MP3 Of The Week

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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.

If you are the copyright holder of the current track and wish it to be taken down please contact me to do so.

Past Selections - 2004

December 26, 2004
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - "Disco 2000"

We end the year on a cheeky note - for their "Bad Cover Version" single from 2002's We Love Life, Pulp enlisted none other than Nick Cave to record a - get ready for it - bad cover version of one of their songs, in this case, "Disco 2000" from Different Class. Unfortunately for them, it turned out really well. This is maybe one of my favourite covers in my collection, far beyond the initial novelty of it. Oh, and the video for the a-side is also brilliant - you can watch it here, though only the RealMedia versions work. Happy New Year.

Originally by : Pulp

December 19, 2004
Teenage Fanclub - "Jesus Christ"

Here's another track from that lost Big Star tribute album (see cover of the week for Aug 1 for details) - this one a seasonal selection. It's no surprise to see the Fannies paying tribute to their own personal deitiy in Alex Chilton, and they're hedging their bets by giving props to the JC at the same time. Maybe the closest anyone's going to get to writing a power-pop Christmas carol. You realize that this is the one week of the year that I could post this, so it's a no-brainer.

And if you want something a little more 'trad', here's Sufjan Stevens and co. performing "Oh Holy Night" (3.48MB), courtesy of Copy. Right?. Merry Christmas to those so inclined to do so.

Originally by : Big Star

December 12, 2004
Six By Seven - "Young Man's Stride"

I confess, my Six By Seven post this week was partly just an excuse to put up this track for this week. I had been looking for this Mercury Rev cover (circa See You On The Other Side) for the longest time, but to no avail. I couldn't turn up an electronic copy on any p2ps and I couldn't find the Candlelight single from whence it came... But as you can see, I eventually did and I'm a happier man for it. Of course, I just discovered they did a cover of The Soft Boys' "I Wanna Destroy You" as another b-side, so the search continues...

Oh, and you wanna talk coincidences? I found a copy of the Candlelight EP last night, used, for $3. I bought it on principle.

Originally by : Mercury Rev

December 5, 2004
Idlewild - "I Found That Essence Rare"

Let's see, news items about Idlewild this past week? Check. Tie in with last week's mp3 of the week? Check. This week's selection passes the 'topical selection' test with flying colours. Thanks to Dave for sending me this b-side of Idlewild doing the same Gang Of Four track that I had Uncle Tupelo tackling last week. This was a Remote Part b-side, made available on the second CD of the Live In A Hiding Place single.

Originally by : Gang Of Four

November 28, 2004
Uncle Tupelo - "I Found That Essence Rare"

I meant to post this one weeks ago, but something else trumped it. According to Greg Kot's Learning How To Die, this was one of the songs that high school-aged Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy bonded over in forming Uncle Tupelo. The influence of the 70s British art-punkers Gang Of Four isn't immediately obvious in the Tupelo oevure, but here they are, covering one of their tunes in a purely UT style. If you want to make this week's entry topical, the original lineup of Gang of Four recently announced they were getting onboard the reunion bandwagon with some live shows in 2005, their first since 1991.

Originally by : Gang Of Four

November 21, 2004
Hayden - "Gouge Away"

Okay, okay, get a load of this - the Pixies are playing sold-out (and almost sold-out) shows in Toronto this week. Hayden is from Toronto. Hayden played sold-out shows in Toronto last week. Hayden covered the Pixies' "Gouge Away" on his Mild And Hazy EP in 1996. Doesn't the cosmic synchronicity of it all make your head want to explode? Far out, man.

Originally by : Pixies

November 14, 2004
Calexico - "Chanel No. 5"

I've automated this week's post to go live at the exact moment I'll be at Schubas in Chicago watching American Music Club perform, well, perhaps this very song. Likely? Okay, probably not. But anyway, this track comes courtesy of the inimitable Calexico and appeared on Come On Beautiful, an excellent and rare tribute album to AMC from 2000.

