I've got a driver, and that's a start.

I've had a cold for ages and finally went to a doctor. She gave me hydrocodone, which was a pretty cool trip until my body started to reject it and I freaked the hell out. May the following tracks make you feel as if you're on narcotics as well.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy and Matt Sweeney "Ignition" (R. Kelly cover)
Okay, I'd let these pros behind my wheel any day. Whiny indie rock boys thuggin' it out? Yeah, I'd let their lovin' in my trunk, if you know what I mean. (And I'm sure you do.)

Johnny Hollow "People are Strange" (Doors cover)
If there were a 2005 remake of The Lost Boys, this cover should replace the one Echo and the Bunnymen did for the original. This is far more horrorshow.

Cristina "Drive My Car (Long Version)" (Beatles cover)
Those of you who are currently down with Swedish (edit: Norwegian, sorry!) dance-pop sensation Annie, might want to check out the work Cristina put out in the '80s. It's Girls at Our Best! meets the B-52s at a party held by the Flirts where Dale Bozzio gets drunk and takes off her plastic bra.

Tom Waits "Heigh-Ho!" (from Disney's Snow White)
This is the version the dwarves sing in hell.

I bought a ticket to the world, but now I've come back again.

I've never found covers of some of the songs that really remind me of my recently departed friend Sherie, such as the Thompson Twins' "Lies," whose chorus became a sort of nickname she had for me to the tune, "Lize, Lize, Lizaaa." Nor have I found a remake of ABC's "The Look of Love," a song whose words we'd once completely rewritten and left as a message on my dad's answering machine. But there are others out there, and during the godawful (pun not necessarily intended) contemporary Christian medleys that her family chose to play at her funeral service, I tried my best to imagine the following songs (the originals, of course) playing instead.

Will.I.Am. and Fergie "True" (Spandau Ballet cover)
I don't think I ever really liked this song, but Sherie did. I found it terribly overblown and grandiose and would often mock the overdramatic melancholy of it all by loudly singing the "I bought a ticket to the wo-ooo-ooorld" line in my best foppish timbre directly in her ear ad nauseam. Good times. Similarly, I was pretty much over the Black Eyed Peas last album immediately, although the "Hey, Mama" iPod commercial did intrigue me for a second. That said, I do, however, find myself mesmerized by Fergie's hip-shaking, if for no other reason than I can't imagine that a human waist can actually be that small and still sustain life.

Jennifer Batten "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (Michael Jackson cover)
Everyone loved Thriller, didn't they? I remember one day Sherie and I must've been hopped up on sugar and played WBSS on repeat for about an hour, dancing around like maniacs and conga-ing around her house loudly chanting "Ma Ma Se, Ma Ma Sa, Ma Ma Coo Sa." God, being a total dork can feel so fun when you're 10.

This track is by one of the few females in the guitar-shred realm who happened to also play in MJ's touring band and I don't really care for it, but I thought posting the Whitney/Mya/Usher version seemed too predictable.

Scorpions "Drive" (Cars cover)
Sherie and her mom took me to what I consider to be the first "real" concert I attended—i.e. the first concert I attended that I actually wanted to go to rather than one I was dragged along to. (Beatlemania, Merle Haggard and Beach Boys sans Brian Wilson, I'm looking in your direction.) It was at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis in 1984 and featured The Cars with Wang Chung as openers. Pretty rad, no? anyhow, we attended with Sherie's mom and brother and a boy Sherie liked. I remember that, during "Drive," she gave me a look just before turning to her beau as coyly as an awkward 12-year-old girl could and serenading him with the question, "Who's gonna drive you home ... tonight?" It was totally cheesy (or "queer," as she would have said at the time) and it made me laugh really hard. I mean, come on, her mom was going to drive him home.

Speedbuggy "Pretty in Pink" (Psychedelic Furs cover)
I remember Sherie thinking that the line "she gives him these clothes as cars collide" was "she gives him a clove as cars go by," which is actually a much better lyric, in my opinion. Seriously, why all the talk of coats and clothes in that song? I never got it then and I still don't. Man, I haven't smoked a clove in ages. (P.S. It was in the beginning of her dark adolescent years that Sherie taught me what cloves even were.)

Eve's Plum "Save a Prayer" (Duran Duran cover)
Sherie and I were hardcore Durannies. The day I bought the clamshell VHS DD video collection, was one of our happiest days ever. We were ecstatic that my dad was cool enough not to care that it had some sort of "adult content" sticker on it thanks to all the hard-nipple action of the "Girls on Film" and "The Chauffeur" videos, but we did have to be careful that her mom not catch us watching it, which proved a challenge since we wore that damned thing out. (I'm talking to the point of memorizing all of the dialogue—particularly Simon's deranged Shakespearean ramblings—throughout the overwrought long version of "Waiting for the Nightboat.") But "Save a Prayer" held a special place in our hearts. We could just picture John slow dancing with us as it played. And, you know, that video was educational too. I didn't even know Sri Lanka existed until I saw them in the SAP video cavorting there on elephants. If I were in charge of the music at Sherie's funeral, this would have been the pinnacle tearjerker of the selection. I can't believe she's gone.

Wait, so there's a real human person operating this thing?

So, just when I thought I'd be back and posting super-regularly, I had to leave town for the funeral of a childhood friend who committed suicide. I also used this as a chance to visit with a good friend and see my dad for the first time since his mild stroke over the holidays. Whew! I'm hoping the Year of the Rooster has better things in store for us all.

