown Pleasures or Closer?

The Hills are alive with the --


Sound of Music, which coincidentally is a Joy Division title.

Just trying to restore some pride to Austria.


See it again!