Getting It All Wrong, Dan Michaelson and The Coastguards

If you're obsessed with music, especially the more popular end of music, it would be easy to assume that you'd prefer the more perfect voices.  Dan Michaelson does not have a perfect voice.  Actually, that's wrong - his voice is perfect for what he is singing about.

From the croaky opening words "I wonder how, you're feeling now" you aren't in much doubt about how Dan Michaelson is feeling.  You are pretty sure that this is probably not the first, nor the last time he'll feel this dejected, just as you're pretty sure that he hasn't cherished his voice.  This is not someone who says "You know, I won't have that extra pint, and perhaps I won't shout myself hoarse in this pub".  I can't see him doing vocal warm-up exercises prior to a performance.

There's a part of me that would like to hear this sung in the classically perfect voice.  Listening again, I wonder if the instrument carrying the tune is supposed to hint at this.  You get the chance to hear what is lost when you achieve perfection, and then see it restored again with Michaelson's imperfection.