A Little Touch of Schwalkmen in the Night
Following the release of their critically acclaimed third album A Hundred Miles Off, New York City’s The Walkmen have announced that they intend to continue their quest of promoting overlooked early 1970s pop Americana. This time around, instead of being merely influenced or inspired by musicians of yore, The Walkmen have recorded a note-for-note replica of Harry Nilsson’s 1974 Pussy Cats, although they intend to call their record Pussy Cats Starring The Walkmen and release it October 24, 2006. Nilsson originally recorded Pussy Cats with John Lennon in a fit of drugs, debauchery, and booze as part of Lennon’s famous 18 month mid-life crisis known as his “lost weekend.” The Walkmen recorded Pussy Cats Starring The Walkmen in three weeks immediately before Marcata Recording Studio was moved from Harlem to update New York. Nilsson ruptured his vocal chords while recording his album, while Hamilton Leithauser sings as though his vocal chords were permanently ruptured. For his album, Nilsson covered such rock’n'roll classics as “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and “Rock Around the Clock”; The Walkmen cover Nilsson covering such rock’n'roll classics as “Subterranean Homesick Blues” and “Rock Around the Clock.” Now wrap your head around that meta conundrum.
To get a feel for how these step-sons of Schmilsson measure up, preview the original and the imposter:
Harry Nilsson – “Many Rivers to Cross”
The Walkmen – “Many Rivers to Cross”
Goodness, that’s a good tune! And it’s only the opening track. Did you notice the backing track that Lennon also employed on “#9 Dream,” which was released on his 1974 “lost weekend” record Walls and Bridges? The Post-Rockist news staff is now patiently awaiting the legal release of the Walkmen’s version.
The Internet Overfloweth with Free Audio Streams
Outkast – Idlewild {Due in stores August 22, 2006}
Of Montreal – Satanic Twins {Due in stores August 22, 2006}
Excepter – Alternation {Currently available}
The Rapture – “Get Myself Into It” {Available on Pieces of People We Love, hitting the States September 5, 2006}
Boy George Humiliated By People With Cameras, Just Wants to Pick Up NYC Garbage
Go on, yuck it up. You think you’re better than him? Well, ya ain’t!
2 Comments
That could be very interesting. Hopefully, this will draw people toward Nilsson’s back catalogue, which is about as underrated as it gets.
I personally suggest “Son of Schmilsson” or “Aerial Ballet” as starters. For you hopeless romantics like myself, buy “A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night,” wait until just after dusk, open a bottle of red wine, dim the lights, sit in your comfy chair or sofa, push play, and close your eyes.