Monday, July 6, 2009
review by Monica McCallum
The opening chords of Vetiver’s cover of Michael Hurley’s “Blue Driver” evoke, in my mind, a very particular image. Driving through the desert, in an old beat up van with bad coffee, sporadic air conditioning, and stops at shady diners planted haphazardly in the middle of nowhere – I can understand why folk music is so popular out here. Of course, if you’ve never made the drive yourself, you can get pretty close simply by listening to this song. The steady tap of the drum and repetitive bass line in the background lend a sense of perpetual motion to the tune as it progresses steadily from start to finish, without a care in the world, ending only when a vocal siren wail pulls the song over for being too awesome.
Vetiver’s Andy Cabic first brought the group together in Greensboro, North Carolina where he met his fellow musicians Sanders Trippe (guitar and vocals) and Brent Dunn (bass). Since the group’s move to San Francisco, they have collaborated with numerous artists, including the delightfully original Joanna Newsom, amongst other local musicians, to produce a string of whimsical, earthy, indie-folk albums. “Blue Driver” can be found on Vetiver’s June 2008 release, Things of the Past, which boasts a wonderful collection of folk/rock covers from the late 60s and early 70s, revitalized by Cabic without destroying their originality. If you are looking for a mellow, blast from the past for your daily commute, be sure to listen to “Blue Driver” – you won’t be disappointed.
Buy at
RhapsodyBlue Driver (mp3)