Mini-Listen #21

'Neath Your Covers (part 1) - Cowboy Junkies

First, let me say that I bought this latest Cowboy Junkies disc mostly to get my hands on the EP of covers. I was dying to hear Margo Timmins' sultry voice set against one of my all-time favorite songs: Thunder Road.

I was not disappointed. They turn in a fine folk-rockish version that waits until just the right moment to 'let go'. Seriously, I get goosebumps during those conclusive chords post-"..pulling out of here to win."

Thunder Road is followed by a Neil Young-ish take on the Cure nugget "Seventeen Seconds". Creepy & scary.

But then, after the relative cheerfulness of Townes Van Zandt's "Lungs", the Junkies drop right back into the shimmering doom of Jesse Colin Young's "Darkness, Darkness."

And what was that about Neil Young? This version of "Helpless" recalls Young and Joni Mitchell during The Band's Last Waltz concert. Very powerful.

I haven't even listened to One Soul Now yet...but this EP makes me feel like I've gotten my money's worth already.

(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)

Article Author: Mark Saleski

Mark Saleski is a writer and music obsessive based out of the Monadnock region of New Hampshire. He is an editor and writer for Jazz.com. He also writes reviews for Blogcritics.org and produces the weekly feature The Friday Morning Listen. …

Visit Mark Saleski's author page — Mark Saleski's Blog