In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Scott Amendola Band playing "Masters of War"
Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan in a Jazz vibe, can you dig it daddy-o?
Thoughts on Original:From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Ranking as one of his most accusatory and cutting tracks Dylan condemns the whole "war machine" on this classic and vital song (the "hope that you die" line is so facking cold, it is brutal). Often misrepresented as an attack on war itself (Dylan always said he wasn't a pacifist) this track calls out the government for using war-as-business (the Cold War in particular) and business-as-war models when lives are put on the line for meaningless reasons. As alive and burning now as it was in 1962 when he wrote it.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
The drummer Scott Amendola is a teacher, arranger, promoter etc. This is the first time RtBE has come across his fine work.
The drummer Scott Amendola is a teacher, arranger, promoter etc. This is the first time RtBE has come across his fine work.
Thoughts on Cover:
A slow burning cover until the 4:20 mark when the Eric Crystal's saxophone comes into the fray and kicks up the proceedings. The rest of the band Jenny Scheinman (violin), Nels Cline (guitar), Crystal and Todd Sickafoose (bass) climb claw and scratch around Amendola's drums. Carla Bozulich vocals are accusatory as are her screams.
This is exhibit A why we continue this series, now on #360. A few weeks ago we covered an artist we dig and respect and were underwhelmed by her take on a Dylan tune. This week? A fantastic artistic take on a blistering song, just kind of the cover we truly appreciate.
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