Violent Femmes Go 'Crazy' on Gnarls Barkley
Once upon a time -- 2006 to be exact -- Gnarls Barkley turned out a cover of the Violent Femmes' 'Gone Daddy Gone' on their debut album, 'St. Elsewhere.' Now the Femmes are returning the favor by taking on Gnarls' signature track, 'Crazy,' albeit a little (OK, a lot) late to the game. The Femmes, who haven't issued a new studio album since 2000's 'Freak Magnet,' will release the song digitally and on limited edition light blue vinyl through violentandcrazy.com on June 24."I might compare it to a calm pond," Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Loo Green says of the Femmes' rendition in a web post. "I caught my reflection in it. And I seemed momentarily at peace. This track sounds entirely different in the rain, and supports some intriguing lilypads."
Um, sure. For a better understanding, the issuing label, L.A. 's the Secret Life of Records, describes it this way: "Like a Morricone style dirge recorded by the Mamas and Papas, Violent Femmes' cover of Gnarls Barkley's infamous 'Crazy' is like nothing you've heard from the legendary alt-rock trio before. Their oft-imitated folk-punk sound is flavored with surf rock guitar and Theremin, creating a tranquility that is somber and otherworldly."
Meanwhile, 'Crazy' has previously been covered by everyone from the Kooks and Nelly Furtado to the Zutons, Ray LaMontagne, Shawn Colvin and the Raconteurs.
Posted by John D. Luerssen on Jun 10th 2008 3:00PM
Filed under: News, New Music










