By Joe Johnson (CIVL DJ/The Cascade) – Email
Print Edition: April 9, 2014
Host of This Joe Show’s Everything Indie in CIVL Radio, and The Cascade’s Business Manager, Joe Johnson had an acoustic indie special this past week. Here are five lyrically heavy and emotionally packed tracks from that show.
Foster the People — Pumped up Kicks
To commemorate the release of their sophomore album, the acoustic version of the track that made Foster the People a mainstream crossover is a necessary listen. Not only does the stripped down acoustic showcase the lyrics of the indie pop track, it differentiates the entire experience. Between the full-bodied original and this version, the acoustic may reign.
Justin Rutledge — Don’t Be So Mean, Jellybean
While it was never released on any of Rutledge’s albums, this track goes back to his early days. A 2006 live version recorded at Toronto’s Cameron House has gained significant attraction on YouTube. This is a track that pulls in the crowd, has elements of humour, emotion, and is an example of Rutledge’s amazing, very Canadian, folk roots.
Bad Books — Forest Whitaker
A side project of Andy Hull from Manchester Orchestra, Bad Books’ Forest Whitaker has been given an acoustic turn. Being an acoustic version not found on the album, it obviously lacks the popier rock edge found polished in the studio mastered original. But this makes it so much better. The originally buried aching lyrics in the song come through in a big way.
Soko — “Treat Your Woman Right”
Not a secondary version to the original, this track was intended to mute the instruments and highlight Soko’s lyrics. Like the rest of the album that the song’s found on, it’s beautifully riddled with hollowed feeling. With only one album under her belt, one selfishly hopes her pain endures into future projects.
She & Him — “You Really Got a Hold on Me”
She & Him, composed of Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward, had an MTV recording of this song that stands far above their recorded edition. In it their duet connects so harmoniously and effortlessly that you’d be fooled into believing that the two do have a romantic hold on each other.