Originally by : American Music Club

November 7, 2004
Luna - "Everybody's Talkin'"

This week I see Luna for the last time, albeit twice, so it's only fitting that I post the last Luna covers I have, at least until their rumoured covers compilation comes out. They originally covered Fred Neil's "Everybody's Talkin'", made famous in 1969's Midnight Cowboy, for a 7" single put out by SubPop in 1998. I don't actually have an mp3 of that version (anyone? anyone?), but do have a live version from a 1997 KCRW session that came out on the Australia-only EP in 1998. And because it's an extra special occasion, here's a live acoustic version, likely taken from some radio session. Bye-bye, Luna. Thanks for the music.

Originally by : Fred Neil

October 31, 2004
Superchunk - "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)"

Happy Hallowe'en! Superchunk covered this David Bowie number, one of his last good songs before he began collaborating with Bing Crosby, as a b-side for the 1,000 Pounds single, itself taken from the Come Pick Me Up LP. It also appears on last year's Cup Of Sand double-disc compilation. In the liner notes, Jon Wurster says the learned to play this one because they were "tired of doing 'The Monster Mash' every Halloween'.

Originally by : David Bowie

October 24, 2004
Graham Coxon - "That's When I Reach For My Revolver"

The past week was awash in talk about Graham Coxon's future in and out of Blur and I just got rocked by Mission Of Burma on Friday night, so why not combine the topics? Coxon covered this Burma classic on his second solo album, The Golden D, along another MoB tune, "Fame and Fortune". "Revolver" is probably Burma's most-covered song, and with good reason - it friggin' rocks. So we'll make this week another double-shot - here's Catherine Wheel's version from the Waydown single (click here).

Originally by : Mission Of Burma

October 17, 2004
Elliott Smith - "Supersonic"

This Tuesday marks the release of Elliott Smith's final album, From A Basement On The Hill, and this week marks the one-year anniversary of his untimely death. I haven't heard the entire album yet, but what I have heard seems to confirm it's both a fitting final statement from the artist as well as a frustrating reminder that he still had so much art left in him. I'm going with a slightly unconventional cover this week - I have a slew of Beatles covers, obviously, but let's try something by some Beatles wannabes. We miss you, Elliott.

Originally by : Oasis

October 10, 2004
"Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want"

So Morrissey is in town this week and everyone is all agog. Except me, I've never given two shits about Morrissey's post-Smiths work, but that's a topic for another day. For now, I will simply use his arrival as an excuse to clean out the cupboard a little bit - behold, not one, but SIX very different versions of this timeless Smiths song. In no particular order: Josh Rouse, Doves, Swearing At Motorists Weezer, Halo Benders and Muse.

Originally by : The Smiths

October 3, 2004
Luna - "Outdoor Miner"

As Luna begins to announce the dates on the first leg of their farewell tour, I am going to take a moment to salute one of my all-time favourite bands on an illustrious career. This Wire cover was the A-side of a 1996 single released in both vinyl and CD format. I don't actually have this one so I thank 517 for providing the track (from the 7", natch - you can hear the crackles). And as a bonus, here's the band filed right next to Luna in the CD bins - Lush - doing the same song. It was a b-side to their "For Love" single.

Originally by : Wire

September 26, 2004
Son Volt - "Sometimes"

To celebrate the reunion of Son Volt, here's the song that initially brought them back together earlier this year.. They recorded Alejandro Escovedo's "Sometimes" for the Por Vida tribute album, the proceeds from which go to help cover Escovedo's medical bills for treatment for his hepatitis. The album boasts a truly all-star lineup and is for a great cause - buy a copy.

Originally by : Alejendro Escovedo

September 19, 2004
Belle & Sebastian - "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side"

Sometimes my track of the week is timely or topical, tying in to a recent post or an upcoming concert or album release. Other times, there's no reason whatsoever. Like this week.

This one could be considered a wet dream of sorts for the anorak-wearing set. Current indie-pop darlings Belle & Sebastian covering legendary indie-pop darlings The Smiths. It's like a match made in English class. I think this one comes from a concert in Glasgow in 2001, but I'm not certain.

