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, March 8th, 2009
SubPopThis was a track that I thought I’d never get to air, seeing as how both the coverers – UK melancholics Tindersticks – and the coverees – Stockton slacker kings Pavement – seemed to be in mothballs for the foreseeable future, though the former’s hiatus since 2003 was decidedly less official than the latter’s breakup in 1999.
And that’d have been a shame because this incongruous pairing – released as the a-side of a Tindersticks 7″ for SubPop back in 1995 – is a beautiful piece of work, taking one of Pavement’s finest songs and truly dressing it up for success in creaking strings and Stuart Staples’ low croon. Definitely one of the favourite covers in my collection.
But huzzah, the return of Tindersticks – with a new album in The Hungry Saw, released last year, and a North American tour, stopping in at Toronto’s Opera House on Tuesday – give me all the excuse I need to share this track. And while the Pavement reunion rumours are pretty much a fact of life, four-fifths of the band did get back together at drummer Bob Nastanovich’s wedding last month, if only to play some covers and not any Pavement material. Odds are it’ll happen eventually – the size of the cheques on offer probably increase every year – and when it does, I guess I’ll have to dig out another Pavement cover…
The Boston Globe and Patriot-Ledger talk to Stuart Staples about his band’s return. They also recorded a session from WNYC.
MP3: Tindersticks – “Here”
Video: Pavement – “Here” (from A Slow Century)
Sunday, March 1st, 2009
WikipediaI remember soliciting suggestions for Polaris Prize nominations back in 2006 and having more than a few people declare that Neko Case’s Fox Confessor Brings The Flood was their favourite Canadian release of the year. And it’d have been a slam dunk if only Neko Case was Canadian.
It’s understandable that people assume that the Virginian (the name of her first record wasn’t picked randomly, people) had Canuck roots – she moved to Vancouver for college and played in a number of local bands, most conspicuously as drummer in Maow. And she’s part of one of the most successful Canadian bands going – The New Pornographers – and her first backing band was The Sadies, with whom she still collaborates frequently. No, the girl is American through and through but Canada does love her so.
And the feeling is mutual – in 2001 she released the tour-only EP Canadian Amp, half of which consisted of covers of Canadian artists and one of whom was Neil Young. Now Young is one of the most oft-covered artists Canada has ever produced but Case selected a track that hasn’t been done to death – “Dreamin’ Man” from 1992’s Harvest Moon, a song which finds Neil at his simplest and loveliest – and she more than does it justice.
Case will release her new album Middle Cyclone this week and is touring to support, though both Toronto shows April 17 and 18 at Trinity-St Paul’s are sold out. Young also has a new album out on March 31 April 7, the automotive bailout-themed concept album Fork In The Road, and considering that its rush-release has pushed the Archives set on the back burner, it may be safe to say that this could be the least-anticipated Neil Young record ever. Those cities on his April Canadian tour may be right to be nervous about what they’re going to get. No one wants to say Greendale but they’re thinking it.
NPR, Chart and The National Post have interviews with Neko Case.
MP3: Neko Case – “Dreamin’ Man”
Video: Neil Young – “Dreamin’ Man” (live)
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
When Michael Reisenauer, head Pale Young Gentleman, sent out this M.I.A. cover at the start of the year, he said the band chose to cover it because, “it samples “Straight to Hell” by The Clash, which Mike and I have been singing since he bought Combat Rock in the 8th grade”. Which is all well and good but doesn’t really explain why they didn’t just cover “Straight To Hell” in the first place.
But I’m not complaining because if they had, I wouldn’t be able to toss this up in honour of Oscar night. M.I.A. is up for an Academy Award tonight, though not for this song, although it was excellently utilized in the heavily-favoured Slumdog Millionaire. Instead, she’s a co-nominee for “Best Original Song” for another Slumdog song, “O Saya”, which she’ll also be performing. Perhaps from a giant bed? I don’t understand that at all, personally, but okay.
