The Pulltops – Have You Ever Seen The Rain? (2024)
Most well-known for their original melodies, The Pulltops are innovative, eclectic and not to be pigeonholed; however, they aren’t afraid to lay some of that originality on old-school classics. Combining the natural talent of guitarist Tom Crowell and drummer Mark Pierret, The Pulltops take us from alternative rock and indie-rock to folk and Americana yet still retaining a distinctive sound. Earlier this year, the lads shared critically acclaimed singles ‘3-2-1 Go!’ and ‘Here We Are’; today, they bring us their take on Creedence Clearwater Revival’s iconic song ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain?’.
Taken from The Pulltops’ EP Sight Lines, Crowell and Pierret lift Creedence’s ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain?’, shake it a little, then drop it into a bubble of charming folk-rock. Unlike the original, they take a step back from powerful rock to a softer, smoother and gentler three-and-a-half minutes of music. Interestingly, while a harmonic flood exudes in the minimalistic soundscape, the barebones starkness contains both sincere elegance and troubled despair.
As a fan of Creedence Clearwater Revival, I find The Pulltops’ basic songwriting style and simplistic execution have a repetitive quality with monotone vocals not stacking up against John Fogerty’s bold, rich voice – how wrong I was; it was merely an opening quiet before the storm. As The Pulltops lead you along a dismal grey road, it becomes eerie, creepy and chilling…then it goes in the opposite direction. Retaining a folk-tinged calm, The Pulltops quickly insert a slice of classic rock finding a balance between stillness and 60s-inspired ferocity.
The melody has profound intricacy but the song itself offers depth and complexity in its lyricism. Tackling the themes of change and resilience, The Pulltops find power in a whisper leading you to a bright, shining light of hope. Adding their own slant to the Creedance single, The Pulltops create something new, fresh and filled with originality in their version of ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain?’.
In addition to the single, The Pulltops released an official lyric video for ‘Have You Ever Seen The Rain?’. You can view the video below or on their YouTube channel. Please note that this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED
Find out more about The Pulltops on their official website, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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