Not The Nine Inch Nails One, Though

September 6, 2016 10:18 PM

Canadian indie-rock band Walk Off The Earth plays an acoustic version of "Closer."

That is, "Closer" by American band The Chainsmokers - although given that this cover involves ukuleles, plastic clappy hands, Beard Guy on what might be a small vuvuzela, and a kazoo array, it sure might be interesting to imagine what WOTE could do with NiN's cheery little ditty.

Walk off the Earth previously, and also further back in the previously archives.

posted by angeline (18 comments total)

Additional stunt instrumentation, previously, the five members of Walk Off the Earth all playing one guitar: Somebody That I Used to Know
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 10:42 PM on September 6, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've never done this but... ugh... this hits every single wrong note for just awful and pandering and completely annoying. Sorry.
posted by kittensofthenight at 11:17 PM on September 6, 2016 [9 favorites]

Also there should be a genre name for this style, the youtube centered novelty cover genre. Toss Pamplamoose in there too.
posted by kittensofthenight at 11:22 PM on September 6, 2016 [5 favorites]

Oh, not the Nine Inch Nails one.
posted by bongo_x at 12:05 AM on September 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Everyone here's heard Sumerian Ceremonials, right?
posted by Sonny Jim at 12:52 AM on September 7, 2016

WotE are up there with OK Go as the kinds of bands who would have appeared as a variety act on Carson in 1975 and then forgotten until the era of YouTube.
posted by pxe2000 at 5:47 AM on September 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

Wow, you all remember that if you don't like something you can get up walk around the block and then click on another thread to read right?

Personally, sure - they do a bunch of covers, but they at least have some talent, can harmonize, and are able to play multiple instruments. If you watch a few of their other videos, you'll see that the drummer is also a pretty outstanding dancer and that this "shtick" is pretty close to how they've been making videos for a bunch of years. While it may not feel original to you, this is clearly their thing.
posted by Nanukthedog at 5:56 AM on September 7, 2016 [6 favorites]

Saw them in Toronto the other day. I promise you, this is no shtick. These guys are extremely talented, full of imagination, can harmonize like crazy, are multi-instrumentalists and know how to put on a good show. Frankly, they aren't my cup of tea but I certainly appreciate how good they are at what they do. And they're very good.
posted by ashbury at 6:43 AM on September 7, 2016 [4 favorites]

Honestly, I think their covers are a lot of fun and pretty clever at showing off their talents and imaginativeness, but really in the end I find I do prefer their original work. I posted this particular one because I got a giggle out of the double-take I did at the song title and because it's their newest video.

Here's a couple of videos from their latest album:

Hold On (The Break)

Rule The World
posted by angeline at 7:21 AM on September 7, 2016

These people are fantastic and collected. I love the spirit of the thing, and they look like the kind of folks who would completely crash out on a stolen mattress, and hopefully they will never get older.
posted by Oyéah at 7:24 AM on September 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

WotE are up there with OK Go as the kinds of bands who would have appeared as a variety act on Carson in 1975 and then forgotten until the era of YouTube.

Indeed, I enjoyed this about as much as Shields and Yarnell.
posted by humboldt32 at 8:22 AM on September 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Just as I wouldn't fault anyone for liking this I would hope that no one would fault me for saying Oh my GOD I HATE THIS
posted by Cpt. The Mango at 10:21 AM on September 7, 2016

I thought it was going to be that other song called "Closer."
posted by bgrebs at 11:39 AM on September 7, 2016

I'm genuinely confused by the backlash (and the hate for Pomplamoose, for that matter). I see talented musicians with great showmanship shifting between their own material and spirited covers. Are bands like WOTE too gimmicky and twee for some people to stomach? It's as if they are the musical equivalent of cilantro.
posted by Eikonaut at 1:40 PM on September 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Wait, we're not allowed to like cilantro anymore? Is this a whole-border-fence-fuck-salsa movement stemming from the Trump candidacy? Because if I can't have a good salsa, or Indian food (fresh coriander) because of that assclown then - well maybe there is something to get indignant about in this thread. I hadn't heard the cool kids news about this... Man... fuck those cool kids telling me I can't have Cilantro.

And if it isn't Trump's doing and instead this is some sort of weird cilantro death panel, we'll then... Thanks Obama!
posted by Nanukthedog at 3:43 PM on September 7, 2016

I mean, I personally don't like cilantro because I am allergic to it, much like some folks are allergic to cat dander, tree pollen, or fun.
posted by angeline at 4:03 PM on September 7, 2016

I don't hate this, necessarily--I can see that they're talented and hard-working--but it does strike me as twee and gimmicky.
posted by pxe2000 at 7:15 AM on September 8, 2016

I have tried many times to dislike WOTE to no avail.
posted by rossination at 8:55 AM on September 8, 2016