Don’t ask me why I obsessively look to rock ’n’ roll bands for some kind of model for a better society. I guess it’s just that I glimpsed something beautiful in a flashbulb moment once, and perhaps mistaking it for prophecy have been seeking its fulfillment ever since.
- Lester Bangs
As soon as I heard Mark Lanegan sing these lyrics on the tune 'You Will Miss Me When I Burn' I wondered what took Lanegan SO LONG to cover Will Oldham(the song is a Palace Brothers original). Lanegan's trademark brooding vocals work so incredibly well with Oldham's knack for writing gorgeously downtrodden songs. And this song doesn't dissapoint.
This tune as well as Langegan colloborations with such talent as Mike Patton, Gibby Haynes, and several others can be found on the brand new Soulsavers record, aptly titled 'Broken.'
It's been...like a few weeks since my last Oldham post maybe? Too long any way you look at it. I like to post a song or so a month if for no other reason than the fact that when I do, I get to search for more Oldham pictures. He takes some of the best photos in all of rockdom.
Here is one of my favorite Palace Brothers songs, it can be found on 'Lost Blues And Other Songs'
I think covering a Will Oldham song is sort of like rollerblading. It may look like a really good idea, but if you mess it up you can look REALLY stupid.
Oldham's songs are so incredible that it probably seems like they would just sing themselves, right? But that wonderfully off beat voice of his does an amazing job of bringing his dark, beautiful lyrics to life and if you don't get the song right, it could be a disaster.
I wish I had more evidence to back up my hypothesis, but alas the only other cover of an Oldham song that I can think of off the top of my head is Johnny Cash's gorgeous version of 'I See A Darkness' and it's Johnny Cash for God's sake, so of course he handles it perfectly.
The Frames version of 'Ohio Riverboat Song' that I have posted here also does Mr. Oldham more than proud. Glen Hansard channels his Irish soul and puts his own spin on the tune, making it his own but keeping it equally as beautiful.
"You remind me of something, a song that I am...and you sing me back in to myself"
What an incredible songwriter Will Oldham is. What I wouldn't give to find one of those mythical wormholes, like in the movie 'Being John Malkovich'...seeing the world through Mr. Oldham's eyes, even if only for a short time, would probably be amazing.
This is another one from his incredible new record, 'Lie Down In The Light'
I have always thought that this song was one of the saddest, most bleak children's songs ever written(the fact that I would even list such things in my mind points to the fact that I probably need professional help, but that is another topic entirely).
Now I know I was right. I mean if Will Oldham his paying homage to it, it is certifiably sad....ah, the sweet sound of vindication!
Again, please don't let the dazzling special effects in the video I made distract you from the song ;-)
...or my email is anyway! Hey, it's me Blair...the Certain Songs staff of one. I just do this for the love of the music and am in no way trying to rip anybody off, so if you are an artist or a record label and you are not happy that I am promoting your music, or you want me to take a song down, just shoot me an email and I will most definitely oblige.
And please support the artists I post here in whatever way you can if you do download a song...go to a show, buy some merch, buy an album...these songs are the soundtrack to my life and I just love to share them. But I can only do that if the insanely talented artist responsible for said songs are able to eat.
I also love hearing new stuff...so any submissions can also be sent to my email, I will try my bestest to listen to everything and get back to you all...peace,love,rock n' roll.
csmusicblog@gmail.com
Monthly Mix Tape
Mission Statement
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the east coast. Roughly twenty years old. Got coaxed out by a certain perfect ratio. Of warm beer to the summer smoke. And the meat loaf to the billy joel. Certain songs they get so scratched into our souls.
She goes low on the seats when she gets high in her car. She looks shallow but shes neck deep in the steamy dreams of the guys along the harbor bars. She's pulling out her shirttails and jacking up her socks. Stern and stoned and confident, coming up towards the jukebox. Born into the only songs that everybody finally sings along. B-1 is for the good girls. It's only the good die young. C-9 is for the making eyes. It's paradise by the dashboard light. D4 is for the lovers. B12 is for the speeders. And the hard drugs are for the bartenders and the kitchen workers and the bartender's friends. And they're playing it again. Ellen Foley gives us hope. Certain songs they get scratched into our souls.
I guess you're old enough to know. Kids out on the west coast are taking off their clothes. Screwing in the surf and going out to shows. They get high and ride around in gtos. I guess you're old enough to know. CERTAIN SONGS THEY GET SCRATCHED INTO OUR SOULS. - The Hold Steady
