The Coolest of the Cool - Ride's Tribute to Withnail & I

Being a shameless junkie of pop culture, I tend to especially geek out whenever I learn that an artist (be it a musician, band, writer, actor, director, etc.) shares the same tastes as I do. Not only does it reenforce my personal convictions regarding what makes "good art", it also strengthens my appreciation of that artist's work.  Additionally, it reserves that artist a place in the highest, most exclusive echelon of what I deem to be "cool."

A perfect example of just such an artist is the Oxford, England band Ride. Ride was one of the most prominent members of the British "Shoegaze" scene of the early nineties. Along with My Bloody Valentine and fellow Oxfordians(?) Swervedriver, the band played loud, moody Britpop, heavy on reverb, distortion, and feedback created through the use of guitar effects pedals, among other studio techniques.

In March 1992, Ride released their second album, Going Blank Again, an album of noisy, jangly guitar pop. The seventh song on the album was titled "Cool Your Boots" and led off with a cryptic quote, spoken in a man's hushed voice: "Even a stopped clock gives the right time twice a day." The quote (as well as the song's title) is taken from the 1987 film Withnail & I, a British film that chronicles the aimless lives of two debauched, out of work actors in 1960's London.

Withnail (Richard E. Grant), right, and "I" (Paul McGann), left

The line is spoken by the film's narrator, "I", who plays the thoughtful, cautious voice of reason to Withnail's caustic, overbearing, morally bankrupt alcoholic. The film is endlessly quotable, and quickly achieved the revered status of "cult classic" in the UK, and is now equally cherished by fans worldwide. Here's one of my favorite scenes from the film:

Ride's choice to use a quote from the film to lead off one of their songs is a brilliant melding of artist and influence, because of the relative obscurity of the film, and the fact that "Cool Your Boots" is on par with the best of Ride's musical output. The song features their trademark two-part vocal harmonies, layered, processed guitars, intricate drum work, and a distinctive four-note synth line melody. For a geek like me, this is pure pop culture nirvana. Check it below.

It should be noted that a second quote from the film is twice inserted into the mix toward the end of the song. To this day, I have still not been able to determine the specific quote. I suppose another viewing is in order. I can't recommend this film enough, especially if you're a fan of the dry acerbic wit that characterizes this type of British humor.