Various Artists - TheLate Great DanielJohnston: DiscoveredCovered

Mon 4th Apr, 2005 in Music Reviews

Don’t be misled by the title or the tombstone on the cover. Daniel Johnston is alive and well and continues to produce reams of songs of torment, obsessions and vision only someone with bipolar disorder can perpetrate. Largely unheard of in Australia, Daniel is an Indie artist icon in the US. His career as a painter and songwriter has spanned 30-odd years and his followers and fans include [the late] Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo, Butthole Surfers and so many more. Which is obvious in the all-Indie-star guest appearances on disc one of Daniel’s latest release, The Late Great Daniel Johnston.

The album is a double-disc offering. The Originals disc is tucked away at the back as disc number two and includes 19 tracks written, sung and recorded by Daniel in his parents’ basement over the last 20 years. Each track is a unique work of art; the mood swings and depression bought on by Daniel’s condition is quite clear on tracks like Dream Scream and Go. And the crude cassette recordings lay Daniel’s soul bare. His voice clear above the guitar and out-of-tune piano accompaniment present on most songs. And don’t be put off by his almost tone-deaf sounding vocals. Because it only adds to the naivety of Daniel’s songs; his unbearable pain and loneliness so evident.

Daniel’s music is very deep, even easy to embrace but not so easy to share. It’s perfect for those pensive moments when you are home alone. Some of the highlights on disc two include Walking The Cow, Dream Scream and Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Your Grievience [sic].

However it is the Covers [disc one] offering that will probably make the uninitiated sit up and listen. It features exactly the same track list as The Originals but with performances from artists such as Eels, Gordan Gano [Violent Femmes], Bright Eyes, Beck, Death Cab for Cutie, M.Ward, T.V. on the Radio, Clem Snide, Vic Chesnutt, The Rabbit and Guster.

Certainly this disc is supported by some great production, but also each artist translates each track in a way that preserves the spirit and emotion that Daniel’s songs captures so well. Although spoilt for choice by great tracks and artists together, highlights here include Tom Waits rasping out King Kong, Teenage Fanclub’s with Jad Fair’s cover of My Life is Starting Over Again, Sparkle Horse and The Flaming Lips’ version of Go, Dead Lovers Twisted Heart arranged by Starlight Mints, and my personal favourite, Mercury Rev’s cover of Blue Clouds.

The CD comes complete with a deluxe booklet and extensive liner notes and interviews with the artist. Also on disc two there is an abundance of CD-ROM goodies including lyrics, drawings by Daniel as well as an animated music video for Rock This Town. This album is a must-have for any fan of lo-fo music. If you are new to Daniel’s music and art then do check out his website featuring an affordable Art Gallery.