Like Someone I Know: A Celebration of Margo Guryan in Bloomington, MN

In 1968, songwriter, singer, and composer
Margo Guryan
released her debut solo album,
Take a Picture
, a collection of bright and sunny pop tunes with a sophistication informed by her jazz background.
Guryan
had primarily been a writer of songs for other artists before then, and though
didn't get the promotion it deserved to make her a pop star, its unique sound -- loungy, lighthearted, and still somehow softly bittersweet at every turn -- made it a lasting document of obscure brilliance.
continued writing and recording for most of her life, before her death in 2021, but new generations zeroed in on
in almost perennial waves. Listening to the album, it's easy to hear echoes of its subtle chamber pop and gentle sadness in much of the next 50 years of what became indie pop.
Like Someone I Know: A Celebration of Margo Guryan
serves as direct evidence of the album's lasting influence, with newer artists serving up wildly variant interpretations of the songs. Presented with the same track listing as the album, the compilation kicks off with a slick and synthy rendition of "Sunday Morning" by Canadian group
TOPS
. It's far smoother and groove-heavy than the original but still highlights how deceptively complex
's winding arrangements were.
Clairo
transforms "Love Songs" into glistening lo-fi dream pop,
MUNYA
and
Kainalu
slow down the anxious jitter of "Don't Go Away" into a relaxed, neo-soul stroll,
Rahill
takes a drone approach to "Sun," and
Frankie Cosmos
Good Morning
go the route of lazy, guitar-forward slacker pop with their take on the title cut. While the stylistic reinterpretations of these songs can be fun,
Kate Bollinger
's faithful recreation of
's sunshine pop on "What Can I Give You" might be the most rewarding thing on the comp, simply for acting as a reminder of how perfect
was on arrival. There are no losers here, however. Even the slightly confusing inclusion of
Margo Price
's rendition of doom-tinged country-rocker "California Shake" (a song not on the original album) serves a purpose, showcasing
's songwriting range. Beaming with admiration and respect,
Like Someone I Know
is a love letter to
's classic album and will hopefully act as a gateway for even more listeners to discover its timelessness. ~ Fred Thomas