The Last Shadow Puppets - 'My Mistakes Were Made For You'
Yesterday, the Pigeon Detectives got four stars for a song which probably didn't deserve it, because it sounded like the band were really trying to break their own mould and y'know, improve. Today, the Last Shadow Puppets are going to lose one star for trying to do roughly the same thing even though their song probably deserves more. And rather than get into a row about inconsistency across ChartBlog star ratings (mirror-kissing? Moi?), it's probably a good idea to try and explain what is going on.
Although, a row about inconsistency might be fun. Maybe we could do that instead...or as well as...or instead...nah, maybe not...
Here's the fully-realised, super-orchestral version of the song, in which Alex Turner's voice is adrift in a syrupy puddle of reverb. It has been arranged to ape the pomp and ruffles of John Barry or Scott Walker from the swinging '60s, just like Sharleen Spiteri's recent album has, and is quite good.
It's not VERY good, even though the song is strong, because it's just an exercise in pretending to be people from the past, and we get enough of that stuff on the X-Factor / Mark Ronson's records / Jools Holland when Seasick Steve is on. But it is good.
Here's a really nice acoustic version, which, shorn of all that reverb, puts Alex Turners honeyed-rasp back where it belongs, right at the front.
See what I mean? Whack the great big booming funk beat behind that, and some of the nicer bits of orchestration, and you've got something really good going on. And you don't have to dress up like George Harrison in order to enjoy it.
Download: Out now
CD Released: October 20th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 17th Oct 2008, thranjax wrote:The souped up version of this sounds like someone being made by his mates to do a karaoke version of a Scott Walker song, and his heart isn't in it.
That said, it's not a bad pastiche. You can just imagine it on the soundtrack of Danger! Diabolik for instance.
Thranjax
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