Singles, demos, and unreleased: 3 that Do It Right
Collections of singles, demos, and previously unreleased material are increasingly popular. Here we look at four instances that get it right.
It became fashionable to release collections of singles, B-sides, demos, and other adorable material a while ago. Sometimes it’s done well, but not very often. When such compilations work, they change our perceptions of the artist. It is like reading a book of unpublished stories by your favorite author, making you feel much closer to him or her because the editor isn’t in the way, the publisher isn’t in the way, and (we assume) the author’s voice is private. In a word, we experience a voyeuristic thrill. Any VU fan that first heard the demos when the box set was released knows this thrill intimately. (more…)
Don’t Promise Me Anything
Don’t promise me anything at all
You went away with a distant force
Many years ago we said much more
This year you keep on the Athens call
Look my back’s against some foreign wall
The times I tried to break on through
Rethought all this “being a friend to you”
Reconsider everything I do
Then take it back, agree, talk to to you
Said at once I’m the only friend you’ve got
I’m not someone that you think is someone you can talk at and
Keep it stoled away, until it’s necessary to call
Treat me someone up against some wall
Treat me like some dream that you can’t forget
Live out all your days like it hasn’t happened yet
Consider it enough to be froze in time
Do me a favor if I help you to unwind it all.
Words and music by P. J. ‘Sgt. Bear’ O’Connell
