The first volume of the
Tindersticks' 1997 single "Rented Rooms" leads off with the title track, an epic ballad with a full complement of strings, horns, and background singers taken from the band's 1997 Curtains. It also has a strange swing version of "Rented Rooms" featuring
Stuart Staples' original vocal placed over the cheesy big band backing of the John Altman Big Band. It doesn't really work all that well, but it is worth a listen at least once. The final track, "Make Believe," is a
Tindersticks by-the-numbers, dramatic mid-tempo lament only without the usual degree of melody. The
Tindersticks' singles are very hit and miss and this should be filed under miss, although
Tindersticks fanatics will want to hear the swing version of "Rented Rooms" if only for the comedic value. ~ Tim Sendra