Cover 71: Aleister Einstein cover "Creep" by Radiohead

 I did not have high hopes for this one, as most of the other covers on the tribute album Anyone Can Play Radiohead:  A Tribute To Radiohead are not very good.  Some of these covers are just not very capable cover attempts, while others sound like the artist is trying to put out a sort-of remix sounding cover.  In the end, almost none of the covers on this tribute album works (I'm sure I'll get to some of the others eventually).  For me the highlight is the Aleister Einstein cover of the one Radiohead song most people know, aka the "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" of Radiohead's cover.

   This cover fits in the sort-of remix sounding cover style I mentioned above, and it works decently.  The first part of the cover spreads out the famous guitar noodle in and out of the landscape on top of the kind of electronic beat that was somewhat common in the 1990s but you rarely hear these days.  The famous distorted guitar parts around the chorus are still here, but cleaned up and sanitized.  Then, for reasons unknown, there is a bit of French dialogue in the latter third of the song.

   A great cover?  No.  But points for making a decent effort, especially considering how incredibly lame the rest of this soggy tribute album is.

✅✅✅

Cover #70: Caroline Polacheck covers "Breathless" by The Corrs

 All the cool kids are going ape shit over Caroline Polacheck these days, and while I got the memo, I don't really understand the hype.  She's a good singer and I appreciate that she avoids the diva screams and squeals, but I'm trying to figure out what is new or fresh here.  Case in point, her cover of this corny song by The Corrs isn't a whole lot different than the original.  This version shucks the 80s keyboard ornamentation, but Ms. Polacheck's vocals have that annoying studio treated quaver so while the original is a little cheesier, this cover is actually more annoying.  A pox on both versions.

💩

Cover #69: Exit Eden cover "Separate Ways" by Journey

   Oh my, I honestly don't know if this symphonic hard rock version out of Germany in an improvement or not.  I suppose it probably is, but I can't stop thinking of that ridiculous music video that accompanied the original.  Sorry, I know I'm supposed to focus on covers here, but...  

✅✅

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhk5qS0VnCs

 

 

Cover #68: The Gories cover "Castin' My Spell" by Johnny Otis

   I couldn't think of a better band than The Gories (except maybe The Dirtbombs) to cover this lesser known track by Johnny Otis (technically, The Johnny Otis Show with guest vocals by Marci Lee), originally done in 1959.  Normally I don't get too excited about covers that stick really close to the original (why bother then?), but I like this one.  It doesn't even sound updated, just a great garage band from Detroit doing a respectful, if not original, cover of a forgotten single.

✅✅✅

Cover #67: Car Seat Headrest covers "Scatterbrain" by Radiohead

   As much as I love Radiohead's Kid A and Amnesiac, I find myself reaching for Hail To The Thief more often.  In some ways, it pairs well with OK Computer, with a wide palette of sounds, moods, and subject matters.  Though "Scatterbrain" is not the last song on the album, it feels like the closer and even shares some sonic similarities with "The Tourist" on OK Computer.

   Why does any of this matter?  Well, to cover Radiohead well, you really have to understand that mood permeates everything-  it soaks through the lyrics and music like a tres leche dish, which can be a tiger pit for anyone who just wants to casually do a Radiohead cover.  Car Seat Headrest nails this cover, with the plaintive vocals hovering over a gentle keyboard that replaces the 3-note guitar articulation of the original.  CSH leaves out the drums and bass, which is a bold move but it works.  Radiohead can never be equaled, but in special circumstances they can be covered well.

✅✅✅✅

Cover #66: Arto Lindsay & Marc Ribot cover "Children Of The Revolution" by T. Rex

    You never know what you are going to get with the supremely talented and wildly imaginative guitarist Marc Ribot.  His output across his own releases and guest roles and collaborations is enormous, and the results show that he is capable of the most beautiful and sublime guitar work as well as experimental shrieks and sounds that will challenge your notion of open-minded listening.

   Here, though, Ribot sticks very close to the script which honestly is pretty cool- sometime it's nice to hear how such a wild and crazy guitarist approaches "expected" rock and roll.  The rhythm riffs are much crunchier and distinct than those of the original, and the guitar solo will satisfy any classic rocker or metalhead.  This version rocks out more than the original, and I love it.

