Comments on: Basement Songs: Eddie Vedder, “Hard Sun”

By: JonCummings

JonCummings — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:20:14 +0000

Publishing world, listen up–it's time to give Scott Malchus a contract for a Basement Songs compilation.

If friggin' Mitch Albom makes millions for the sentimental shite he writes, you should make a mint for these brilliant columns.

You're a good man. Or at least you do a good job posing as one–I'd still like to hear what Julie has to say about all this.

By: JonCummings

JonCummings — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:20:14 +0000

Publishing world, listen up–it's time to give Scott Malchus a contract for a Basement Songs compilation.

If friggin' Mitch Albom makes millions for the sentimental shite he writes, you should make a mint for these brilliant columns.

You're a good man. Or at least you do a good job posing as one–I'd still like to hear what Julie has to say about all this.

By: DwDunphy

DwDunphy — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:54:53 +0000

I heard on the radio this morning that doctors created a transplant windpipe for a patient out of stemcells. Keep your hopes up that this finally is the year research gets its due and untold numbers of ailments and diseases meet their overdue end.

By: bvladika

bvladika — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:27:44 +0000

Regardless of the origins of the song, as I too have heard that it was a cover, Eddie's ethereal and sub-surface voice do transcend the lyrics. You can feel the harshness and truth of him realizing his own limitations and how he is better through being a part of another. Truly stunning recording.

By: Malchus

Malchus — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:10:43 +0000

A friend of mine who used to work at William Morris wrote me this:

” It was actually written and recorded by Gordon Peterson, of his band Indio. If you go onto Youtube, you can actually pull the song up under “Hard Sun Indio.” When I was at William Morris, they signed Indio to the agency. I saw Indio play at this small club on the Sunset Strip. One of the most spiritual, amazing, transcendent experiences of my life. And they played this song. Prime example of music taking a person to a higher level. And it wasn't just me – the entire crowd of people went there with me. Indio was that kind of below-the radar-band that had such a buzz on them because of their album and their live performances (and they refused to “play the game” of the industry). Being at William Morris, I was able to get any of their artist's tapes. So I took one of Indio's for me, and I use to play it over and over and over. I will try to find it and lend it to you. If you love this song, you will love the album.”

By: Malchus

Malchus — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:09:32 +0000

Nitpick away! That's what I love about the basement songs, it's like actually hanging out with a group of friends who correct you when you don't have all the facts. A typical conversation would go something like this:

Scott: Dude, you gotta hear this new song by Eddie! It's awesome.
(song begins)
Scott: Yeah, so, like, he wrote this for Spicoli's new movie!
Jeff: Uh, Scott, Eddie didn't write this.
Scott: Hubba wha?
Jeff: Yeah, it was done some band called Indio.
Scott: Well alright! Turn it up!

By: Allen

Allen — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:51:12 +0000

onebrown, it's from some Canadian musician who called himself Indio. It's really hard to find now. But, if I recall, the two versions are not all that dissimilar.
Nice post, Scott.

By: onebrownjeff

onebrownjeff — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:45:10 +0000

Not to nitpick, but Hard Sun is actually a cover. It was by a band called Indio, it came out in 1989. I remember spinning it on college radio back in the day.

Still damn fine post none-the-less.

By: Bob B

Bob B — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:25:49 +0000

Dude…inspirational as ever! =) Now tell us how “your” race went!