Tagged: cover

The Best Worst Songs: Why bad can be good, too.

This might be weird, especially coming from a bro that writes for a music blog, but sometimes I really really enjoy “bad” music. I use quotes there because I’m not so certain it can be considered legitimately bad since I derive such pleasure and enjoyment from it.

Some of the “bad” songs I enjoy aren’t even necessarily bad from a production standpoint, they’re just silly. So since we share things that we enjoy here, I’m going to start posting the Best Worst Songs in my opinion. If you have a suggestion, Tweet it to me at @D_Nuggets.

To start things off, here is a cover version of the Bryan Adams song “(Everything I Do) I Do it for You” which is accompanied by an amazingly entertaining amateur music video. Make sure you stay tuned for the special message after the music is over. Throughout the video keep the word “empathy” in mind, it will make it all the more enjoyable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1C8VHf1i64

Graceland.

I’ve always been a big Tallest Man on Earth fan. I came across this cover he did of Paul Simon’s “Graceland” and immediately fell in love with it. I remember listening to it on repeat for about 8 times in a row. “Graceland” was already a fantastic song but the rawness of Kristian Matsson’s voice in the stripped down production adds a whole ‘nother dimension to the song.

Give it a listen (or 7) below:

Graceland (Paul Simon Cover) – The Tallest Man On Earth

Rainbow Chan – “Sweet Tooth” (Guerre Remix)

This makes my head feel all wonky (in a good way).

Rainbow Chan – Sweet Tooth (Guerre Remix)

Gurre‘s got some sensual tracks of his own: Guerre “Care 4 Me”

Rainbow Chan, also has some cutsey little tracks by  herself as well. Check out this video of her cover of The Cardigans classic “Lovefool”

We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl.

Lia Ices is one of those artists I’m not 100% hooked on just yet. Although, covering Pink Floyd and making it your own? Now that’s impressive.

Recently released as a 7” (and digitally) the track, “Wish You Were Here,” contains operatic and soaring vocals with echoing layers that fill in every gap imaginable. I love the thumping kick drum and the climb into a well produced and flushed out track.

She might have just won me over.

Wish You Were Here – Lia Ices

Right-click and enjoy.

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She will go down with her ship like a good captain.

I haven’t dug much of the Cold War Kids archives but their track, “Audience,” off the 2009 Behave Yourself EP is one I can spin constantly.

Hand claps, sunny guitar riffs, and light breakdowns pair oh so well with my mild March day. And good news for you all, I’ve just updated a cool 120 which means a new set of free songs are ready to download. Go on, get yourself over there.

Audience – Cold War Kids

Right-click and enjoy.

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Along the Gallows

Philadelphia’s Ami Verrill just covered our friends The Bailey Hounds’ track “Along the Gallows” and turned it into a beautiful piano ballad, slowing it down from it’s original alt country/rock version. Check out both of them below.


ComScore

ComScore

Is there a cover? Yes.

Earlier last year we posted a beautiful cover of the Bob Dylan song “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”. We knew it was going to be part of a bigger Dylan covers project from Rokbox, but it was unclear when it would come. Well, this compilation finally exists in its entirety and it is just lovely. It’s titled Dylan 70:Philadelphia Pays Tribute To a Legend and features 13 songs all done by artists or bands hailing from the “City of Brotherly Love”.

Stream it below, then buy it and then rock out to it on your iPod.

While on the subject of covers, we should mention that our friend Chaz Van Queen recently recorded a cover of New Edition’s “Can You Stand The Rain”. It’s a stripped down version using only a piano and Chaz’s voice. I enjoy it particularly as it helps to display Chaz’s range as an artist. Not only is the guy a talented rapper and producer, he is also a very skilled piano player and singer.

While on the subject of Chaz, I should mention that he has a show coming up at Pianos in NYC this Saturday, check out the details here. The show is free, and so is his cover. Check it out below.

No one taught us how to live, we just do it.

Recently, I was reminded of Black Books after I heard their cover for The Cardigan’s classic song, “Love Fool” because I’m a huge 90′s music nerd. Of course I had to go deeper into this Austin band’s archive, their sound was super familiar.

And I was right, last year I used to spin their echoey song, “Silver Lining” all the damn time. I thoroughly dig their subtle synths, simple guitar chords, and strong hooks and I think you all will too. Black Books have just released the track, “Out The Door” in preparation for their Valentine’s Day full album release.

Have a listen to all three songs I spoke about above. Right click and enjoy.

Silver Lining – Black Books

Love Fool – Black Books

Out The Door – Black Books

Seagull of a Different Color (The Color being TEEEL)

Pink bookbag Flock of Seagulls TEEEL
Drugs are Bad

Our buddy TEEEL just Tweeted a link to a cover he did of the tune “Space Age Love Song” originally by Flock of Seagulls. In TEEEL’s hands, the song keeps a solid 80s vibe and I’m digging the production quality. Give it a listen.

Side Story: One of the band members from Flock of Seagulls currently lives in my hometown. He rides around on a bike and wears a pink backpack. Apparently the life of a rock star got to him as he is kind of bad off. He always goes around the corner from his house to a cafe/restaurant and asks for a cup of ice. He doesn’t have a fridge or freezer, so that’s how he gets cold drinks. Be careful with the drugs and alcohol, kids.

Now enjoy TEEEL’s work:

How do you Cure :papercutz?

The camera they used for this pic had to be crazy. It's got shadows inside of its flash!!!

That headline I just made is so dumb. I used the two names of the bands that I am writing about in this post and combined them in a play on words like I’m writing for some sort of newspaper or something.

It’s like a headline that would go on the frontpage/cover of a paper. It’s like I did my own interpretation of a newspaper headline. Like a cover song. Yeah, I covered the paper.

Speaking of paper and covers, :papercutz covered the song “Disintegration” by The Cure. I kinda love it. The timbres they chose to use were perfect, with certain ones reminding me of sounds that were used in the soundtrack of Labyrinth. So check out the original song and then compare it to the cover.

Original:

:papercutz Version: