Each week I'm posting a random or not-so-random cover song. Only the current week's track will be available but if you see a past one you'd like, contact me and we'll make arrangements.
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010
Of Montreal covers M.I.A.
Patrick HeagneyThere’s an interesting chain of evidence with this week’s selection. Back in Fall of 2008, even though their hands should have been quite full with the release of Skeletal Lamping, Athenian Georgians Of Montreal still found the time to release a non-album 7″ with a slow funk jam cover of M.I.A.’s “Jimmy”, as the A-side.
“Jimmy” was the second single from M.I.A.’s 2007 sophomore record Kala, and itself was a cover of sorts, building on the song “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja” from the 1982 Bollywood film Disco Dancer, and was originally penned by one Bappi Lahiri, aka “The Disco King”. No, these are not things I normally know, but that’s why we have Wikipedia. Interesting, no?
Both M.I.A. and Of Montreal are coming out with new records this year; M.I.A.’s /\/\/\Y/\ is out as of this Tuesday, and Of Montreal’s False Priest is still a few months away, due out on September 14. Bappi Lahari continues to score countless Bollywood films.
MP3: Of Montreal – “Jimmy”
Video: M.I.A. – “Jimmy”
Video: Bappi Lahiri – “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy Aaja”
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
The Flaming Lips cover Queen
WikipediaFor a band often credited as proudly waving their freak flag wherever it may lead them, The Flaming Lips have a pretty healthy respect for classic rock. Okay, “respect” might not be the word some purists would use to describe their re-imagining of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side Of The Moon, but even though they clearly had their fun with it, there was obviously a deep respect for the source material.
Interestingly, their cover of “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which was their contribution to the 2005 Queen tribute album Killer Queen, was pretty straight although that may have been because the original was already more inherently ridiculous than anything the Lips could possibly think to do to it. It’s a great song and an undisputed classic, yes, but come on. It’s just nutso.
The Flaming Lips are at the Molson Amphitheatre on Thursday night. Volume 3 of four super-deluxe Queen singles compilations was released at the end of May. Queen Elizabeth II is currently on a cross-country tour of Canada and will be in Toronto tonight.
MP3: The Flaming Lips – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
MP3: The Flaming Lips – “Bohemian Rhapsody” (live)
Video: Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Sunday, June 27th, 2010
The Acorn cover Cyndi Lauper
Paper Bag RecordsWatching the video for Cyndi Lauper’s theme song for the classic ’80s kid’s film The Goonies is like a time warp in so many ways. Beyond the obvious trip back to 1985 – the film celebrated its 25th anniversary this year – there’s the whole “event”-ness of the vid: the massive, ’80s WWF wrestler cast, the appearance of most of the cast of the film not to mention also featuring director Richard Donner behind the camera, the fact that it was split into two parts – the first part debuting on MTV prior to the film’s release and the second part debuting after it opened… I only remembered vague bits of this – the Wikipedia entry for the song and video is quite thorough. And the thing that tends to get lost in all of this is that the tune underpinning it all – “Good Enough” – is really great, even when or especially when shed of all the circus-ness around it, it’s still a perfectly crafted pop song with a really sad heart – a shame that Lauper pretty much disowned the song for so long, though she’s begun re-introducing it to her live shows.
The Acorn’s Rolf Klausener saw this, and he and his Ottawan cohorts recorded an interpretation of the song a couple years ago for inclusion on their Heron Act odds and sods compilation. Their version takes the downer vibe that exists in the song’s lyrics and brings it to the fore in spare and sombre form. A video with wrestlers would probably be wholly inappropriate. Well, The Rock might be able to pull it off. Dude’s got serious dramatic chops.
The Acorn released their new record No Ghost at the start of this month and have already scheduled two tours around Canada and the US for this Summer and Fall to support – no Toronto date to follow their appearance at Lee’s Palace a couple weeks ago, but something in November seems reasonable. Cyndi Lauper is one of the marquee performers at this year’s Pride Toronto, giving a free show at Queen’s Park on July 3.
MP3: The Acorn – “Good Enough”
Video: Cyndi Lauper – “Good Enough”
Sunday, June 20th, 2010
Ted Leo covers Big Star
Frank YangNXNE has quite thoroughly kicked my ass, so you’ll forgive me if this week’s selection falls under the category of quick and easy. But hopefully still satisfactory.
And why wouldn’t it be? There are few better go-to guys for covers than Ted Leo, who seemingly hasn’t met a song from any genre that he’s not prepared to take a swing at if it’s a good tune. And there are few bands who’ve wrote more good/great songs that have been – and deserve to be – covered ad infinitum than Big Star. So Ted Leo – solo and acoustic and Pharmacist-free – offering a tender rendition of one of Alex Chilton’s best-loved compositions, sometime circa 2006? Made of win, as the kids say.
Ted tours his newest album The Brutalist Bricks through Toronto this Saturday for a show at Lee’s Palace. Big Star’s Alex Chilton passed away in March and the world remains a colder place for his absence.
MP3: Ted Leo – “The Ballad Of El Goodo”
Video: Big Star – “The Ballad Of El Goodo” (live)
Sunday, June 13th, 2010
Broken Social Scene covers Pavement
Joel DidriksenPast lineups for the almost-annual Toronto Island Concert (née Olympic Island) have had a charmingly random quality to them – Keren Ann on a bill with Modest Mouse? Sure! Feist back to back with Bloc Party? Why not! – but this year’s double-shot of Pavement and Broken Social Scene actually has some history behind it, besides the obvious pairing of the Summer’s biggest reunion and a hometown show for arguably the city’s biggest band.
Scott Kannberg, aka Spiral Stairs, aka Preston School Of Industry, kept busy in the years that Pavement was on the shelf. In addition to his own works, guested on Kevin Drew’s Spirit If… solo record and appeared at some of the accompanying tour dates. He teamed up with Broken as a one-off act called Human Milk when he curated Calgary’s Sled Island a couple of years ago and contributed to the new Broken album Forgiveness Rock Record. In return, Kevin Drew’s grandmother appeared on his debut record as Spiral Stairs – last year’s The Real Feel (no really) and generally – like most every band of their generation – were influenced by Kannberg and his compatriot. “Ibi Dreams Of Pavement”? Yeah. BSS + SS = BFF.
And whilst Drew was on tour as Broken Social Scene – the whole “presents” thing ditched from the concert bill early on – one of Kannberg’s best-loved Pavement compositions was trotted out as a cover. This recording of Broken Social Scene performing “Kennel District” from Wowee Zowee comes from their show in Washington DC in November 2007, recorded for posterity by and available to stream at NPR.
Pavement and Broken Social Scene are joined by Band Of Horses, Beach House and more out on the Toronto Islands this Saturday, June 19. Crawdaddy and The Prague Post have interviews with Kannberg about both the Pavement reunion and his solo work.
MP3: Broken Social Scene – “Kennel District”
Video: Pavement – “Kennel District” (live)
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