 

✅✅✅✅

Cover #65: Spider God cover "I Want It That Way" by The Backstreet Boys

    Hoh, boy.  Today we have Spider God, a self-described (accurately, I will add) "hyper-melodic English black metal" band covering the Backstreet Boys super mega hit.  I just read about the all-covers album that this comes from (Black Renditions, if you are interested), and honestly I can't take this seriously.  I don't want to hear the original, not ever again, but somehow this cartoonish version is worse.  The chorus parts are okay, but the verse parts are painful to listen to.  Stupidly fast BPM with the scream-growled vocals make it hard to know what's even being covered.  Beyond the novelty, this is not good.

💩

 

Cover #64: Thea Gilmore covers "I'm Not Down" by The Clash

    This cover appears on the first of two Clash tribute CDs that came with Uncut magazine in late 2003.  Here we have a competent though not very exciting cover of the London Calling deep cut.  Ms. Gilmore re-imagines the song in a sort of alt-country format, complete with a little harmonica in the beginning.  While her rendition is perfectly fine, it lacks the emotional depth of the original-  the layers of Mick Jones's tortured vocals are greatly missed, as is the rousing outro.  

✅✅

Cover #63: Mark Eitzel covers "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield

    I confess I have very little experience hearing Mr. Eitzel.  This cover of the Curtis Mayfield classic is in my collection twice, from two different magazines (CMJ New Music Monthly and Uncut) from 2002, so I guess he was (is?) a thing.  His rendition is fine, probably good, but honestly I don't see why I would put this version on when The Jam covered this tune so much better.  I must say, though, that the horn solos toward the end are very tasty.

✅✅✅

Cover #62: The Pregnant Everly Brothers cover "Don't You Want Me Baby" by Human League

    This cover is so fun.  The cover band is a sort of pop-folk band out of Sheffield, UK, and they have a great time playing up their local accents and references.  In fact, this cover is actually called "Dunt Tha Want Mi," which I guess is a nod to the Sheffield accent.  The cover song on its own is great, but the video is fun too.  Some of their other covers are pretty good too, but this one is easily a classic.

 

✅✅✅✅✅

Cover #61: Big Head Todd & The Monsters cover "Tangerine" by Led Zeppelin

 While tribute albums are largely hit and miss, there are a few that are notable for their sheer failure, and Encomium:  A Tribute to Led Zeppelin is one of them.  There are bad performances, questionable choices of tribute artists, and dreadful song choices.  Seriously?  This is the first major Led Zeppelin tribute album and the producers picked "Tangerine?"  What, was "Hot Dog" or "Candy Store Rock" taken?  This dreadful cover song drops all three turds:  lame performance, dumb choice of a band, and a song that most Led Zeppelin fans would easily put in their bottom ten.  Nice job.

   As Butthead once said, "Stop!  In the name of all that which does not suck!"

💩

Cover #60: Pantera covers "Planet Caravan" by Black Sabbath

 This version sticks pretty close to the original, but I prefer Phil's vocals.  Not only is the production cleaner (it ought to be, given the gap in years), but there is a lot more emotion.  Phil sings like this song is about a real journey, rather than a different kind of, um, trip.  Elsewhere, the cleaner production makes the guitar articulation and the bongos really pop.  An improvement, for certain.  ✅✅✅✅

Cover #59: Bee Gees and Dianne Steinberg cover "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" by The Beatles

 I remember seeing this movie when it came out in the theater.  I was about eleven years old and I did not know The Beatles very well but I was up on my Top 40 radio at that age so I knew Bee Gees, Peter Frampton, Aerosmith, and Steve Martin well enough.  I remember people walking out of the theater in the middle of the movie saying "this is awful!"  I did not really know what to think of the movie but I was surprised that someone who paid good money for a movie ticket would leave partway through.

History has shown, of course, that the movie (especially) and the soundtrack are some of the worst ideas in music history.  Greed? Vanity?  Drugs?  In that period of time, who knows.  

