The Hoosiers - 'Cops & Robbers'
You know how your dad goes on about all music sounding like rubbish versions of what Proper Bands did when he was young? Well, I don't want this to sound like him. I don't want to necessarily say this is a rubbish version of a song from thirty years ago but it definitely is a version of such.
Here is 'The Lovecats' by The Cure:
Here is 'Cops and Robbers' by The Hoosiers.
Now, I quite like The Hoosiers, I think they're jolly in a more-than-bearable way, I like the lyrics to this song and I find there's something faintly Modest Mouse about the whole business, which might not be up everyone's street but I'm not above admitting to have very thoroughly enjoyed many works by the 'Mouse. Hell, The Hoosiers are even one of the few halfway decent bands to have somehow emerged from my not-at-all-beloved hometown. On the other hand, that basically and undeniably is a complete re-rub of 'The Lovecats,' musically.
I can't find anything confirming that it samples The Cure, except that the band consider them an influence (although I'm willing to admit this may be my own failing) and honestly, if this isn't a sample, it's a court case waiting to happen. Which is kind of hugely disappointing, since the lyrics to the song are clever and political and I LOVE that but honestly, couldn't they have written their own tune? Just a bit? So it wasn't recognizable within three seconds as 'The Lovecats?'
I barely even know what rating to give this song, since I like it in principle but a lift of one of the most famous songs of the last fifty years is such a distraction it detracts from the actual song itself to a massively depressing degree. I don't WANT to give it two stars but I don't feel able to give such a blatant rip-off any more.
Download: Out now
CD Released: April 21st
(Hazel Robinson)
Comments
That's exactly what I thought when I first heard this song. Of course, there are far worse songs to rip off, but I agree that the Hoosiers should have been able to write their own tune. Still think it deserves three stars though as the lyrics are original.