Beach Slang
"We Were Babies & We Were Dirtbags [Quiet Slang]"
Polyvinyl
Released: October 20, 2017
Beach Slang is playing December 1, 2017 in Bethlehem, PA @ ArtsQuest - Blast Furnace Room.
I like Jimmy. I used to call him Smilin' Jim when he was in Weston, based in my home scene of the Lehigh Valley.
I like Beach Slang. A lot.
I love it when bands remix, re-record, cover songs, try different takes on their own songs...
As evidence, my Depeche Mode vinyl collection includes 82 LPs and 12"s even though they only have 14 studio albums. Most of that is 12" eps with multiple versions and remixes of the songs I already love.
What Beach Slang has done here is work a perfect EP for me.
James Alex occasionally performs Beach Slang's songs as intimate solo renditions, appropriately dubbed "Quiet Slang". This ep includes versions fleshed out in the studio to include piano and cello. The result is f*cking fantastic.
"Future Mixtape for the Art Kids" is a great song, originally from the LP "A Loud Bash of Teenage Feelings", but damn if I don't even love it more this way. It has one of my favorite lyrics,
"We are not f*cked, we are f*cking alive, I hope I never die"
"Bad Art and Weirdo Ideas", originally on "The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us", is one of my favorite Beach Slang songs. The original has the simple haunting "ahhh ahh ahh" vocal in the background. The piano and cello version on this EP is classic. Simply beautiful. The beauty also lies in the fact that I love listening to both versions. Check the video below:
The piano in the song "Androgynous" (Joan Jett) falls into my favorite categories of cover song and a version significantly different than the original.
"Androgynous"
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Here comes Dick
He's wearing a skirt
Here comes Jane
You know she's sporting a chain
Same hair revolution
Same build evolution
Tomorrow who's going to fuss
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know
Love each other so
Androgynous
Well don't get him wrong
And don't get him mad
He might be a father
But he sure ain't a dad
She don't need
Advice that they send to her
She's happy with the way she looks
She's happy with her gender
And they love each other so
Androgynous
Closer than you know
Love each other so
Androgynous
Mirror image see no damage
See no evil at all
Cutie dolls and urine stalls
Will be laughed at the way
You're laughed at now
Now something meets boy
And something meets girl
They both are the same
They're…
The EP winds up with a Big Star cover of "Thirteen". Self explanatory.
Enjoy.
Cheers,
Frank FOE
Frank FOE
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