LCD Soundsystem’s ‘All My Friends’ was dubbed the number one song of 2007 by Pitchfork in their list of top 100 tracks. And so it goes with every other number one song in a list of top 100 tracks; I never got why the song was number one. Let’s just say, both John Cale and Franz Ferdinand agreed with Pitchfork and each came out with their own interpretation of the greatly lauded tune. Both of these remakes are equally good, with both musicians bringing forth their own unique flavour and individual style, furnishing the original with much needed variation, while not completely overdoing it.|mp3|
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John Cale’s version had me salivating over the violins and heavy guitar drones, which roused my craving for the music of Velvet Underground . Cale’s version couldn’t have been more perfect.James Murphy's vocal on the original is terrific, and his singing is heartfelt, but Cale has a different quality. He sounds impatient, weary-- like he's cutting through the crap. He's got no time for niceties or cutesiness or referencing. He's got to get this thing over with; he's got shit to take care of. So he barrels through the middle of the song without worrying that his voice sounds flat and his accent sometimes sounds a little funny on the words he didn't write. Cale's performance encapsulates something we hope for from older performers: He sounds experienced and learned but still tough.
