Unless you are of a certain age or a rather excitable cinephile, the title Road House will mean very little to you. For those that know, you are probably wiping up messies from the inside crotchal region of your pants after reading that movie buzz word. The original Road House was the tender story of a head bar bouncer named Dalton, played methodically by one Patrick Swayze (I think he’s described in the flick along the lines of “the best cooler in the biz,” if that helps at all). There are fights galore, a little lovin’, a blind guitar hero, a grizzled old fart (played -- you guessed it -- by grizzled old fart Sam Elliott. In short, my friends, it has it all.
What Road House did for bar brawling cornball cinema, My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless set the high water mark for, well, indie rock in general. All true pioneer art gets reinterpreted as a sequel; it happened to Road House, and it has now happened with Loveless. Just like 2006’s Road House 2: Last Call had difficulty harnessing the same magic that once swirled around the Double Deuce Saloon like so much of Swayze’s testosterone and hair gel, it’s doubtful that a Japancakes version of the seminal MBV album will equal the wow factor of the original Loveless. Or have I spoken too soon? It is Loveless -- an album of remarkable effects-piling sound and gorgeous tunes that not even Nickleback could fuck up by covering -- a different take on the record is always worth a shot. And given it is done in full, Loveless-length glory, using pedal steel/cello in place of vocals and lead melodies by Eric Berg’s lonesome Georgia wranglers, it is absolutely worth your time and hard-earned cash. If you want a taste before digging in heartily, you can sample the Japancakes versions of “To Hear Knows When” and “Loomer” on the band’s MySpace page.
It’s been a long time since a new Japancakes album graced our ears (although not as long as a My Bloody Valentine album, of course), but it does seem like the band is making up for lost time. A new Japancakes album, Giving Machines, flew under the radar October 9 through Darla Records, and their Loveless interpretation is actually out today (again courtesy of Darla).
As for the real My Bloody Valentine, there has been a lot of speculation and talk of a beating pulse found in Kevin Shields, a band reunion in the works, a new album nearing completion, and a forthcoming tour, but for that story you should read this TMT MBV story. And no, I’m not taking back that Nickleback comment, because they are an easy target and everyone picks on them.... they deserve every single verbal shit-storm directed at them.
Loveless:
1. Only Shallow
2. Loomer
3. Touched
4. To Here Knows When
5. When You Sleep
6. I Only Said
7. Come in Alone
8. Sometimes
9. Blown a Wish
10. What You Want
11. Soon
