Pitchfork

Photo by Tina Kreibich

Neil Young's "Philadelphia" appeared on the soundtrack to the 1992 Jonathan Demme film of the same name. Although it didn't win its Academy Award nomination (that honor went to Bruce Springsteen's "Streets of Philadelphia"), it showed up in the final tear-jerking deathbed scene that featured Tom Hanks' Aids-ravaged character in vintage childhood home movies. In his world weary falsetto, Neil Young sang "Sometimes I think that I know what love's all about/ And when I see the light know I'll be all right/ Philadelphia." While some think that Neil's track is superior to the Bruce contribution, if I were asked to play a song that summed up Philadelphia for me, I'd pick this song, or maybe The Dead Milkmen's "Punk Rock Girl."

Philadelphia foursome Remote Islands feels the same way. They recorded this song for their upcoming tour with Miller Carr & The Shalants, which happens to fall on Neil Young's birthday, November 12. Frontman Colin Pate provides the sweet, little-boy-lost vocal backed by some industrial found sounds and an organ that sounds like Sunday morning church bells. It's as affecting as the original, a statement of hope and beauty when both are in short supply these days. Look for a follow-up to 2005's "Smother Party" on Oakland, California based Isota Records (home to author Rick Moody and his band, One Ring Zero).