Old Things That Are New To Me: Sebadoh’s ‘Punk Moon’

Earlier today, my friend and co-worker Lars tweeted:

“Accidentally typed “Punk Moon” instead of “Pink Moon.” Oh, Nick Drake, the world would have been so different.”

Which got me to reply:

How hasn’t there been a punk tribute to Nick Drake yet? We got the title right there! How do we make this happen?

Thanks to another friend, and former intern, I was tipped off to an amazing cover of Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon” played by early ’90s indie rockers Sebadoh. Though a grainy old performance video from 1995, it was clearly a solid, powerful punk-ed out version of the iconic folk song. “Why didn’t they ever record this?” I wondered. But of course, things being the internet and all, I quickly found that they DID record a studio version of this song:

The song appeared on Sebadoh’s 1992 album Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock, a compilation album of songs from their Rocking the Forest EP and their Sebadoh vs. Helmet EP. The record served as the band’s Sub Pop debut. While I’m a big fan of Sebadoh, I’ll freely admit I haven’t heard everything, and mostly know their albums The Freed Man, Sebadoh III and Bubble And Scrape. Looks like I have some more homework to do. It’s always cool to find out something new from a band like this.

Memoryhouse: A Blissed-Out And Beautifully Murky ‘Heirloom’

Memoryhouse – “Heirloom” from Jamie Harley on Vimeo.

Just came across Memoryhouse today when I read that they have signed with Sub Pop. I can’t say I’ve heard too much about this Toronto pop duo just yet, but they seem to be wading in the same waters as labelmates Beach House and Papercuts. That is, they play gorgeous, blissed-out dream pop filled with reverb, washed out vocals and crisp guitars that cut through the murky beauty.

While their Sub Pop debut isn’t due for awhile, check out this fantastic video for the song “Heirloom” — directed by Jamie Harley that uses old footage from Morocco and London shot back in 1968 for some film called Home Movie. I love the blasted out colors and grainy footage from what looks to be 16mm stock. It works very nicely with the mood of the song.

I look forward to hearing more from this band this year.