In case you were wondering, Cornershop still exists. And for some of us out here, who’ve been missing the UK band’s wild and infectious take on international rock and pop, this is, like, really big and amazingly great news. The band’s most recent record, Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast, came out in the UK last summer and is still awaiting proper release in the States. We just scoped it, and let us tell you: It wraps around your head like the softest, friendly-est patchouli smelling drug rug you’ve ever encountered. And the bonus track is this, “Waterloo Sunset,” covered live on a UK radio show. Now, “Waterloo Sunset,” of course, is kind of a like-duh, obvious cover in some ways, but it also happens to be one of the greatest songs and melodies ever written. And if what we gather from old man English music magazines is to be believed, it’s also Britian’s second national anthem. Which is great for Cornershop, who’ve spent whole chunks of their career smashing notions of what is and is not “English.” But really, “Waterloo Sunset” belongs to romance, and to cities, and the sense that they are beautiful, crowded places where, in the middle of it, two people can find each other at the end of every week and gaze upon the modern chaos and find, in it, their love reflected. That is some powerful shit right there. Cornershop plays it straight here, because to do anything else would basically be tasteless. Instead, they let that melody pour out of a hot, clean guitar line and god damn if it doesn’t sound like home, wherever you are. When Ray Davies, the song’s author, hits the Tower Theater this weekend and plays this one amidst the rustle of fall in Philadelphia, we know this much: Finally, after years of Walkman telepathy, this song will finally be about Philadelphia.

Today’s Vibe is a new regular post category on Philebrity, named after our long-lost podcast series, which we really need to dig up and listen to again. In these posts, we will discuss things — songs, people, colors, vibes — that we are into on that particular day. If you feel like you know what today’s vibe is and would like us to consider it, share it with us by emailing tips[at]philebrity[dot]com with “TODAY’S VIBE” in the subject header.

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 4:33 pm.