Track Review: Chromatics "I'm On Fire"


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If it wasn't so pretty, I'd be tempted to label Chromatics' cover of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" a redundant choice for the band. It's a sleepily discofied cover of an eighties hit, originally recorded by a huge star that's suddenly held up as a towering influence on today's young bands. Their version of Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" already checked those boxes. But while listening to the lightly churning guitar and fuzzy synth blankets herein, I just don't have the heart to be hyper critical. As always, it's Ruth Radalet's chilled vocal that paradoxically melts my resolve. She's a tad warmer here than usual, with the Boss's yearning lines forcing a more alert delivery. Her coos resurrect the song's sex appeal for those of us who can't get warm for sweaty Jersey dudes, no matter their level of renown. If Chromatics are content to keep laying their sound over ready made classics, attention will eventually wane. For now, the lack of total novelty doesn't make the result any less devastating.
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2 Responses

October 16, 2007 at 8:16 p.m.

It's hard to deny a coo like that. Nice version of this song.

October 16, 2007 at 10:05 p.m.

How many bands currently cover this song? Doesn't Bat for Lashes do a version of it too? And I saw Electrelane do it in concert earlier this year.

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