The title track of Leonard Cohen‘s eighth album, “I’m Your Man” is now one of his most streamed songs, as well as one of his most covered. It wasn’t a hit at the time – what Cohen song was? – and it didn’t get a lot of critical attention, but now it’s a bona fide classic.
Storefront Church is the chamber pop project of former Phoebe Bridgers drummer Lukas Frank. His new “I’m Your Man” has a peculiar lyric, one that embodies romantic/sexual obsession but also can make you laugh. Frank leans into the obsession side, replacing the original’s synth-pop/sophisti-pop sound with a much darker, almost goth sound.
The crappy drum machine is replaced by lower, distorted drums. The sort of swinging bass (or bass keyboard) is replaced by almost a dancey bass pulse. Frank speak-sings as Cohen does, but he does it almost in a whisper instead of Cohen’s confident baritone. Another, higher voice joins him only for the chorus. The pace is also much faster.
There’s a piano, but also synthesizers that sound like they are used or decaying in the moment. Though the original synthesizers are very ’80s and kind of cheesy, these ones sound lower budget, as if they could be used in industrial pop or indie dance.
The overall vibe is grimier and more sinister than the original. This isn’t a celebration of romantic passion, it’s a haunting story of obsession.