Other than the Aerosmith cover, I have not re-listened to any of these soundtrack versions since the movie came out.  I'm not sure if I have the stomach to try any others, though, because this cover is truly putrid.  No wonder this movie and soundtrack were vilified so.  💩

Cover #58: Coroner covers "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" by The Beatles

 I'm not a very big Beatles fan but I do think there is a bounty of great covers of Beatles songs, including this one.  Here we have the great Swiss band Coroner who bring their signature thrash/doom hybrid to this well-known tune.  The layered vocal harmony in the "heavy...  Heavy... HEAVY" part could have been a land mine for a group like this but they handled it well.  The guitar solo part is wonderful but much too short.  The main couple of riffs suit these guys perfectly, especially the opening/closing riff that goes on, and on, and on....  but in this version it just rocks.  ✅✅✅✅

Cover #57: Mr Marcaille covers "Territorial Pissings" by Nirvana

If you are looking for an unconventional cover of Nirvana songs, look no further than a track by track Nevermind tribute by a variety of French punk, noise, and experimental bands put out by the label Est Mon Cul, C'est Du Tofu?  This very unique cover starts with the familiar spoof on the Youngbloods' "Get Together," done here like Rammstein leading off "Stripped."  The rest of the song is hard to describe (I love it when that happens, I really do).  Maybe mix a little Fear with a little Bauhaus and a lot of Throbbing Gristle and you get a little close.  Truly unique.   ✅✅✅✅

Cover #56: Motion City Soundtrack covers "Pop Song 89" by REM

 REM has never mattered to me, and honestly I am only familiar with a handful of their songs, including this one.  This cover seems pretty close to the original, though I do like the vocals better on this cover (part of the reason why I never got into REM is I don't care for the vocals).   ✅✅

Cover# 55: The Highwomen cover "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac

 I'm not sure how this cover resonates in the mainstream pop and/or country world, but I think it is pretty good.  I am specifically writing about the version the ladies did for Howard Stern.  The unplugged vibe is cool, the violin solo is terrific, and the vocals are sublime.  I'm not sure I like the famous bass riff done by violin at the end, but all in all this cover is amazing.   ✅✅✅✅

Cover #54: Prolapse covers "Anthrax" by Gang Of Four

 This is one of those so awesome it's natural moments-  who else in the world could possibly cover this song other than Prolapse?  The two vocalists perfectly match the dual voices on the original, and while the music is largely faithful to Gang of Four's, it has enough small unique touches to keep it exciting (like even more feedback than the original).  Proceed to the cover song pantheon.  ✅✅✅✅✅

Cover #53: Bob Marley & The Wailers cover "Teenager In Love" by Dion & The Belmonts

 In the really early days, when Bob Marley was quickly moving from ska through Rocksteady and eventually on to reggae, his trio performed several covers- something they did rarely once Catch A Fire came out.  Here we have their take on the oldies classic.  The musical style is significantly different- it's rocksteady, yes, but also the music itself is much more up front than in the original version, in which the lead vocal is very much the focus.  Speaking of vocals, most of the vocals here are in a chorus, giving the song a really different mood.  The short sax solo is divine.  Finally, the lyrics are often different.  I don't know why, but who cares, this version is cool.  ✅✅✅✅

Cover #52: The Lively Ones cover "Pipeline" by The Chantays

 In the 1960s it was not uncommon to have one artist perform a cover of a current or relatively current song, to see if the newer version might chart higher than the original (also, in the 1960s many songs became hits locally or regionally, giving other local/regional acts a chance to bring a hit song to a new audience).  This happened frequently with Motown artists; some of the best known Motown hits were recorded by two or three other Motown acts around the same time.  So it was with one of the greatest surf instrumentals of all time- in fact, one of the best rock songs ever, period.  The Lively Ones version is pretty close to the original on first listen, but then you should notice that the organ bits in the first version are replaced with saxophone, and the small instrumental solo is guitar instead of organ in the original.  For students of surf rock (like me), these differences are really cool.  ✅✅✅

Cover #51: The Trashmen cover "Be True To Your School" by The Beach Boys

 Here we have the guys behind the great garage rock staple "Surfin' Bird" taking on one of the lamer Beach Boys songs.  The Trashmen version is definitely less polished, which I suppose is a slight improvement.  What this song really needs is someone like Dead Kennedys changing part of the lyrics, like they did for "Viva Las Vegas."   Meanwhile, this really isn't much of an improvement on a weak song.  ✅