I’m all in favour of Slumdog cleaning up tonight, for the record. Yes it’s (mostly) a feel-good fantasy story, but I thoroughly enjoyed it on pretty much every level, which is not something I can say about many/most films. And I really didn’t get the appeal of Pineapple Express, the film/trailer for which originally gave “Paper Planes” it’s second life after the release of Kala two years ago. But then again, I wasn’t stoned. And while I’m just babbling aimlessly, I’m just sick to death of Seth Rogen. Zack & Miri was an awful film. I will never, ever, ever be able to accept his as a romantic lead. Sorry.
Anyway back on point, the Pale Young Gentlemen cover does a nice job of reimagining M.I.A.’s hyper-kineticness as a downcast bit of folk-pop. Kind of entirely contrary to the spirit of the original song, but I think it works. And you can just hear the grin on the drummer’s face as he hit’s that snare in the chorus.
Built To Spill have also apparently been adding “Paper Planes” to their live repertoire.
MP3: Pale Young Gentlemen – “Paper Planes”
Video: M.I.A. – “Paper Planes”
Video: Built To Spill – “Paper Planes” (live)
Sunday, February 15th, 2009
amazon.co.ukThis week will see the release of the third benefit CD for the War Child organization, dedicated to providing aid to children in regions affected by conflict and poverty. This latest one, entitled War Child: Heroes, consists entirely of covers with the musical legends such as Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson and David Bowie choosing one of their songs and an artist to cover it. The resulting collection of talent involved is breathtaking.
Covers and heroes weren’t an official theme of the original Help! album, released in 1995 to benefit those in war-torn Sarajevo, but it was a running theme. One of the contributions came from Suede, who crafted an elegant version of Elvis Costello’s Falklands anti-war song, originally written for Robert Wyatt, formerly of The Soft Machine, but which he also recorded himself for 1983’s Punch The Clock.
War Child: Heroes is out tomorrow in the UK and next Tuesday in the US and not till March 3 in Canada. The North American and European versions differ slightly – besides a different running order, North America gets Adam Cohen covering dad Leonard’s “Take This Waltz” while those on the other side of the Atlantic do not. A curious decision, since I doubt anyone really cares about Adam Cohen’s presence one way or the other, anywhere.
You can currently stream the whole of the album – sans Cohens – at MySpace. And if you’re feeling the charitable compilation thing right now, remember that the Dark Was The Night AIDS benefit is also out this week, and it’s pretty damned stunning – pretty much everyone in the all-star lineup is at the top of their game.
MP3: Suede – “Shipbuilding”
Video: Suede – “Shipbuilding”
Video: Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “Shipbuilding” (live)
Video: Robert Wyatt – “Shipbuilding” (live)
Stream: War Child: Heroes
Sunday, February 8th, 2009
Amazon.comStarbucks may have decided last Summer that they make a better coffee shop than music retailer but they’re not done putting out music. In this case, a second Valentine’s Day compilation to go along with the one they released back in 2005, both of which featured current acts of a mostly indie-ish bent doing covers of love songs. Appearing on the first comp were the likes of Neko Case, Calexico and Dean Wareham while this volume features Death Cab For Cutie, DeVotchKa and A.C. Newman, amongst others.
M Ward is the only act to appear on both volumes, the first time in his solo guise covering what is probably Pete Townshend’s best-known, non-Who song – “Let My Love Open The Door” – and the second time teaming up with Zooey Deschanel as She & Him to re-interpret Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell On You”.
Ward’s new record Hold Time is out next Tuesday, February 17, and this Saturday is Valentine’s Day. Coffee is my Valentine.
Billboard has a feature piece on M Ward.
MP3: M Ward – “Let My Love Open The Door”
Video: She & Him – “I Put A Spell On You” (live)
Video: Pete Townshend – “Let My Love Open The Door” (live on Jools Holland)
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