For some generations that are “somewhat” older, holding a physical object containing music is still an essential element of the experience of enjoying music. We all have our hard disc(s) full of all sorts of music, a lot of still unlisted to, some maybe never will be. But knowing that, at least, there is a vinyl, cd or an obscure cassette (8 track cartridges anyone?) still brings a bit of warmth to your heart.
I guess than that the reissue of Damien Jurado and Richard Swift’s “Other People’s Songs Vol.1” which came out as a download only in 2010 is a continuation of that trend. I definitely hope it does not turn into an anomaly. Some music just might be missed. Does this brief album fall into that category?
This was initially a weekend project - the two guys sat at home and started having fun with a 4-track recorder and any Sixties and Seventies song that seems to have come to their mind. And by just coming to mind, I mean anything from John Denver to Kraftwerk and everything else in between. How’s the old twister Chubby Checker and true “progressives” like Yes for good measure?
Instead of making this a hodgepodge of tunes, styles and disparate music, Jurado and Swift made all of them a unifying whole. Basically they made other people’s songs their own. Both Jurado and Swift have great melodic voices and the sparse, homegrown arrangements seem to be tailor-made for all of these songs.
Spinning this one more time, I guess the answer to my own question is a sure yes (including the abovementioned band).
