Remake/Remodel #5: ONJ's Physical

Now, how can anyone forget THAT video? Sooo 80s.

The absolute nadir of 80s pop. In hindsight we can look back and think "what the hell...???" but back then this thing was bigger than Texas. I wonder how many people were inspired to take out gym memberships because of this clip?

And don't let all the vibrating arse cheeks, leotards and legwarmers fool you: this is not a song about exercise. Well it is, kinda...if you count that sort of thing as exercise, which I guess you could. You know what I'm on about, surely.

Funnily enough, it's not often you hear a cover version of it. Much less by a band that takes its cues from a band like Pavement. However, Dollar Bar, indie rockers from Brisbane Australia have taken this synth-ey 80s come-on, seemingly stripped the glamour out of it and made it sound dangerous, dirty and, well, to some ears anyway, downright creepy! It's quite hard to describe Dale's vocal delivery on the Dollar Bar track, whether he's playing the desperate and socially inept nerd looking for an elusive bit of action, or whether he's dispiritedly and nonchalantly making a play without really expecting any positive result.

There's something strangely warm and attractive about our Livvy's delivery in the original, but it also kind of reeks of tacky, overpriced nightclubs where the beautiful people hang out (read: NOT ME!!!). Dollar Bar sounds like they're trying to pick up at a LAN-party hosted by Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory.

In my view, there's something oddly compelling about Dollar Bar's version that sets it above ONJ's version, but largely because I'm kinda over the cheesiness of the original...and I've personally heard it too many times in my lifetime to be truly objective. I approve of the redone treatment.

Take a listen to both below. Which do you prefer?

The original:


Dollar Bar's cover, from their Bandcamp page:

Sunday Sessions - Cats and Jammers

One of the local schools has an open day on today. Nothing reminds me more of school and juvenile delinquency in general than this track.

It's by a Chicago based band called Cats and Jammers, who have traded in big, dumb adolescent fun since 1999. This song is just pure fun for all of its 2 minutes flat. The words are clever and it'll get stuck in your head for a long long time after hearing it. With a title like "Spitball", well I guess you can only draw one conclusion as to what the song is about...

As an added bonus, this album "Propose Toast" which contains 17 tracks and is a compilation of their first 3 LPs is available at the bands Bandcamp page for a measly $5. Rock on over and invest - it's a top notch record, cover to cover..

Enjoy!

TSATF Recommends: Sutton Althisar

So who's ever heard the sound of a siren from a parallel dimension? What sounds like a distress signal from a floating skyscraper in zero gravity? An emergency beacon from an international space station in a distant galaxy?

Welcome to "Fire and Smoke" by Sutton Althisar, an indie-electro-folk musician who has not long arrived in Australia from LA. Here is a new work of a musician who has developed a sound that is not altogether immediate at first, but is rich enough to reward repeated listenings. "Fire and Smoke" has plenty going on within its other-worldly-styled arrangement, but at its core is a warm melody carried forth by the tones of Sutton's voice. There's a lot to be gained from close listening to this track. The B-side of this digital single "Let The Sun" is more immediate, with some interesting string textures throughout, but it adds a mellower compliment to the wilder A-side.

Definitely recommended.

Featured below is both the aforementioned tracks for you to check out, and then swing by Sutton's Bandcamp page and buy yourself a copy.

Enjoy!