I Feel So Far Away: Anthology 1974 - 1998

As a member of The Velvet Underground, Moe Tucker became one of rock 'n' roll's most influential drummers, pounding out a primordial beat that paid no attention to the flash and technique of typical rock drumming. After the band's dissolution, her legend took a peculiar turn; Tucker was a single mom living in Georgia and working at a Wal-Mart, but she eventually returned to music. Her solo recordings appeared on a variety of labels and on an erratic release schedule. Her music was often recorded with no budget; they're home recordings with an amateurish charm that will endear and alienate listeners depending on their definition of pop music. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" captures a girl-group glow. Her tribute to Bo Diddley, "Elias," is as raw as her covers of old rock 'n' roll tunes like "Bo Diddley," "Slippin' and Slidin'," and "Around and Around." Velvet Underground tunes aren't off-limits either. Jonathan Richman joins Moe for "I'm Sticking with You," and she reinvents "Heroin" beyond anyone's imagination. "Spam Again" and "Hey Mersh!" reflect her influence on underground rock in the '80s and '90s and her life at society's margins.