The alternative music world wasn't ready for Ben Curtis of School of Seven Bells to pass away last December, but our prayers weren't answered. Alejandra Dehenza, the remaining member of the group, has released Curtis's final recording to a still shell-shocked fan base.
The title, a Joey Ramone cover, is sadly appropriate. Curtis reportedly worked on the band's cover of "I Got Knocked Down (But I'll Get Up)" from a laptop while at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital while receiving treatment.
The track is almost biographical despite vocals being handled by Dehenza. The opening line of "sitting in a hospital bed" must have attracted Curtis to the song, but of course he applied his familiar approach of turning the track into a misty dream pop number, stretching out for more than seven minutes-nearly four minutes longer than the original. The unfortunate correlation between the two is that both were released following the death of their stars. Ramone's original version appeared on Don't Worry About Me, which was released posthumously in 2002.
You can listen to the track here.
The track adds to School of Seven Bells' impressive collection of covers. The group did its own version of Siouxsie and The Banshees' "Kiss Them For Me" as a B-side for 2012's Ghostory. That track was included among Music Times writer Ryan Book's "Best of 2012" playlist.
The new School of Seven Bells track will be accompanied by a music video, due to be revealed on June 26. The visuals are reported to include footage from a trip through Joshua Tree National Park in California.
