Comments on: If I Had The Chance, I’d Ask The World To...

By: The Pop View

The Pop View — Mon, 22 May 2006 17:50:49 +0000

Boy, people are really hatin’ on the new Nouvelle Vague album. I posted a few tracks myself (here and here); I happen to think it’s okay. On my first listen, “Dancing with Myself” also jumped out as the stand-out track. Yes, it’s not bossa nova, but they don’t really do all their songs in that style. This arrangement goes farther than just being an acoustic version; instead, they re-invent the song.

By: overturned turtle

overturned turtle — Sun, 21 May 2006 05:33:52 +0000

I was fortunate enough to hear the whole Childballads EP, which is decidely heavier and more soulful than anything Stew has done in the past. His artistic voice has hit a level above and beyond even the best of the Fire*eater stuff (One tune in particular(called Blackbirds) is absolutley fucking top-shelf).

And while I think it’s sort of pointless to compare the Walkmen and the Ballads, I still feel pretty safe in asserting that in Stew’s case, it’s the lyrics that matter (fuck lyrics, the poetry), and any musical/stylistic similarity between the new Walkmen and the Childballads is secondary to this point. That said, any comparison made on these merits favors Lupton hands down, who regardless of any extraneous “turf-war” bullshit (which I believe he’d be the first to laugh out of town) is going to be remembered as a unique artistic voice in a cultural climate of dull formalism long after the Walkmen (still, let me reiterate, a good band) fade.

There is a base level of objective criticsm that precludes the possibility of ever comparing Leithauser and Lupton. Leithauser is a great singer, but Lupton is a great singer and a great poet. And for that reason, Lupton will last.

Deservedly so.

By: JayFlyer

JayFlyer — Sat, 20 May 2006 17:46:19 +0000

There ain’t anything horrible about Dylan… get it right or get a new day job!

By: Howard

Howard — Sat, 20 May 2006 09:13:39 +0000

Yeah, this song is a cover version of the Mazarin original. Which one is nicer? You decide!

By: pabost

pabost — Fri, 19 May 2006 23:51:20 +0000

I don’t understand the Hamilton negativity. I’m hard-pressed to think of many frontmen in his league. Everytime I’ve seen them he’s been this incredible, stalking presence on stage. Have you guys ever heard his earlier stuff w/ the Recoys? I find it pretty great, as well.

Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to the Childballads stuff, as well.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 19 May 2006 17:46:01 +0000

I’m so glad other people don’t like the new Walkmen, I thought I was the only one. thank goodness!

By: John

John — Fri, 19 May 2006 12:01:44 +0000

Wow.. No kidding about this song being very, very close to the original of, uh, last year.

Apart from some walkmen-eqsue touchs like sleigh bells, it’s the same track.

Thanks to hype machine, found the original here:

http://withoutsound.com/2006/04/18/mazarin

Pretty disappointed in this album. Bows + Arrows is still one of my favorites though.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 19 May 2006 06:40:20 +0000

I’ve taken that possibility into account, Matthew. I’m just waiting for my finances and my newfound Hank enthusiasm to have similar viewpoints.

By: Matthew

Matthew — Fri, 19 May 2006 05:42:06 +0000

Richard, you really can’t go wrong with that Hank album.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 19 May 2006 05:19:43 +0000

Gosh, that Hank track posted in your column is nifty…