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Peg - Nerina Pallot Single Review

Posted: 23rd May 2007
Review Info
Rating:
4 out of 5
Artist:
Release Date:
25th Jun 2007
Label:
www.14thfloorrecords.com
Reviewer:
Daniel O'Connell
Peg - Nerina Pallot Single Review

Single Review

Can Nerina Pallot do nothing wrong at all? [well, ermm .there was that ill-advised message in a bottle duet with Charlotte Church a while back Ed]. For her latest single Nerina treads on the hallowed ground that is a Steely Dan cover the classic Peg. Youll be reasonably old if you remember the original, and not quite so old (well, by my definition, anyway) if you remember the De La Souls flower-power rap Eye Know which borrowed much of the song for its melody and rhythm.

The original is absolute perfection testament to which is the fact that Donald Fagan and Walter Becker auditioned eight solos from different guitarists until settling on the one that made that cut (Jay Graydon, in case youre interested.. god bless Wikipedia!).

This version sees Nerina going in a slightly RnB direction - perhaps the influence of new producer Richard X, who has produced for Liberty X, Kelis, Ciara and Rachel Stevens amongst others. This is a little bit of a departure from the more acoustically-based last album Fires.

I must admit, the whole production seemed a bit too modern to me initially, with a synth line providing the bottom end (at this point I should tell you that Steely Dans Peg is one of my favourite songs), but the ever silky vocals soon won me over.

No solo in this version, instead a rhythmic break takes its place in the middle eight. Overall, this is a very nice up-to-date version of the song, sticking quite faithfully to the original, only with Nerina singing backup to herself on the harmonies, rather than Michael McDonald on the original.

After checking out the Nerina Pallot myspace site (www.myspace.com/nerinapallot), it seems that shes quite a Steely Dan fan placing them even above the Beatles in her list of faves

Overall, a very nice single and one that should do well commercially.

Daniel O'Connell