7.16.2009

true love will find you in the end

several months ago, i watched the devil and daniel johnston with a few friends. i thought the film was really good. it seemed to capture both the creativity and depression of an artist struggling with serious problems. this may sound like a typical rock documentary, but this film is anything but. i think the description from the film's about page gives a summary that i can't beat:
Director Jeff Feuerzeig exquisitely depicts a perfect example of brilliance and madness going hand in hand with subject Daniel Johnston. As an artist suffering from manic depression with delusions of grandeur, Daniel Johnston's wild fluctuations, numerous downward spirals, and periodic respites are exposed in this deeply moving documentary.
though you may not have heard of daniel johnston (i hadn't), you certainly have heard of many of the artists who covered his songs or worked with him: kurt cobain, wilco, beck, sonic youth, tv on the radio. curiosity compelled me to look up a few of these covers. i think the song "true love will find you in the end" is one my favorites. jeff tweedy and the late jay bennet recorded an excellent version of this song below (my thanks to ben for the sweet flash player--i stole it from your post).








True Love Will Find You in the End
(Daniel Johnston cover)
Wilco (mp3)

beck also has an excellent cover of the song.







True Love Will Find You in the End
(Daniel Johnston cover)
Beck (mp3)

and the original.







True Love Will Find You in the End

Daniel Johnston (mp3)

if you haven't seen the movie, it is highly recommended. prepare to be happy, sad, and a little uncomfortable.

1 comment:

benjamin said...

Please, steal the flash player code. David Scudder gave it to me. I'm sure he'd love to know it is being put to good use.

Also, thanks for the Daniel Johnston -- I haven't heard him in a while. It reminds me of driving around Knoxville in the wintertime, FREEZING cold because Jacob Stroop had to have the windows rolled down so he could smoke his cancer sticks.