The Clash have rightfully earned the kind of reverence normally reserved for people who can perform miracles on command or have their own line of gym shoes. But, for all of their brilliance, the Clash hit plenty of dull notes and even some of their most renowned tracks keep a couple scars. Exhibit A: "Bankrobber." It's a brilliant song that marries the growing assortment of influences the band frequently called upon. It's essentially a reggae song with a extra serving of reverb and some simple piano. The real beauty of the song is what Joe Strummer does. This song would easily become a train wreck in the hands of a lesser musician. Strummer makes it brilliant, but not to the extent that those low and off-key harmonies become forgivable. They're too flat to add anything to the melody of the song and they are tonally out of step with its narrative. "Bankrobber" is a great song that could be better.

Greg Macpherson's cover is stripped down, remodeled, and shows tremendous self-awareness. Macpherson is at his most effective when he's playing emotive and powerful folk music and singing the stories of the people we grew up with. "Bankrobber" meets the later criteria well and Macpherson was clever enough to make it meet the former. The track sounds like an homage, like a song rehearsed ad nauseam until a permutation is the only way you can continue playing the music you love without completely losing your mind. In addition to trafficking in Machpherson's strengths, I find it endearing for the reason that almost every musician I know has done the same thing. Macpherson's cover may not be a perfect song either, but it often reminds me how great "Bankrobber" is when I can't stomach the idea of listening to off-key humming on a crowded train downtown.

Greg Macpherson - "Bankrobber"