Duncan Sheik Covers The 80s

I have had a bit of a crush on Duncan Sheik for the better part of 16 years, starting with my fascination with his first hit song, Barely Breathing. I've been a fan since, and have the self-titled debut, as well as Daylight, Whisper House, White Limousine, and the latest, Covers 80's, as a part of my collection. And when I first heard of the latest, I have to admit to rolling my eyes just a bit. After all, Duncan was a singer/songwriter, one whose talents I greatly admire. Why in the name of all that is holy would he be doing an album of compositions of others? And some of the greatest British New Wave bands of the time? Did my questions stop me from buying it? No, not at all. And after the first time I listened, I rolled my eyes alright, at my own ability to think I know better than the artist, cause I really like the album!

On Covers 80's, Sheik definitely puts his own spin, his own mojo on the songs. There is a peace, a calm, that is part of all the arrangements, some sort of Zen Sheik-ness. He handles the covers sweetly, but not gingerly. This isn't a karaoke album, filled with original arrangements with Duncan's vocals laid over them. He deconstructs each song, and tailored them to his own specs, and rejuvenates them. With this 12-song effort, he covers Depeche Mode, the Thompson Twins, New Order, The Cure, Howard Jones, Love And Rockets, Tears For Fears, Japan, Talk Talk, The Smiths, The Blue Nile, and the Psychedelic Furs. This is quite a cross-section of the period, and quite the daunting task. Unless, of course, you are Duncan Sheik.



There are several of his covers that infatuated me, including So Alive, the cover of the Love And Rockets song. It couldn't be more different than the original, which was this sexy, whispered, almost guttural call of the teenager for sex. Sheik's cover taps into his maturity, and is more of a search for something more. Here is the video for So Alive.



Of course, he picked a song by Depeche Mode, who in so many ways define the shifting scene of 80s music, from their early music that was Electro-Pop fun, to the dark and sexy rebellion of the teens. Sheik went for the 1986 release, Stripped, off the Black Celebration album. This is the first track off the album, and the sparse arrangement begins this journey, letting us know that the album will be "Stripped down to the bone." Sheik injects a bit of innocence to the song, and a softness. This is his version of Stripped.



I am a huge fan of the Psychedelic Furs, even before they reached mass audiences with the soundtrack to Pretty In Pink, the John Hughes teen epic. Lead singer Richard Butler had such a distinctive voice, the band had such a strong sound. So when I saw Duncan was planning to cover the 1986 hit The Ghost In You, I didn't know what to expect. Thankfully, he did a wonderfully touching job, once I truly enjoyed.



And can you believe he took on another of the holiest of sacred cows? Yes, I am talking about New Order. Duncan managed to pull up Love Vigilantes, a song off the 1985 album Low-Life. This song wasn't a single off the album, that was The Perfect Kiss. But this is a great song. And Sheik does a great job with it.



This is just a taste for four of the twelve songs on the album. I am also crazy about his cover of Kyoto Song, by The Cure. For more about Duncan Sheik, you can visit his official website here. You can find Covers 80's on iTunes and Amazon.

Worth Another Listen - Psychedelic Furs Part 2

Yesterday, I brought us up for Love My Way, the single from the Valley Girl Soundtrack album. They followed that with the single Heaven, which made it to #4 on the College chart. Although a great song, it did mark a move toward a slightly softer, more pop sound for the band, while still maintaining their trademark sound. It was the first single off the 1984 album, Mirror Moves.



The second single was The Ghost In You, another strong song from the Furs. In fact, it shot up the College chart to add another #1 to their collection. The song also made it to #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.



The first single off 1987's Midnight To Midnight was Heartbreak Beat, about as close to a dance song as you get with the Furs. Some hardcore fans were disappointed, but it sorta reminded me of some of the music The Cure had done, coming close to a pop-dance song, but with twists in the rhythms and and instrumentation.



In 1991, the Psychedelic Furs called it a day. The Butler brothers went on to start another band, Love Spit Love. The band had good success with the critics and moderate commercial success with two albums. They were asked to cover the Smiths' How Soon Is Now? for the movie The Craft, which went on to be used as the theme song to the WB series, Charmed.



Om 2000, the Psychedelic Furs regrouped to put together a Greatest Hits Live album, as well as do a bit of touring. They still continue to tour today. You can find more about them at their official website here.

Worth Another Listen - Psychedelic Furs

Since I was on a Valley Girl roll, I thought I would continue it with one of the bigger acts on the soundtrack who had a career more far-reaching, starting with the Psychedelic Furs. The British band made up of brothers Richard & Tim Butler, with Duncan Kilburn, Paul Wilson and Roger Morris filling out the band in 1977. By the 1980 release of their eponymous first album, Vince Ely replaced Paul Wilson, and John Ashton was added. The self-titled album instantly became a part of college radio, each single finding it's way on the playlist on every campus.

There sound was an interesting confluence of Punk, Rock and a out of retro-pop. Lead singer Richard Butler has a voice unlike most others heard until now, with an inherent growl belied by a softness in the delivery. Early on, the band tended toward a density of music, a depth and heft to the sound that is unmistakably the Furs. This is their second single, Sister Europe.



The sophomore effort, Talk Talk Talk, helped to establish them as a force in the early 80s. Released in 1981, the album cracked the Top 100, going up to #89. in part due to the strength of a wonderful song. The third single was Pretty In Pink, which later went on to inspire the John Hughes movie of the same name. In 1981, rose to #22 on the College Airplay chart, and when re-released as part of the movie soundtrack in 1986, it made it to number 1.



The initial success of Talk Talk Talk and the song Pretty In Pink set the stage for the first release off the third album, 1982's Forever Now. That song, Love My Way, went to #1 on the collge chart, and made it to #44 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also part of the Valley Girl Soundtrack.



There was certainly more to come with the Psych Furs, and I will post about that tomorrow in Part 2. Until then, if you'd like to learn more about the Psychedelic Furs, check out their official website for Sony Music here.