Self Portrait
In December 2002 Canard and the Magnetic Band drove south to the deserted beach of Cape San Blas, Florida to record a set of covers for what would come to be known as the Self Portrait sessions, in homage to Bob Dylan's maligned covers record. This material, an odd assortment of old country, r&b, and rock tunes, allowed the boys to tap into a more subtle, roots-oriented approach and play some old favorites while learning to use a new digital recording setup. The project took on a life of its own as the band realized that, more than just an exercise as it was originally intended, this collection had grown into something that the band would be proud to release to the public.
The Making of Self Portrait (Quicktime slideshow)
The Songs - mp3s have been removed in order to post new music. Email us if you are interested in a specific song.
01 You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate
Canard: This was one of my favorites growing up. My brother and I used to
listen to it off a K-tel compilation. I think it was called "Powerhouse."
Listen for the beer tab and Brent on jaw harp and bongos.
Brent: I really like the way Mike sings this one. Also, this arrangement probably
differs more from the original recording than any of the other tunes we did.
02 Flaming Star - Elvis Presley
Canard: A song from an Elvis film where he plays a Native American. Coming
up with the arrangement was fun. It's pretty faithful to the original.
03 Lookin' For a Love - Neil Young
Canard: Push comes to shove "Zuma" was my favorite by Crazy Horse.
I had a crappy jambox that kept a tape of this rolling for a few years in
my mom's Pontiac station wagon. The only tune I've ever used a capo on.
04 Honky Tonk Downstairs - George Jones
Canard: George Jones sings for women's rights!?!?! A sensitive song about
a woman who married a drunkard. My brother Jason plays mandolin on this. Great
harp from Ito. I play lap steel.
05 Clang of the Yankee Reaper - Van Dyke Parks
Canard: Van Dyke Parks is a butthole? One of our more complex attempts.I really
love this one. Marc plays organ and strings and does wonderful harmonies with
Brent. My brother Jason adds a haunting mandolin part. Cool song, neat structure,
weird lyrics. Dawn of the Meatball Puker.
Brent: What a cool song. I had never heard this one til Mike played it for
us. Dig Jason's mandolin part!
06 Truck Stop Gravy - Canard
Canard: A silly song written about getting gravy at a truckstop. My pop used
to take us to this huge sprawling truckstop near Lloyd, FL. which was called
"Mid-Continent." Maybe it should have been named "INCONTINENT."
Lots of biscuits and gravy at this place on hunting trips. Truckin' like the
doo-da man. Strangely this is the only original on the album. Although I wouldn't
really call it "original!" Brent on falsetto.
07 Let's Straighten It Out - Latimore
Canard: By a man called Latimore. You should go out and buy his best of on
Rhino. This is such a great groove. Brent and I play percussion. I play a
Rhodes and organ part on this. A real fun one to do live too. A friend of
mine saw a recent photo from one of Latimore's later albums and claimed he
looked "dusty."
08 Shade Tree (Fix-It Man) - Merle Haggard
Canard: This was probably considered filler by Merle Haggard fans but I always
thought it was a really cool song.
09 I Believe In You - Don Williams
Canard: My bro' made me listen to Don Williams when this song was all
over the radio. Brent was already familiar with it and he also suggested "Good
Ole Boys Like Me" which we recorded for this but didn't use. Marc on
harp.
Brent: Mike and I both knew this one from when we were kids. My dad loves Don Williams. Like he said, we attempted a last minute version of "Good Ole Boys" that didn't make the cut...
10 Rubberneckin' - Elvis Presley
Canard: All I can say is we beat that choad Paul Oakenfold to the punch. Who would have thought that anyone else would even want to cover this song? A real bullshit Stax/Motown rip off by Elvis for one of his films. Now used to sell whatever and have losers dance to it at clubs. I really love this tune. Marc wasn't totally sold on it but Brent's backing falsetto vocals are worth listening too alone. Brent on percussion as well. I play the organ.
Brent: This one is goofy to the point of embarrassment but we had fun with it. My drumming sucks on it but I tried to make up for it with percussion and vocals.
11 Wonderin' - Neil Young
Canard: Another Neil Young song but one from his obnoxious "Shocking Pinks" period. Neil's foray into rockabilly was my first experience in buying one of his records. There are bootlegs of Crazy Horse playing this in a more countrified style from the early 70's. A great song. Once again my brother comes through on the mandolin. Marc and Brent on the harmonies.
12 Tight Connection To My Heart - Bob Dylan
Canard: A really great pop song by Mr. Bob Dylan. I remember seeing the music video which was an amazingly embarassing attempt to have Bob be popular with people who watched MTV in the 80's! A powder blue wig actually rolls down some stairs if I am not mistaken. I am proud of my guitar work on this one. The album this originally showed up on is way overproduced garbage but there's at least two or three great ones on it.
Brent: We did another mix of this with a robotic voice that is priceless. I might actually like it better but Ito or Adam nixed it.
13 Zurich Is Stained - Pavement
Canard: A Pavement cover from one of the most influential records of the last 20 years. We did it campfire style. Two mics in the room and Marc again on the harp. Brent plays acoustic guitar and does the other lead vocal.
Brent: One of my all-time favorites. It was fun to sing.
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