Damien Jurado + Richard Swift – Other People’s Songs, Volume 1 – Album Review by Killian Laher

Damien Jurado and Richard Swift have teamed up to release this rather short album of cover versions. Jurado has a long 20 year career behind him spanning 12 albums or so, while Swift is probably best known as a member of The Shins. This selection of covers was originally released as a download in 2010 and is now finally released ‘officially’, and it leans towards middle-of-the-road, with covers of Yes and John Denver. It’s a decidedly odd sounding album, what works on Jurado’s solo albums on his own material, pushes disparate songs by Bill Fay and Kraftwerk towards the an early 70s MOR vibe with decidedly lo-fi production. Yes, that is exactly how this album sounds. Which will be great for some listeners, but a struggle for the uninitiated.

Hello Sunshine encapsulates the feeling they were aiming for best, it has that ‘Laurel Canyon’ singer-songwriter vibe. Yes’ Sweetness would almost work as well but for the production and Swift’s falsetto, which jar somewhat. Elsewhere the over the top flutes which introduce Sincere Replies are a little distracting, while versions of John Denver’s Follow Me and a sincere reading of Kraftwerk’s Radioactivity are interesting but no more than that. It’s hard to see who this album will appeal to other than hardcore fans of both. Perhaps neither artist really playing to their strengths?

Track List:

1. Be Not So Fearful (Originally by Bill Fay)
2. Hello Sunshine (Originally by Relatively Clean Rivers)
3. Sweetness (Originally by Yes)
4. Sincere Replies (Originally by Oh! Calcutta! Original Broadway Cast)
5. If The Sun Stops Shinin’ (Originally by Chubby Checker)
6. Follow Me (Originally by John Denver)
7. Outside My Window (Originally by the Fleetwoods)
8. Radioactivity (Originally by Kraftwerk)
9. Crazy Like A Fox (Originally by Link Cromwell & the Zoo)

Hello Sunshine: