Modern Qualifier 39 – LP, Eleanor Friedberger, Jason Isbell, Pearl Charles

Title track from the singer-songwriter’s first major label EP, in 2012. Nominated by Julia H.
From the former Fiery Furnace’s 2011 solo debut, Last Summer. Nominated by Robert K.
From the Metallica Blacklist box set of cover versions. Nominated by Matt L.
Opening track from the LA singer-songwriter’s 2021 LP Magic Mirror. Nominated by Dan PM.

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Modern Qualifier 40 – BLK JKS, MC Loma, Machinedrum, Most Chill Slackmob

Modern Qualifier 38 – CURATED by Patrick Van D!

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Pop-o-matic

22 May 2023 12:52

I heard “Only For Tonight” just after the nominations for 2021 poll closed, otherwise it would have been my main nom back then. Nominated it now as it’s not likely to fit into a themed poll.
It was my most listened to song last year and I think it’s basically a perfect pop song. Just wanted to introduce to a few more people!

Jeff Worrell

24 May 2023 20:09

Reply to Pop-o-matic

Voted for Pearl partly for the sheer cheek of the ABBA steal, but there’s a strong song in there too, and I’ve saved the album on Spotify.

Pop-o-matic

26 May 2023 17:11

Reply to Jeff Worrell

It’s the best song on the album by some distance (IMO obvs). Worth a go though!

j_e_l

22 May 2023 13:01

I liked Pearl Charles best here, it has a 70’s pop vibe. Am reminded that I really don’t like Metallica.

matt parks

22 May 2023 14:21

I love Isbell, and he’s generally a pretty great interpreter of other people’s stuff (see “I Know a Little” & “Mutineer”). The Metallica cover here is precise, nuanced, and expressive in a way that Hetfield really isn’t quite capable off. It doesn’t have the propulsive force of the original, but who does? “Into the Wild” walks a line between dramatic and self-consciously melodramatic. “Only For Tonight” sounds like a cover of something really good, but isn’t. I’m fascinated by how much meaning Friedberger is able to wring out of something that sounds as simple and casual as “My Mistakes.”

Dan Bright-Amaya

22 May 2023 17:00

I saw The Fiery Furnaces at an ATP in the mid 00s sometime and it was an amazing performance that never quite seemed to work on their albums and lost interest. So great to hear Eleanor Friedberger sounding so good here. Liked Pearl Charles a lot too but maybe a little too perfect.

Edward Still

22 May 2023 17:32

On listening today I had Pearl Charles wrongly pegged as 1979, but rightly pegged as marvellous. Quote possibly top GB so far

Edward Still

25 May 2023 19:05

Reply to Edward Still

I mean the album cover alone suggests she’s fully invested in the bit. More power to her!

Last edited 1 year ago by Edward Still

Tom

22 May 2023 22:16

On paper the group least in my wheelhouse today. In reality I liked all of these a surprising amount! LP had a Neko Case-y push to their voice; Isbell is having a ton of fun; the Furnaces never clicked for me but this Friedberger track is just off-kilter enough to be interesting.

Butttt like a lot of others I had to vote Pearl Charles. Doing an ABBA pastiche is a bit like doing a Beatles pastiche – sounds good but do you actually have the melody to pull it off? This pretty much does!

bartlebooth45

23 May 2023 20:59

Not familiar with any of these artists (well, apart from Metallica) but I liked all these tunes. I plumped for Into the Wild. Not usually my cup of tea but its clattering build drew me in. The Friedberger is a breezy enough tune and the ABBA pastiche is very nice too.

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Modern Qualifier 39 – LP, Eleanor Friedberger, Jason Isbell, Pearl Charles

Modern Qualifier 40 – BLK JKS, MC Loma, Machinedrum, Most Chill Slackmob

Modern Qualifier 38 – CURATED by Patrick Van D!

The Discourse