Originally by : The Smiths

September 12, 2004
Drive-By Truckers - "Hey Ya"

So yes, ironic covers of pop hits are played out, and so is "Hey Ya". But how about NON-ironic covers of "Hey Ya"? Well, I can't comment on how sincere or insincere the Drive-By Truckers are in their appreciation of Outkast's huge breakthrough hit, but this recording is from a show back in February of this year, just before the song became the ubiquitous song of 2004, and they do it pretty straight and with vigour, so I'll take it at face value. Why am I posting this now? Cause the Drive-By Truckers just rocked my ass at the Horseshoe last night, that's why.

Originally by : Outkast

September 5, 2004
Versus - "Twenty Four Hours"

Umm, okay, quick writeup this week on account of me being drunk and tired right now. Tying into my Versus post from Friday, here's the band doing Joy Division's "Twenty Four Hours". It comes from the Means To An End tribute disc from 1995. It's a good version, I think, maintaining the nervous energy and foreboding of the original while being a natural fit for Versus' style. Definitely one of the better tracks on the tribute record.

Originally by : Joy Division

August 29, 2004
Yo La Tengo - "For Shame Of Doing Wrong"

So I was going over my past mp3s of the week and to my dismay, I realized I've never posted anything by cover-meisters Yo La Tengo. To make up for it, I'm posting two versions of the aptly-named "For Shame Of Doing Wrong", originally by Richard & Linda Thompson, from their Pour Down Like Silver album. The first is a studio version taken from their Shaker EP, the second is a live recording from their March 12, 2000 show at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Their version is beautifully sparse and dreamy with gorgeous vocals by Georgia. A little down the line I'll do a big multi-post with selections from their annual fundraiser for WFMU wherein they do impromptu covers by request from callers.

Originally by : Richard & Linda Thompson

August 22, 2004
A Salty Salute to Guided By Voices

I'm doing something a little special this week - the final Guided By Voices record, Half Smiles Of The Decomposed, comes out Tuesday. While no one really believes this is the last we'll hear of Bob Pollard, it's still a sad occasion. In tribute to this occasion, I'm unloading every one of my GBV covers (of, not by). Some are great, some not so much.

We'll start with GBV tour mates and drinking buddies (and Chromewaves whipping boys) The Strokes actually doing a good live version of "A Salty Salute", Alien Lanes' opening cut.

Scotland's Delgados performed this super-quickie version of "Indian Fables" from the Fast Japanese Spin Cycle EP during a BBC session early on in their career.

Vancouver's Salteens offer up a bubblegummed-up version of "Motor Away", again from Alien Lanes while Knoxville's Superdrag (again, GBV tourmates) do a rocking live version of the same tune.

Another Alien Lanes double-shot, "Game Of Pricks", this one less great all around. England's My Vitriol do an overly angsty version of this great tune (a b-side from their Always Your Way single and Jimmy Eat World go too straight rock on their version, which just appeared on the Future Soundtrack For America compilation. How hard is it to do a good cover of this tune?

And we'll finish off with some fellow indie rock legends - As Portastatic, long-time GBV buddy and collaborator Mac McCaughan tackles Bee Thousand nugget "Echos Myron" live.

Fellow Ohian Kim Deal's Breeders cover the super-brief but super-rocking "Shocker In Gloomtown", taken from their Head To Toe 10". The original appeared on The Grand Hour EP.

Guided By Voices are dead. Long live Guided By Voices.

Originally by : Guided By Voices

August 15, 2004
Buffalo Tom - "Cupid Come"

Another week, another cover of a shoegaze classic. This time, My Bloody Valentine's "Cupid Come" gets redone by Boston's Buffalo Tom, an odd pairing to anyone who's familiar with BT's trademark earnest college rock (not a slag - I like Buffalo Tom), but they did tour together way back in 1992 when Buffalo Tom was a considerably noisier outfit (they weren't called "Dinosaur Jr Jr" for nothing). The remake the Isn't Anything track into a (relatively) stripped-down guitar and piano beast that I rather like. The track originally appeared as a b-side to Wiser and also on their Besides compilation.

And as a bonus, a cover of Loveless' "When You Sleep" by Floridian dream-pop outfit Mira. I know nothing about this band except this track, which is pretty if a little bland. It comes from their debut self-titled album.

