Best Cover Artists Ever?

Things are getting kinda tense around Gotham, so what best to put smiles on pusses than dumb Ramones (peace be upon them) tunes. Been a long time (years, probably) since i did a post for this sporadic series, and i think it’s probably not in dispute that the Ramones were fine cover artists. But it turns out not to be so easy to do fine covers of Ramones tunes. Some very good bands did some not very good covers in my wholly subjective opinion. Here’s a small handful that made my cut. Have fun!

Tune of the Week #8

Simple rule for newbies or stragglers – pick a tune you heard this week and want to share, and add it to the playlist.  Could be a new release, discovered or rediscovered oldie, a tune you stumbled across, or what you’re listening to these days.

Add Your Tune Here

I never understood the Weak Force, and i never deeply understood the magnetic portion of the Electromagnetic force, although i could fake it by crunching the numbers.  Nevermind the Electroweak.  So while i was delighted when the folks at CERN discovered the Higgs Boson, the particle that gives the other particles their mass,  and preserves the symmetry of the standard model, i can’t say that i really understand it except at the most superficial level.  I’m not convinced that Nick Cave really grasps it either, and i sure don’t grasp what he’s trying to say about the Higgs either, except he doesn’t seem overly excited at the discovery.  But it’s all good, the album is a perfect listen for this grey and quiet day.  Sing the phone book to me.

Tune of the Week #7

The rule is simple for newbies or stragglers – pick a tune you heard this week and want to share, and add it to the playlist.  Could be a new release, discovered or rediscovered oldie, a tune you stumbled across, or what you’re listening to these days.

Add Your Tune Here

Haven’t really listened to anything this week, but i heard this in the Whole Foods Store and it hit the spot.  In fact, i’ve listened to it a few more times since.

Tune of the Week #6

Simple rule for newbies or stragglers – pick a tune you heard this week and want to share, and add it to the playlist.  Could be a new release, discovered or rediscovered oldie, a tune you stumbled across, or what you’re listening to these days.

Add your tune here

I couldn’t really listen to any music this week.  Not even a Lenny Cohen tune, whose music i have yet to properly explore, but someone must have.  Save for this one that Fintan sent me for post-election constipation.  It’s the only Clinton i ever want to hear from again.

Tune of the Week #5

A fine playlist from last week.  It works like this – pick a tune you heard this week and want to share, and add it to the playlist.  Could be a new release, discovered or rediscovered oldie, a tune you stumbled across, or what you’re listening to these days, and add it to the list.

Add Your Tune Here

Caught up with a few more 2016 releases this week.  Heard a Roxy Music cover in the drugstore, still have no idea who it was.  Who knew there were so many covers of More Than This.  Listened to Stuart Staples somewhat passably channel Brian Ferry, but kind of unimpressed by the Tindersticks this year.  Animal Collective has to wait for another time, as it was a bit too bouncy for my current frame of mind.  On the other hand, DIIV’s Is the Is Are was lovely and perfect.  Was sure my pick from this week was going to be something from Aussie psych rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, which is another from my printmaking teacher’s playlist.  The languid God is in the Rhythm  could be a long lost White Album outtake, while this year’s Robot Stop kicks it up a few notches.  But i’ll be perverse and put up this one. Sorry, but it rocks – Raga rock with a bit of Iron Butterfly.

Tune of the Week #4

You know the drill by now.  Pick a tune you heard this week and want to share, and add it to the playlist.  Could be a new release, discovered or rediscovered oldie, a tune you stumbled across, or what you’re listening to these days, and add it to the list.  (Or we’ll help you out, Wyngate.)

Click to Add

I’ve been trying to catch up on the psych/garage/surf/stoner releases for 2016.  On first listens so far, unimpressed by the Allah-Las and the Temples single.  No single standout tune for me from Ty Segall’s Emotional Mugger, whole album seems to me to be a pleasant guitar sludge of buzz, fuzz, feedback and squeals.  A decent tune or three on Thee Oh Sees’ Weird Exits, some kinda boring instrumentals, and a couple i’ve already forgotten about.  This one sounds like a lot of their older tunes, which is fine.  I’m hoping for better luck with the nice looking trove of Aussie psych.

 

 

Tune of the Week #3

Challenge rules for any newbies – pretty simple and not too strict.   Just pick a tune you heard this week and want to share, and add it to the playlist.  Could be a new release, discovered or rediscovered oldie, a tune you stumbled across, or what you’re listening to these days.

Ravi is a genius and finally got the link sorted for adding to the list yourselves – for future reference for anyone else attempting a collab playlist, you just have to hotlink it in some text.  I hope.

Try This Link

Not a new release but newtome this week – released on EP in 2012.  Seems that one of my printmaking teachers has musical taste right up my alley, and not much on her playlists i can quibble with – dream pop and psych that’s perfect to work to. Especially as, like Shane, i’ve been a bit melancholy on and off these days.  Lovely stuff.