Tortoise have collaborated with Superwolf star Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy on The Bold and The Brave, an album of cover songs due out next year. Gorilla Vs. Bear has their version of Elton John’s “Daniel,” and Dreams Of Horses (so many animals in this post!) has Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.” Guitarist Jeff Parker discussed the tunes with Chicago Sun-Times last month:
Just in terms of the way ["Thunder Road"] is constructed, it’s like a movie. I think the version we did is epic in the same way, but it has a downtempo, almost R. Kelly/Isley Brothers kind of feel.
As for the Elton John tune:
There are casual allusions to the harmonic progression. But other than that, it’s just a drone with a stagnant guitar part underneath. It’s pretty haunting and dark.
i.e., not for the faint of post-rock. But recommended. Here’s the full tracklist:
Bonnie “Prince” Billy & Tortoise – The Bold And The Brave [Overcoat, 2006]
Daniel (Elton John)
The Calvary Cross (Richard Thompson)
That’s Pep! (Devo)
It’s Expected I’m Gone (the Minutemen)
Cravo e Canela (Milton Nascimento)
Some Say (I Got Devil) (Melanie)
Pancho (Don Williams)
Love Is Love (Lungfish)
On My Own (Quix*o*tic)
Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen)
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Moving faster than a Tortoise fan’s no effort, but…
More importantly, no love for Pitchfork today? Their ex- (and now again) writer DiCrescenzo published what looked, to my sleepy eyes, like a libellous column about Devendra Banhart’s ‘child abuse subtext’ in his songs. Try finding that column online now.
you mean this column?
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/columns/dicrescenzo/05-10-31.shtml
it’s still there.
Bronson VS God has the live version of “Death to Everyone” from the soon to be released live album. Find it there.
fucking geeks.
yeah, i’ve been loving that album. such a sucker for almost any cover of “Daniel.”