Originally by : My Bloody Valentine

August 8, 2004
B Fleischmann & Ms John Soda - "Here She Comes"

This is the track I had intended on posting last week to go along with my Slowdive post (this one here). It's a track from the Blue Skied An' Clear tribute album I mentioned, put out by the predominantly electronic Morr Music label out of Germany. It's a collaboration between two Morr artists, B Fleischmann and Ms John Soda, and though most of the tracks on the album are in this style, I particularly like this one. It just sounds so sad, moreso than the original even. And the synths are massive.

Originally by : Slowdive

August 1, 2004
Wilco - "Thirteen"

Big Star, Small World was a tribute album to the absurdly influential proto-power pop band and its leader Alex Chilton. It contained songs by a (then-)all-star lineup (See the original tracklisting here) as well as a new Big Star song. It even had a release date - May 17, 1998, on Ignition Records... So what happened? I have no idea. As far as I can tell, it just never came out. The new Big Star song, "Hot Thing", eventually turned up on last year's The Big Star Story compilation but the rest of the tracks just vanished into the Internet. I think there'd be little point it coming out now as many of the acts on the album have split up, lost their cachet, or in the case of the Wilco track, no longer representative of the band as they are today. I have a few more mp3s from the album which I'll post in the future. I don't know if that nasty cover art I've used is legit, either. I hope not.

Originally by : Big Star

July 25, 2004
Of Montreal - "Know Your Onion"

This track has been making the blog rounds this week, so I figured I'd get on the bandwagon before it became too ubiquitous. And it's small, so it'll give my bandwidth usage a break. It's Elephant 6-ers Of Montreal covering their fellow retro-poppers The Shins and actually doing a really good job of it. It comes from a bonus disc of covers that came with their latest album, Satanic Panic In The Attic. You can get the rest of the tracks from the bonus disc and other mp3s here.

Originally by : The Shins

July 18, 2004
Death Cab For Cutie - "Friday I'm In Love"

I've decided that you guys are spoiled. To this point, I've done my best to post good songs - good interpretations, good performances, etc. Well it's time you learned that not everything in this world is sunshine and lollipops. Witness - the usually reliable Death Cab For Cutie performing a positively dreadful version of The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love" at a Cure tribute night in Seattle, circa September 1999. I don't know what they were thinking.

Originally by : The Cure

July 11, 2004
The Mountain Goats - "Two-Headed Boy"

John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats last week said that he had absolutely no problem with file-sharing of his live performances... so let's celebrate that with this undated live performance of the Neutral Milk Hotel classic.. Dig the crazy radio announcer outro tacked onto the file - is that Dutch?

And isn't it also crazy how I managed to update this thing even from the other side of the country? Craaaazy.

Originally by : Neutral Milk Hotel

July 4, 2004
Galaxie 500 - "Ceremony"

The Galaxie 500 DVD Don't Let Our Youth Go To Waste came out last week, and one of the tracks featured on it is this cover of one of Joy Division's final songs (and one of New Order's first), "Ceremony". A staple of their repetoire, this particular version was recorded live at Club Lingerie in Hollywood in March of 1990, and comes courtesy of Plexifilm, who assembled the DVD.

G500 also recorded a live version of the song which appeared as a b-side on the Blue Thunder single and was appended to the reissue of On Fire. Hear it here.

Originally by : Joy Division

June 27, 2004
The Magnetic Fields - "He Didn't"

Is this cheating? I think this is cheating. Stephin Merritt, he who is The Magnetic Fields has a side project called The 6ths wherein he enlists guest singers to perform and record songs he has. But since they're Merritt's songs, he has every right to perform them live as he did in this case with the best track off the second 6ths record, Hyacinths & Thistles, originally sung by Bob Mould. Since it was originally performed by someone else, I'm calling his version a cover. Cheating? Probably. It's taken from the last MF show in Toronto in September 1999, and five years later, they're coming back on Friday and Saturday.

