Jeff's Best of 2021 - #7: Nell and the Flaming Lips - Where the Viaduct Looms

I've never really been able to get into Nick Cave, but Nell Smith and The Flaming Lips changed that for me.

Nell Smith is a 14-year-old Flaming Lips fan, while "She Don't Use Jelly" was 14 years old when Nell Smith was born. She somehow struck up a friendship with Wayne Coyne, he sent her some Cave records, and they collaborated on this masterpiece. Nell Smith brings a unique, measured perspective to these songs, and The Flaming Lips do their thing to it and turn nine songs you've heard before into something fresh and different.

Granted, I think four or five different versions of "Red Right Hand" have dropped in recent years, slightly fewer versions of "The Ship Song" (a highlight here), and yet these feel both new and different while still keeping the haunting feel of the originals. That's difficult to do for any covers album, never mind accomplish at age 14 in a remote collaboration. This is just golden, and I'm glad it exists.

Songs of note: "The Ship Song," "Red Right Hand," "Weeping Song," "Into My Arms"

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

Dutch ReBelle - "GOONIEZ"

The Freqs - "Witch"