I don't do too much talking

First day of college is done-and I am tired as shit. I won't get in to it too much as I have been away for the whole summer (those playlists don't really count in my book as posts). The only note is that the girl down the hall listens to Tegan and Sara, Death Cab, and The Mountain Goats so that could be a goldmine of new music but I assume the radio station will afford me the same opportunity.

Some may say I've already posted this song but I could not pass up an opportunity to post this version. I promise I am not obsessed with the song, I just think it has really stood the test of time.

I guess the first post to kick off the summer will be ripped straight from one of the blogs that I read. This comes straight from DailyBeatz (its ok to repost one of their songs considering they scooped me by only a few hours on some song a couple months back.) The song is a remix of a Nico song (of Andy Warhol superstar "fame"). I first heard her music in the movie The Royal Tenenbaums, the song was These Days, the cinematography was great, and more so I found Nico's voice haunting. So as you can assume I was excited to see someone had remixed the song. In this case by Japanese Electro/Acid-Jazz artist Shinichi Osawa.

The song begins the same with the same iconic rhythm guitar but then quickly diverges into an entirely different experience that runs rampant with vamping and excessive loops. For the most part that is the only change but a tiny change like that coupled with the drum beat and a few synth affects turns the song into another genre and another league. It is with this that I think a song can be given a face-lift to go better with the times. By no means is this a club beat and remix, but it gives it a fresh feel with a song that after a while sounds a little dated. Enjoy the track and be sure (if you haven't already) to listen to the original.

"These Days" by Nico remixed by Shinichi Osawa

(I could not find it on YouTube but here is the link to the DailyBeatz post)

"These Days" by Nico from Chelsea Girl 1967

-S

Fun Fact: The song was originally written by Jackson Browne and done by Gregg Allman and Elliot Smith as well (all three versions are very different interpretations)

I've been out walking

Just finished watching Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson's new movie. I have to say, it is pretty great, and pretty much like every other Wes Anderson movie. Regardless, it got me thinking about some of his other movies, particularly the soundtracks. There have been some pretty great songs utilized in his movies. However, one reigns supreme in my mind, "These Days" covered by Nico is by far one of the most beautiful (the original was written by Jackson Browne-note though, they are very different-Browne also performed his with Gregg Allman), and really just hits home with me. The guitar is great, and the strings really pull it all together.


As for Nico's voice, she is pretty unique, the voice can sound a little ugly and haunting, but that is just if you take it at face value. If you really listen to it it fits perfectly with her music. She is especially great on the VU album she headlined on. However this song is from her sophomore album Chelsea Girl, taken from the Warhol film of the same name. Her music particularly hit home with one of my favorite musicians, Elliot Smith. He described her music as being very influential in his musical style, which led him to cover a couple of Nico's songs.

So enjoy, I'll post both the Nico, Elliot Smith, and Jackson Browne versions of the song, they are all pretty classic and influential in their own right. By the way, if you wanted to know which movie "These Days" was featured in, it was The Royal Tennenbaums, which had a great soundtrack in and of itself.

"These Days" by Jackson Browne

"These Days" covered by Nico from Chelsea Girl (1967)

"These Days" covered by Elliot Smith

-S
*Note-I just found out that while Browne did write the song Nico recorded it first-with permission from Browne of course*