Originally by : The 6ths featuring Bob Mould

June 20, 2004
Wilco - "True Love Will Find You In The End"

This week's track is in honour of one of my favorite bands - a little outfit out of Chicage called Wilco. Maybe you've heard of them? I think I've mentioned them before. They're releasing their fifth album, A Ghost Is Born this Tuesday and in celebration, I'm posting this very pretty cover of a Daniel Johnston song. It's originally appeared as the b-side of the Australian single for "A Shot In The Arm".

Originally by : Daniel Johnston

June 13, 2004
Built To Spill - "By The Way"

While doing some mp3 housecleaning I found this file and realized that while I posted the Marine Research half of this split 7" as my very first mp3 of the week back in December 2002, I never posted the flip side with Built To Spill returning the favour, covering MR forbears Heavenly. Well that just won't do, so here you go.

Originally by : Heavenly

May 31, 2004
Suede - "Brass In Pocket"

I've been rediscovering just how great early Suede was, prompted by the new collaborations between Mssrs Anderson and Butler. Dog Man Star still slays me with it's glorious over-the-topness. This cover of The Pretenders' "Brass In Pocket" came from Ruby Trax, a 40-track covers compilation released by NME back in 1992 (hence the presence of a number of 'where are they now' artists). Still, the Suede track is a good one. Thanks to Gary for lending me the comp to rip some key tracks for this purpose.

Originally by : The Pretenders

May 30, 2004
Belle & Sebastian - "The Kids Are Alright"

If the mix of this week's track sounds funny, that's because it is. Taken from the Fans Only DVD, this track is Belle & Sebastian performing The Who's "The Kids Are Alright" at the Bowlie Weekender, 1999. Since it's taken from video footage, the mix changes with each cut, depending on whoever was onscreen. Still, I think it sounds alright regardless.

Originally by : The Who

May 23, 2004
Colin Meloy - "Everyday Is Like Sunday"

Everybody loves Morrissey. Okay, not me so much, but I'll admit he's had some decent post-Smiths material. Not enough to justify the adulation he gets, but whatever. This is one of them, covered by Colin Meloy of The Decemberists at a solo acoustic show in Portland, 2002. And, as a bonus, click here for The Pretenders' much slicker version from the Boys On The Side soundtrack.

Originally by : Morrissey

May 16, 2004
The Kronos Quartet - "Marquee Moon"

We're going to try something a little different this week. New York-based avant-garde outfit the Kronos Quartet contributed this cover of Television's most famous song for the Rubaiyat: Elektra's 40th Anniversary compilation which featured celebrated the label's birthday by having artists cover other Elektra artists. I love strings, I love this song, ergo I love this song done with strings. Fluxblog first posted this last year, and it's one of my favorite tracks that I often forget exists.

Originally by : Television

May 9, 2004
Trespassers William - "Vapour Trail"

I've been meaning to post this one for ages now - Trespassers William fall into the category of 'one of the best bands you've never heard' - I hadn't heard of them until Sean from House Of Hotsauce sent me this mp3 late last year. Since then, their Different Stars album has become one of my favorite new discoveries of the last few years. Here, they manage to keep the gorgeous, elegiac tone of Ride's original, but still make it entirely their own. If you like it, do check out the rest of their stuff, it's all excellent.

Originally by : Ride

May 2, 2004
Guided By Voices - "Baba O'Riley"

Guided By Voices are dead - long live Guided By Voices. To salute their long and storied career, I give you a cover of one of their greatest influences, The Who. This is taken from the King's Ransom: Happy Motherfuckers and Sad Clowns bootleg, which documents a show in Asheville, North Carolina on April 28, 2000. It's only teenage wasteland.

Originally by : The Who

April 25, 2004
Wilco - "Colour Me Impressed" / "I Wanna Be Sedated"

"Everything we do is based on The Replacements" - so said Wilco before playing this little punk medley at a show probably in San Francicso, 1997. That sentiment may have been true back then, but is a little harder to sell post-YHF. A decent take on the 'Mats cover and a pretty funny butcher job on The Ramones one.

