When we saw Swervedriver at Coachella they played a very solid set in a tent that was barely 1/3 full. Lame. One way for Adam Franklin & Co. to gain new fans amongst a younger crowd is to cover a song by a band like the beloved Wolf Parade. Bingo: On a forthcoming 7,” Franklin takes on Boeckner-fronted Apologies To The Queen Mary rocker “Shine A Light” and Dan’s Handsome Furs are set to do a still-unannounced track by Swervedriver. It’ll be available digitally and as a limited edition “Shine A Light” 7″ on colored vinyl via White Whale. We’re told to expect the finished platter in “early summer,” though Franklin’s chilled, atmospheric, and haunted (but somehow tonally sunny) take’s already available via iTunes. Or, you can stream it at MySpace. Pick a good song, Dan and Alexi. The popular “Duel” would be appropriate.
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The Franklin version suffers from what a lot of his more recent stuff suffers from – it’s just all kind of even-keeled and washed out. Swervedriver was at its best on Mezcal Head when they were uber-aggressive (for them). It’s been a steady softening process for Franklin ever since. I guess what I’m saying is – covers tend to work best when they have energy or are a bit fun. This doesn’t grab me at all (and lacks the edginess of the original).
Not that I’m not incredibly geeked to see them in Chicago next week. I can’t remember the last show I looked forward to like this.