Switches All Around

The Dø “At Last” – No, it’s not a cover of the Etta James wedding standard, but lyrically, it’s saying roughly the same thing, albeit without the melodrama. The James song is a terrific piece of music, but if you think about the approach is all wrong — finding the love of your life shouldn’t be the end of the story, as if your problems have been solved and the rest of your life is just one big happy ending. I mean, there’s an emotional truth in that song, no doubt, but I find it a lot easier to relate to the more low key and reasonable expectations for love and commitment in The Dø’s tune. It’s mellow and relaxed, but more importantly, gorgeous and quietly passionate. Olivia Merilahti’s vocal performance hits just the right combination of expressing relief, joy, and a bit of fear that this happy feeling could be fleeting, or that maybe she’s making a mistake by putting all her eggs in one basket. Her fragility is out in the open, and more than anything else, it’s a show of courage, and you can’t really have love without courage. (Click here to buy it via The Dø’s MySpace page.)