Good Cover Version: Walt Wagner Does My Bloody Valentine

Pulp gave the world the song "Bad Cover Version." But seeing as I'm a sonic optimist, I'm of the belief that there's more likely than not more good cover versions floating around than bad ones. Good Cover Version celebrates the good, and leaves all that bad and ugly stuff alone.

Once upon a time, yours truly was a student of piano. I was probably moderately passable for a novice, but my Geminian lack of commitment meant the piano and I soon parted ways. To this day, however, I am fascinated by the piano, and those who tickle the ivories. So when I heard about newly-retired pianist Walt Wagner doing a record of covers for Sub Pop, I was naturally intrigued. Wagner's rendition of the My Bloody Valentine treasure "I Only Said" is in itself a modern classic. Played with tenderness and lightness, there's something spritely in the way Wagner touches upon each note. It's playful at times, while still retaining that sense of majestic expanse that MBV was so adept at crafting on Loveless. Very well done indeed.    



[posted 11.10.17]

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