It's an interesting take, scuzzy electronic squalls, ominous piano chords and programmed beats replacing the original's more nuanced instrumentation whilst remaining a largely faithful version. At 4:10, Shirley utters "I Love You Siouxsie", bringing the song to a satisfying conclusion.
Aside from the RSD 12", Cities in Dust is also available digitally as part of a 4-track EP. Lead song Witness To Your Love originally snuck out on an Urban Outfitters/Filter Magazine charity CD in the USA in 2008 whilst Garbage were on hiatus. The other two songs are outtakes from their last album, 2021's No Gods No Masters.
Cities In Dust is a good if inessential version but it does it's job in taking you back to the original song. A much loved single, I bought the 12" version back in 1985 though didn't bother with parent album Tinderbox until it's re-release as an expanded CD edition in 2009.
The video's quite a treat, an amusingly literal take on the Pompeii story and Siousxie naturally owns every moment that she's on screen.
Mrs. K and I were privileged to see Pompeii for ourselves in 2007 and it was a fascinating, sobering
experience. And bloody hot, as Italy was in the midst of a heatwave,
taking temperatures past 40 degrees. That day, I could appreciate the irony of
taking shelter inside from the burning heat outside.
Thanks for the heads-up on this, K. Good, if inessential version actually feels a bit generous. To be fair, it sounds like a Garbage original rather than an original, but I really feel they are butchering the song.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JC. It's not a keeper and neither was a previous cover from 2010 by Junkie XL. I'd generously describe it as Republica goes electroclash. Stick with the original and best.
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