C.D. Singles Club #37 – Coconut and the Duke – Walcott

Let me be clear – I love me some covers. But what I really love are covers that are better than the original.

Such is the case, in my marginally humble opinion, with Coconut and the Duke’s recently released take on Vampire Weekend’s “Walcott.” The duo, which usually perform a delightful blend of original lazy-folk, have an ongoing monthly cover series that has previously included artists like Danny Elfman, Bryan Adams, and Eddie Money; their take on the hyper-elite New York indie rockers is merely the November edition of the series.

Ordinarily, I steer clear of parroting publicity comments – that’s a founding principle of this here blog, actually – but the notes that came with the mp3-laden email that included this version of “Walcott” were just too perfect to keep to myself.

Vampires seem to be everywhere these days. So it makes perfect sense for Coconut and The Duke to cover Vampire Weekend’s “Walcott”. Instead of a keyboard-driven anthem, the invasive folk duo have slowed it down – brought the song from the stadium into the parlor. Special guest, The Duchess handles the lead vocals.

Nice wordsmithing, eh? I thought so. Of course, I’ll add a few of my own. I love the folkified jangle of the instrumentals in this version, as well as the exceptional enunciation of the lyrics. Slowing it down and clarifying matters shows what a versatile song “Walcott” is and, while I prefer this new adaptation, it provides tremendous evidence of the writing chops that belong to Head Vampire Ezra Koenig. The effects of the tune still recall to mind a coastal mindset, but this time you get more of a Hollywood’s score to a beach vacation scene than the in-your-face multi-culti multikulti hammer of the original. And even if you liked that hammer, you’ll still find the treatment “Walcott” receives here respectful, restrained, and right on.

Coconut and the Duke – Walcott