The Low Anthem’s cover of “A Shot in the Arm” will likely polarize Wilco fans. It begins as a woozy, weakened version of the original, with Jay Bennett’s Day-Glo Mellotron replaced with a muted
bassoonclarinet. What surprised me was Ben Knox Miller’s vocal, which I found nearly as effective as Jeff Tweedy’s on the original. His high, reedy voice evokes the song’s dark and druggy origins with real power, and his band mates turn in a nicely ramshackle performance that always feels on the verge of collapse. A strange triumph.
FInally got around to listening to this cover of Wilco’s “A Shot in the Arm,” and loved it. Today was the warmest day of the year so far, and I went to DC to sign the lease on the apartment I’ll be subletting for the summer — a lovely little place with a fairytale patio and garden, where I plan to sit out, grill, and listen to “Summerteeth” on warm nights like this. Join me?