Originally by : The Replacements / The Ramones

April 18, 2004
Pixies - "Winterlong"

Because the Pixies reunion tour started this past week (and I got tickets for the Toronto show) and I've been on a huge Neil Young kick, this week you get... Pixies covering Neil Young. They originally did this for The Bridge, an indie-rock tribute to Neil back in 1989, but this version comes from their show in Winnipeg last week. Opening with Neil in the town he grew up in. Nice touch. But if you want to hear the original studio version, click here.

Originally by : Neil Young

April 11, 2004
The Pernice Brothers - "Up The Down Escalator"

You might not expect it, Joe Pernice has long had a fascination with early 80s British indie music. Consider some of his choice of covers - The Psychedelic Furs, New Order and this glorious Chameleons tune. Taken from the 7:30 single. I've been looking for this track for longer than I can remember, so you can imagine how excited I was when I finally figured out how Soulseek worked and managed to download a copy.

Originally by : The Chameleons

April 4, 2004
Pavement - "The Killing Moon" (live)

It was almost exactly a year ago I was in a Pavement phase and posted their cover of Echo & The Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon", which has been quite popular in re-requests. So let's fast forward a year - guess what band I'm obsessed with again? Yeah. So I'm re-posting "The Killing Moon", BUT - a live version from 1999. Dig the REM quote at the end, too.

Originally by : Echo & The Bunnymen

March 28, 2004
The Decemberists - "Human Behaviour"

The Decemberists' Toronto debut this Monday seems to be a pretty hotly anticipated show, so I'll pay tribute by giving them this week's Cover of the Week. Hush Records just released READ: Interpreting Bjork which features this cover of "Human Behaviour" from Debut. You'd never think it, but Colin Meloy does a very good Bjork. I'd also like to hear Ben Gibbard's take on "Joga". Thanks to Stereogum for originally posting this.

Originally by : Bjork

March 21, 2004
J Mascis & The Fog - "Leaving On A Jet Plane"

Things have been kinda on the sedate side lately. Let's fuzz it up! J Mascis has always been one for offbeat covers, going back to the earliest Dinosaur Jr days. It's nice to see that that hasn't changed now that he's gone solo. This take on the oft-covered tune by the late John Denver originally appeared on the single for "Waistin'", off the first Fog record More Light. It also appeared on the import version of the album.

Originally by : John Denver

March 14, 2004
+/- - "Summerlong"

+/- (plus minus) is one of the many spin-off bands from NYC indie veterans Versus, but they trade the parent band's raw guitar assault for warm electronic laptop pop. This cover of Toronto singer- songwriter Emm Gryner's "Summerlong", from her album Public, appeared on the Japanese edition of their Holding Patterns EP, and trades the original's buoyant pop for a lush, languid feel that while very different, is just as good.

I discovered Emm the exact same time as Sarah Slean from last week - I got copies of both their albums from the university newspaper to review on the same day, and they didn't leave my CD player for months after.

Originally by : Emm Gryner

March 7, 2004
Sarah Harmer - "My Invitation"

To celebrate the release of her new album, this week we're putting Sarah Harmer in the spotlight. This live track comes from a show in early 2000. Toronto singer Sarah Slean nearly had to cancel a concert at the Rivoli due to laryngitis, but instead organized "The Mute Cute Show" which featured a slew of local artists who came out and perform ed her songs for her. Harmer was one of them performing "My Invitation", which appears on both Slean's independent Blue Parade and her major-label debut, Night Bugs. And to give Ms Slean her props, here's her cover of Radiohead's "Climbing Up The Walls", from her debut EP Universe.

Originally by : Sarah Slean

February 29, 2004
Sparklehorse - "Wish You Were Here"

Sparklehorse contributed this Pink Floyd cover to Come Again, a compilation celebrating EMI Records' 100th anniversary. Targeted to the British market, it featured current EMI artists covering tracks by older EMI artists. This track also features Thom Yorke of Radiohead doing backing vocals over the phone from his hotel room. The track was also collected on the promo-only Chest Full Of Dying Hawks Sparklehorse comp.

The tie-in to last week's selection? Mark Linkous produced the A Camp record.

