In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by State Radio playing "John Brown"
In the past we have highlighted The Byrds, Coulson-Dean-McGuiness-Flint, The Hollies, Joan Osbourne, Mountain, Betty LeVette , Reggae Covers and many more.
For November and December we highlight covers from: Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International
Thoughts on Original:
An absolutely crushing anti-war song, that is a monster from Dylan and should be more famous. While "Masters of War" breakdown the war machine, "John Brown" addresses the human toll expertly. Musically it takes from the folk tradition, as lots of Dylan's early tunes do, but lyrical it expands upon the topic with passion and pain. A chilling tale of hurt and the cost of war, "John Brown" is an all-time great Dylan tune.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time RtBE has heard of State Radio
Thoughts on Cover:
The band puts rocking energy into the original with fuzzy guitars, and stuttering drum pattern. The energy takes away from the lyrical content, as the vocals are muffled and the verses are rambled through, but the playing is interesting in a heavy rocking blues vein with post punk feeling. Certainly a unique take on the tune.
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