Yoko Ono's profound songwriting and musical clarity have historically been overshadowed by tired criticisms of her more avant-garde material and even more tedious assessments of her connection to
the Beatles. What doesn't get talked about enough is
Ono's sharp approach to penning strange but crystal-clear pop songs, and how those tracks have quietly influenced new acts for decades.
Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono illuminates
Ono's often unsung influence on the last few generations of indie rock by collecting covers from across her wide discography, performed by artists who are fans and followers. The compilation is curated by
Death Cab for Cutie's
Ben Gibbard, and
Death Cab contribute a toned-down, metered interpretation of the
Approximately Infinite Universe track "Waiting for the Sunrise" with a variety of crisp guitar tones and clean vocal harmonies. Indie makeovers of
Ono's sometimes obtuse songs make for some of
Ocean Child's best entries.
Japanese Breakfast strips down the originally buzzy and thickly orchestrated "Nobody Sees Me Like You Do" to just piano and vocals, and
Sharon Van Etten's take on the
Season of Glass track "Toyboat" brings the song's emotional yearning to the surface with its powerful vocal performance and straightforward arrangement. On more intense offerings,
the Flaming Lips transform the somber
Fly selection "Mrs. Lennon" into a parade of multicolored distortion, and
Deerhoof shout and smash their way through the aggressive "No No No."
U.S. Girls work magic on "Born in a Prison," replacing its doo wop backing with twinkling bells and symphonic flourishes.
Yo La Tengo show up on their own and as a backup band for
David Byrne, and other standout tracks come from
Jay Som and former
Dirty Projectors member
Amber Coffman.
Ono has been admired in indie circles for her singularity and boldness for as long as she's been active. Scheduled to coincide with her 89th birthday,
Ocean Child is a fitting tribute to an artist who's challenged herself and her audiences for the entirety of a lifelong career, and inspired entire sects of music in the process. ~ Fred Thomas
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