Damon & Naomi @ Cafe OTO originally uploaded by grange85
I’m beginning to think that this series could be saved for Naomi and her footwear – this is her 3rd or 4th appearance (although sadly the pic of her in her wellies has gone astray from flickr).
Last Thursday Dean & Britta performed a set for radio station KCRW’s show Morning Becomes Eclectic. The set mostly featured tracks from 13 Most Beautiful, but slipped in near the end was a cover of Galaxie 500’s Snowstorm. Now Snowstorm is my favourite song, no question. It entered my life at a very important time and did, to a certain extent, play its part in changing that life. I’d possibly suggest that a week hasn’t gone past since I first heard it that I haven’t listened to it, and all that listening hasn’t diminished its effect on me one drop. No other music comes even close to making me feel the way it does.
So, you’d think that hearing Dean Wareham singing Snowstorm would be something that I’d appreciate, and to be honest so would I. But listening to that performance (and an earlier live performance that appeared on YouTube a few weeks previously) made me feel uncomfortable.
It’s always been hard for me to look at Dean’s work with any sort of objectivity, but that’s never been a problem because, well… it has all been great, there’s frankly nothing there which has cause to question my objectivity! I’m pretty certain I’ve never thought, let alone written down, a single jot of criticism of any of his work. Which is going to make the next couple of paragraphs pretty hard going.
I’ve seen Dean & Britta, and Luna before them (and even Damon & Naomi), perform many Galaxie 500 songs and I’ve never been bothered. In fact mostly I have been overjoyed and have swayed blissfully, happy that I can hear these songs again. But for some reason with Snowstorm all the things that have never bothered me in the past really did bother me, and actually they bothered me quite a lot.
Dean’s voice was good, and I think that might be a crucial point in what made it all sound so wrong. Hearing that familiar voice over that unfamiliar backing. The harsher drum sound, the fuzzier guitar, the more intricate bass line, the keyboards… MOSTLY the keyboards. It never had the other worldly, it never took me to that special place that Snowstorm has always taken me. It wasn’t a song capable of changing a life.
I love Dean & Britta and I love that they’re doing Galaxie 500 numbers, and I even appreciate that my attachment to Snowstorm might be quite unique and therefore I am the only one who finds it bothersome. But I do. I hope to get to see Dean & Britta play (a non 13 Most Beautiful show) in the near future, maybe even one of the Galaxie 500 shows they’ve been doing… but I wonder if they’ll take requests?
I have a Google blog search set up to track down bloggers posting about Luna, unfortunately most of what it catches are splogs – which should piss me off but they make me smile so I can’t really hate them too much! Here’s a selection of my faves. Note…
the constant use of Lee Wall (II) which clearly shows that IMDB has been raided for film names.
the spelling throughout that proves that the spammers didn’t bother using a dictionary.
Luna – Tell Me Do You Miss Me also has some exceedingly splendacious photography! The plot line is just positively terrific. The terrifically glorious cast includes Lee Wall (II), Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips, Sean Eden.
If you love watching Lee Wall (II) or Dean Wareham, you are deffinetly going to want to watch Luna – Tell Me Do You Miss Me
I think Lee Wall (II) and Dean Wareham worked wonderful in Luna – Tell Me Do You Miss Me.
The stupendous cast in this movie is eye-opening: Lee Wall (II), Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips, Sean Eden. For certain an award winning work with characters.
A fantastic performance by Lee Wall (II) & Dean Wareham make Luna – Tell Me Do You Miss Me a “ought to mark” movie!
The dazzling cast in this movie is wonderful: Lee Wall (II), Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips, Sean Eden. Honestly an award winning adventure with characters that you can by.
A enigmatic performance by Lee Wall (II) & Dean Wareham make Luna – Tell Me Do You Miss Me a “want to savvy” movie!
The great cast includes Lee Wall (II), Dean Wareham, Britta Phillips, Sean Eden. The movie moves on like a dream and end leaving you wanting for more.
If you love watching Lee Wall (II) or Dean Wareham, you are deffinetly going to passion to watch Luna – Tell Me Do You Miss Me.
The funny thing of course is that it really is a “ought to mark” movie and you certainly will passion it…
I’ve just finished Dean Wareham’s book – for a fan it is a slightly frustrating gem of a read – it’s written in an easy casual style with Dean’s dry wit recognisable from 20 years of listening to his lyrics. Too often, however, the story ends too quickly – I know it’s because I’m a fan and the book is written for people who don’t necessarily care about every little detail of every little tour. That’s possibly why the extended chapter on Pup Tent is so one of the high (and simultaneously low) points of the book.
There’s a last page spoiler coming – you have been warned…
The last time Dean appeared in this series I rushed off to the Puma website to try and buy his shoes (now that’s the dedication of a fan). I do rather like these white shoes but they are white and I don’t think I can pull that off ( I don’t think many people can pull off white footwear!)
So this time I’m not as inspired to walk in the shoes of my hero.