‘Anemone’: the song perfect for a Big Thief cover
With their newest album, Double Infinity, Big Thief continues to show the world that they are one of the biggest musical forces on the planet.
How do you even begin to describe a sound like this? Bob Dylan, arguably one of the greatest songwriters of all time, once spoke about the creative process and, in doing so, quoted Hoagy Carmichael and his approach to writing. He attested that a lot of songs and melodies aren’t something that artists consciously write, but instead are the result of creative minds stumbling across remnants of said creativity.
“And then it happened, that queer sensation that this melody was bigger than me. Maybe I hadn’t written it all. The recollection of how, when and where it all happened became vague as the lingering strains hung in the rafters in the studio,” the quote continued. “I wanted to shout back at it, ‘Maybe I didn’t write you, but I found you’.”
Like I say, I’m not sure how you describe Big Thief’s music, but it’s somewhere in that quote. Songs found, not written. The music feels natural, both in its conception and progression. Its sound is akin to that of running water, leaves in the wind, something which is unmistakable in its beauty but feels as though it has been created by the elements as opposed to a person.
The band’s ability to expand individual pockets of music is truly unlike anything any other band has managed to achieve. It’s great to listen to, the kind of music that you put on earphones and cancel plans for. It’s soft and delicate, but then also isn’t afraid to dabble in heavy themes as well, as face-melting guitar solos and loud outros aren’t uncommon.
The musical talent which is on display throughout Big Thief makes it so that it would be pretty difficult to find a song that they wouldn’t be able to put their own positive, creative spin on. Dare I say, from the realms of hip hop to black metal, the band would be able to find a way to make a track their own and really shine on it. However, there is one song that is slightly closer to their wheelhouse, which I believe the band would truly excel performing a cover of: ‘Anemone’ by The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
Released in 1996, the song is representative of everything that Big Thief does well. It sounds borderline natural, as the guitar lines and bass runs feel as though they have been stumbled upon rather than painstakingly obsessed over. The song is a prime example of a track that doesn’t force itself upon the listener, and rather, puts you in the pocket of a sound and gradually expands upon it. It is slow-moving but incredibly atmospheric and deeply satisfying to listen to.
With the musical talent available throughout Big Thief, it feels as though this song would be perfect for them to cover. Those guitar lines could be mimicked or expanded upon, with the band implementing some of their very own independent shredding over that simple two-chord structure. Equally, the drawn-out lyrics of “You should be picking me up, instead you’re dragging me down,” are primed for the unique and sweet-sounding harmonies of Big Thief.
When you have a catalogue like Big Thief, there probably isn’t much temptation to cover artists. However, ‘Anemone’ by The Brian Jonestown Massacre feels as though it would be a perfect option for them. If they are considering some covers on an upcoming tour, this should certainly be an option to consider.