Originally by : Pink Floyd

February 22, 2004
A Camp - "Rock & Roll Ghost"

No more Scots. Bring on the Swedes! One post and now I'm on a Cardigans kick. A Camp was Cardies singer Nina Persson's side project and contained the pop songs that should have been on Gran Turismo. There were also a couple covers on the record - one of which was "Rock & Roll Ghost", off of The Replacements' Don't Tell A Soul. I daresay Persson's sweet countrified version betters the original - the whole album from which it came was really let down by the overly glossy production and the songs deserved better. This tune goes a way to doing it justice.

Originally by : The Replacements

February 15, 2004
Arab Strap - "Why Can't This Be Love"

Still not done with the Scotsmen. Not covering a pop diva this time, but still something on the fromage-y side of good taste. In honour of St Valentine's Day, we bring you the hard-drinking, hard-moping duo Arab Strap doing Van Hagar's "Why Can't This Be Love". Taken from the Strap's 2003 EP The Shy Retirer, this mp3 is courtesy of the good people at Slatch.com.

Originally by : Van Halen

February 8, 2004
Snow Patrol - "Crazy In Love"

I had something else pencilled in for this week, but everyone else (ChaChaCha and Coolfer, anyway) were already on this one and let it never be said that I'm not a follower.

Anyway - last year during a BBC Radio 1 Evening Session, Snow Patrol threw down this cover of Beyonce's super smash hit "Crazy In Love". I like it - even non-ironically. That goes for the original tune, too. And check it out - Scottish bands covering pop divas two weeks in a row - that must be some kinda record.

PS - My 'favorite bands' meme is done.

Originally by : Beyonce featuring Jay-Z

February 1, 2004
Teenage Fanclub - "Like A Virgin"

Teenage Fanclub recorded this cover of Madonna's signature song as part of The King - their deliberately crap follow-up to A Catholic Education, intended to get them out of their record deal with Matador and into fame and riches courtesy of DGC. And it worked... for a little while. Full details on the feud here.

Oh yeah, Fannies are #5.

Originally by : Madonna

January 25, 2004
Ride - "European Son"

Entry #4 in the favorite bands series is the namesake for this blog, Ride. Oxford, England's favorite sons in the early 90s contributed this cover of The Velvets' "European Son" to 1990's Heaven And Hell: A Tribute To The Velvet Underground. Exact chronology is uncertain, but it'd be safe to say this is one of the band's earliest recordings - their debut eponymous EP only came out in January 1990. Thanks to Gary for the mp3.

Originally by : The Velvet Underground

January 18, 2004
Uncle Tupelo - "I Wanna Destroy You"

I'm out of Wilco covers at the moment, so forebears Uncle Tupelo will graciously step in to pinch-hit, though technically this is a Jay Farrar lead vocal, and not a Jeff Tweedy. Whatever.

This cover of The Soft Boys' "I Wanna Destroy You" was originally the b-side to the Gun single, but I didn't get a copy until it was added as a bonus track on the remastered Still Feel Gone.

Originally by : The Soft Boys

January 11, 2004
Belly - "Hot Burrito #1"

Next in my 'favorite bands of all-time' series - Belly. Long gone, but remembered fondly. I think this song was actually my first exposure to the work of Gram Parsons - the original appears on the first Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace Of Sin.

Taken from the Gepetto EP, it was incorrectly named "Hot Burrito #2", which is another Burritos song also covered by Dino Jr. You'll probably see that one soon.

Originally by : The Flying Burrito Brothers

January 4, 2004
Luna - "Season Of The Witch"

I'm going to start the year off with tracks by some of my all-time favorite bands.

First up - Luna do a marvelous job of Luna-fying Donovan's "Season Of The Witch" for the I Shot Andy Warhol soundtrack. It was also released as a single on Beggars Banquet.

Originally by : Donovan

December 7, 2004
Macha & Bedhead - "Believe"

When Bedhead called it quits in 1999, they sent a bunch of unfinished tracks to mates Macha to finish. The final results were presented on the Macha Loved Bedhead EP, on which this song was the final, "hidden" track. It transforms Cher's disco anthem into a touch-tone phone-driven (really) dirge. Lovely.

Originally by : Cher