Jennifer Castle returns for her second Lagniappe Session for Aquarium Drunkard with two poignant, piano-based covers for all y’all swaying blanket people: Bob Marley’s “Stand Alone” and Brooke Benton’s “I Got What I Wanted.”

In Jennifer’s own words:

“Stand Alone” by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1971) is a perfect heartache song. Reggae is the best during the Canadian winter to help motivate general living, with its inherent messages of power, endurance, love, and positive resistance. I love this song as it focuses in on the dilemma of blame. The Wailers carry it all by their special backing vocals, and the melody gives me heart-stoppage each time.

I found an old mixtape tape recently while trying to record on my four-track for this session; it was a mixtape from 2006-ish when my friend Davida Nemeroff (who took the Angels of Death cover shot, and made the “Texas” video) lost her dog to a streetcar accident. She had a gathering in the park to commemorate her dog, which ended up being young Toronto versions of ourselves on blankets, swaying drunk in the summer, singing along to a small handheld tape player (RIP Beatrice: Too Young To Die). This song (from 1963) was on that tape, but it was the Ted Hawkins version (incredible). 

It was nice to hear it again recently. I hadn’t listened to it since those days, but I started to sing it like an old familiar around the house last month. Then I remembered  Woolly Leaves used to sing it (Will Kidman from the Weather Station’s solo stuff) and it reminded me of that time too, ’cause we used to hang out a lot back then ’cause I hung with the Constantines a lot, and he is in the Cons. Victoria was roommates with Will at that time back then too.  Will and Davida were best friends. When I brought it up to sing for these sessions Victoria and I reminisced about the good old days like a perfect jam will allow one to do.  A great tune about regret that gets swaying blanket people singing together. Love how Victoria’s vocals chime in at the very end like a broken-hearted drunk angel alone at a table, who finally lifts her head to sing along,  just as the song is done.  Closing time, etc. Regret touches us all.”

ORDER JENNIFER CASTLE’S ANGELS OF DEATH:

$9.00 – $30.00

Or support via:  Bandcamp  (LP/CD/digital) |  Other Options (LP/CD/DL/stream)