I love Nirvana's original version of "Lithium", but today I felt like something a little different. This cover by The Polyphonic Spree is totally awesome in my book. Some commenter on the youtube video above referred to the group and to cover as "gay". Really though, with the whole chorus of Polyphonic Spree singers belting out the lines, it has a sort of crazed mob feeling to it that the original lacks. In fact in some ways the group in this cover sounds even closer to the 'craking' point the song speaks of. And the instrumentation only adds to it with the blend of keyboards, violin, cello, harp, & slide whistles on the one hand, and horns, guitars & drums on the other. So many instruments and voices in a wall of sound at the climax of the song, it is an awesome sound and scene, on the edge of chaos, that I think pays tribute to the kind of thinking that led to the original song by Nirvana.
By the way, they say the white robes are there to provide the "image of purity, hope, and happiness", but really with up to 27 performers at times, I have to believe it is to clearly mark who is in the crowd and who is performing. Plus it puts the focus on THEM, their faces, instruments, and music, not on what each of the 27 members is wearing. I get that. Perhaps they'll let me be number 28?
PS: The FULL song can be heard here. The video above chops off the last minute or so where the song slowly fades one instrument at a time and finishes on a chord so full of optimism that it is hard to believe it is still a Nirvana song. I love it!
Click here for more info on The Polyphonic Spree – Wait – "Lithium".
The MP3 may be purchased here… The Polyphonic Spree - Wait