Cover #50: Metallica covers "Motorcycle Man" by Saxon

 This is Metallica's home turf-  1980s punk and NWOBHM (or NWOBHM style) metal.  Metallica treated the world to several unique covers during a run of shows in early December, 2011, including this cool gem by the band Saxon.  As with many of Metallica's rare or one-off covers, the original vocalist joined them (Biff Byford in this case).  Metallica almost always shines when they bring out these punk/metal songs, and this version is great.  ✅✅✅✅

Cover #49: Metallica covers "TV Eye" by The Stooges

 I always love when Metallica does covers.  It reminds me of their terrific punk and NWOBHM roots, even when much of their post black album material is sluggish.  I don't think they've done many (or any) official release covers since the Garage Inc. album, but they've sprinkled a few on special occasions now and then.  On their March 05, 2017 show in Mexico City they had Iggy Pop (the opening act) join them for a joint cover of this Stooges classic, and of course it kicks ass.  Honestly, there are times that I wish Metallica would just give up trying to put out new material and just keep doing new covers.   ✅✅✅✅

Cover #48: The Jam cover "Heatwave" by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas

 The Jam always had a strong soul vibe, so it's no surprise that they chose this song to cover.  The Jam's version is straight on but definitely updated.  They find that tricky balance of performing close to the original but sounding fresh and (more?) modern without delving into the "what's the point?" category.  No surprises here, but there doesn't need to be.  ✅✅✅✅

Cover #47: The Dream Syndicate covers "Cinnamon Girl" by Neil Young

 This cover really works.  The Dream Syndicate dial back the heavy fuzz, pick up the tempo a bit, and add a bit of power pop multi-track vocals.  It has elements of 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s hard pop throughout.  The D.S. version feels like the worked very carefully on this arrangement, but also that they just went into a studio and had fun and ripped this off in a couple of takes.  This is a real keeper.   ✅✅✅✅✅

Cover 46: The Legal Matters cover "What Is Life" by George Harrison

 You'll be happy to know that this group out of Detroit keeps the buzzy guitar lines intact.  In fact, they stick pretty close to the original, with a bit of power pop updating that may not be terribly original or interesting, but is refreshing.  Not great, but definitely good.  ✅✅✅

Cover 45: King Curtis covers "Whiter Shade Of Pale" by Procol Harum

 King Curtis's album Live At Fillmore West features nine songs, seven of which are covers (side note: the recording quality is fantastic).  I wish I had a flux capacitor that could take me back to 1971, when this was recorded, years and years before the scourge of smooth jazz.  Try as I might, it's hard to hear this low tempo version and not have Dave Koz PTSD flashbacks.  I will say that the playing of both Mr. Curtis and the backing band are miles ahead of any of the saccharine studio stuff from the smooth jazz orcs.  The drumming is especially good.  ✅✅✅

Cover 44: Sex Clark Five covers "Career Opportunities" by The Clash

 First of all, this cover is on a Sandinista! tribute album, so I suppose it's not fair to give this version too much flak since the Clash version with the kids singing is pretty bad as well.  Still, two turds don't make a right.  💩

Cover 43: Dolly Parton covers "Train, Train" by Blackfoot

 This cover kicks ass, plain and simple.  Ms. Parton takes all of the energy of the classic southern rock staple and adds a bit of extra bite, especially in the vocals.  The arrangement is super uptempo bluegrass (very cool) with some superb playing by the band.  The vocals are just great-  Dolly's voice goes better with bluegrass than country, and in her capable hands the lyrics have more punch than in the original.   ✅✅✅✅✅

Cover #42: Субкультура covers "House Of The Rising Sun" by The Animals

 Субкультура, a not very well known group from Kazakhstan (the name means "subculture"), performs this classic rock standard with a sometimes chilling arrangement of acoustic guitar, flute, and barely audible strings.  The singing is in Russian, which adds to the ethereal nature of this rendition.  My guess is that this version is not easy to find, but it will be well worth your time.  Very cool.  ✅✅✅✅

Cover #41: Blue Öyster Cult covers "Born To Be Wild" by Steppenwolf

 Of the three BÖC covers I am listening to today, this one is strays the farthest from the original.  I don't think this is an outstanding cover, but it successfully blew the original version out of my brain, at least for today, for which I am thankful.  ✅✅✅