REVIEW: Various Artists, If I Were A Carpenter, (A&M)
- Michelle Richmond
Anyone who grew up to the music of the Carpenters probably remembers groaning when yet another sugary song of theirs took hold of the airwaves and didn't let go. The music was so refined, so smooth that it seemed to slip in and out of the head without ever taking root.
Well, thanks to journalist Dave Konjoyan and producer Matt Wallace, the music of the Carpenters is brought to new life with If I Were A Carpenter, an alternative take on the duo's music by 14 alternative bands. Both men conceived of the project for the 25th anniversary of the Carpenters' signing with A&M
What's so refreshing about the compilation is the artistry each act brings to the music. While it would seem that such a project would invite a tongue-in-cheek approach, the artists obviously took their tracks very seriously, exploring the darker edges of music that, 25 yeras ago was polished into pabulum
Some are faithful renditions, such as Matthew Sweet's "Let Me Be The One" and the Cranberries' "Close To You", but others, such as American Music Club's "Goodbye to Love" are restless and unsettling. In fact, the two standouts are the darkest. Cracker's "Rainy Days and Mondays" is so atonal, it risks falling off the music sheet. But the strain works, as does Sonic Youth's "Superstar". Gutsy, strange and haunting, it's the most heartfelt track on the album.
Considering that Karen Carpenter succumbed to anorexia nervosa in 1983, it's clear that there was more than one skeleton in the Carpenters' closet, despite their perfect and pristine arrangements. Perhaps Karen's death is what ultimately intrigues this alternative crowd, who are no strangers to their darker sides. It's their chance to pay homage to one who, underneath it all, was one of them.
