Videodrone: Toots & The Maytals Could Never Be A "Let Down"

videodrone

Toots & The Maytals Could Never Be A "Let Down"

I was reminded of Toots & the Maytals' take on Radiohead's "Let Down" by the Facebook status line of our very own Michelangelo Matos this morning, of all things. I should send him flowers in thanks. Part of what makes the track so enjoyable (for me, at least) is the circumstance of the song's creation: A reggae remake of OK Computer, especially by the band behind a previous tribute to Dark Side of the Moon seems destined for the cut-out bin. But Radiodread, which is credited to the Easy Star All-Stars and also features Horace Andy and Sugar Minott, is remarkably solid, and worth picking up for this track alone. [Youtube]

1:00 PM on Tue Jul 22 2008
By Dan Gibson
217 views
8 comments

Comments

by westartedthis at 01:22 PM on 07/22/08
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but if you're buying it off emusic, skip the Citizen Cope song. i mean - really.
by bcapirigi at 01:27 PM on 07/22/08
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i like the No Surprises on that album a lot.
by Halfwit at 01:37 PM on 07/22/08
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Every day, this one, David Bazan's, and the original trade places as my favorite version of this song.

Fascinating how they totally undermine the inherent pessimism of the second verse with the vocal energy. Dammit... one day I AM gonna grow wings!
by Dan Gibson at 01:52 PM on 07/22/08
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@westartedthis: I almost mentioned that fact in the post...I'm not sure what Citizen Cope did to get to appear on that album, and I'm equally unsure of what I'm being punished for by having to hear it.
by encyclopediablack at 01:59 PM on 07/22/08
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As a non-Radiohead fan (not saying I hate them, I can take/leave them), Radiodread was a pretty good. Dub Side of the Moon is amazing. I recommend it highly, even if you don't like Pink Floyd.
by SAShepherd at 02:36 PM on 07/22/08
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Thanks for the reminder on this -- I remember hearing the version of "Karma Police" on this, thinking, "huh. that's a lot better than it needs to be."
by jopari at 03:02 PM on 07/22/08
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@Dan Gibson: I'm not sure what Citizen Cope did to you, but it's a pretty decent cover. It's not the best on the CD, but it's a pretty good listen.
by SAShepherd at 05:05 PM on 07/22/08
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@SAShepherd: And, see, that's what I get for listening to satellite radio and not knowing that the song I liked is the very version being slammed. "Easy Star All-Stars" is already long enough on my player without adding "(feat. Citizen Cope)" to it.

Screw it, I still liked it.