Friday, September 14, 2012

EBTG Week: Tracey Takes On...

... the holidays.

Yesterday, I gave the impression that, after the '80s, I gave up on Everything But The Girl. I suppose that's true, but I rediscovered my love for Tracey Thorn when she released the criminally underrated 'Love And Its Opposite,' just her third solo album, back in 2010. Now there's this news: I'm a real sucker for holiday music. So, back in August, I was excited to read Thorn would be releasing her own album of seasonal songs at the end of October.

'Tinsel and Lights' will have two original tunes by Thorn, as well as some fine selections by the likes of Green Gartside and Ron Sexsmith. What's more, Ben Watt is said to be all over this project. No, this isn't quite the EBTG reunion many of us have anticipated for years, but we'll take it.

Here is a melancholy song from 'Love And Its Opposite,' as well as a few promised EBTG covers and an extremely alternate take of a bigger-than-life classic from yesterday's post. Thorn and Watt have performed many inspiring covers together, but I think these are a cut above the rest.

I don't know if you're someone who looked at this week's series on EBTG as a walk down memory lane, or perhaps you never heard the duo before. Either way, I hope this gets you to a turntable for repeated listens to one of my favorite bands.

Tracey Thorn - Oh, The Divorces! (mp3)
Everything But The Girl - Kid (mp3)
Everything But The Girl - Almost Blue (mp3)
Everything But The Girl - Time After Time (mp3)
Everything But The Girl - Come On Home (acoustic) (mp3)

'Tinsel and Lights' Tracklist
1. Joy (written by Tracey Thorn)
2. Hard Candy Christmas (originally performed by Dolly Parton)
3. Like a Snowman (written by Stephin Merritt)
4. Maybe This Christmas (written by Ron Sexsmith)
5. In the Cold, Cold Night (written by Jack White)
6. Snow (written by Randy Newman)
7. Snow in Sun (written by Green Gartside of Scritti Politti)
8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (holiday classic)
9. Tinsel and Lights (written by Tracey Thorn)
10. River (written by Joni Mitchell)
11. Taking Down the Tree (feat. Green Gartside, written by Low)
12. Sister Winter (written by Sufjan Stevens)

2 comments:

Echorich said...

can't wait for Tinsel & Lights!!!
I love both Out of the Wood and Love and Its Opposite. With the former she broke down pop and dance and patched it back together is a very specail way. Her Version of PSB's King's Cross is inspired. Hands Up to the Ceiling reflects on the 80's pop scene which they were such a part of.
Love and Its Opposite is a reflection of life entering middle age and harkens back to the the feel of her earliest work, but with the knowledge of 30 yrs in the business.
Her collaborations with Unbending Trees and Jens Lekman are wonderful. But the three tracks she/she and Ben worked on with Massive Attack are classics.

Brian said...

Echorich,
Completely with you on your collaborations remark. If I had posted another cover, it would have been Yeah! Oh, Yeah! with Jens. However, I have to admit you've got me with Unbending Trees. I'll have to look into it. Thanks so much for the tip.