On a happier note: One of you wonderful bloggers out there recently posted "Girl About Town" by the band Helen Love and I'm absolutely obsessed with it! Thank you. While hunting out info on the band, I discovered that you can download a cover of the track by power-pop-punk staples The Queers at this site.

Working for The Man every night and day.

Man, I've been attempting to post these for the last few days but dammit if life doesn't get in the way sometimes.

Guided By Voices "Sympathy for the Devil" (Rolling Stones cover)
On Dec. 30, my old pal Ryan and I caught what is rumored to be the penultimate GBV show ever. And it was pretty good. We think. For, as GBV themselves tend to do before a show, we got—how you say?—absolutely plastered. So plastered that we felt the desperate need to leave pre-encore, which means we missed the bulk of their poppier selections. Eh, whatever. I've seen them about 25-30 times, so I've seen them perform them before. And, because it was one of their last shows, they focused mostly on their own catalog, but usually they play at least one or two covers. Like this one.

Cosa Nostra "Proud Mary" (Creedence Clearwater Revival cover)
Hmmm. This is an interesting early-'70s Mexican funk/R&B/garage/psych cover.

The Killers "Why Don't You Find Out for Yourself" (Morrissey cover)
I admit it: I'm a sucker for all of the new new-wave outfits. Any time The Killers or The Rapture or Interpol or The Arcade Fire or Ted Leo & The Pharmacists (or what have you) hit my appropriately titled "On the Go" iPod playlist, the spring in my step (or should I say strut?) increases tenfold. Of course, as a cover lover, I'd prefer to hear said bands tackle songs in genres other than those that have so obviously influenced them, but that's a lot to expect, I suppose.

So this is the new year.

Hey, remember me? I'm the gal who's been too busy and/or too sick to post the last couple of weeks. Here's a quick belated Happy New Year to you all via themed cover songs. I'll do my best to come back in full force as soon as the NyQuil withdrawal subsides.

Front Line Assembly and Tiffany "New Year's Day" (U2 cover)

Arab Strap "New Year" (Sugababes cover)

Loop the loop.

You'd think that, when I hatched my bombard-them-with-Christmas-covers plan, I might've saved the best for last. But no. I'm just as random as ever. That's what you love about me, right?

Anyhoo, this may (or may not) be my last post before Christmas, so thanks to all of you for reading and an extra thanks to those who've commented or e-mailed thanking me for what I do here. It makes me feel great to know I'm not alone in my sickness.

Powder "Christmas Don't Be Late" (Chipmunks cover)
When I first heard this track, I pictured a twee little gal singing it backed by your standard trucker-capped backup band. Instead, it's these characters. Go figure. I guess it's about time LA got a Dale Bozzio for the new millennium.

Low "Blue Christmas" (Elvis Presley cover)
Another one for your next Slit Your Wrists at Christmas mix.

Hanson "What Christmas Means to Me" (Stevie Wonder cover)
Many of the holiday songs I've posted here used to be clear-the-music-department-of-customers favorites of mine. This, on the other hand, was a standard "how can I get my snotty, slacker, hipper-than-thou co-workers to get the hell away from me for three fucking minutes?" track. Ah, the indie glares I'd get! I just learned that Mercury just re-released Hanson's 1997 Snowed In, from whence I got this, as The Best of Hanson: The Christmas Collection as part of their 20th Century Masters series. Um. Yeah. We all knew Armageddon was nigh.

The Maddox Brothers and Rose "Jingle Bells" (Traditional)
This is my least favorite Christmas song, but I love this old-school hillbilly country version.

Shoutin' out with glee.

I don't got no time for jibba jabba, so just listen.

Daniel Johnston "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (Marks)

The Humpers "Run, Rudolph, Run" (Chuck Berry cover)

Me, I'll be just fine.

Vic 20 "Marshmallow World" (Darlene Love cover)
My Vic 20 never did anything this cool. All I could use it for was graphic-less "video" games in which I had to maneuver my way out of a bog using simple word commands.

My Chemical Romance "All I Want for Christmas is You" (Mariah Carey cover)
My favorite local cable access video show, Ken Mottet's The Otherside, played an MCR video a few weeks back. I found myself just slightly less than intrigued with the music, but knew that a 14-year-old version of me would love it and would become obsessed with the hot geek-goth look of the boys in the band. And, really, anyone who covers my favorite secular pop Christmas song (shut up, it's some of Mariah's best work!) is okay by me.

The Masters of the Hemisphere "The First Noel" (Sandys)
From one of the Kindercore Christmas comps, comes a whimsical little indie First Noel from a band I'd never heard of. Imagine.

Donny & Marie "Winter Wonderland" (Bernard/Smith)
Shit, what I'd give to get back the Donny & Marie portable record player (with microphone!) I had as a child. I loved that thing. I could dance and sing and pretend I was Mormon. Pretty awesome.

Ru Paul "Hard Candy Christmas" (from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas—Dolly Parton's version is probably most popular)
Many thanks to my pal Ray who was able to get this track to me after I hunted for about three months to no avail. I remember watching TBLWIT repeatedly on cable as a child and getting teary-eyed when the whores all went their separate ways. Like Dolly, I kind of always related to whores. Even at 8 years old. I know, I'm weird. Anyhow, it's even better with drag queen banter. I miss Ru Paul.

Fall on your knees.

Sonic Youth "Santa Doesn't Cop Out on Dope" (Martin Mull cover)
This cover always perplexed me. It's pretty annoying.

Melt Banana "White Christmas" (Well, this is called "White Christmas," but it's really a somewhat fucked-up version of "Here Comes Santa Claus.") (Autry)
You know I love Japanese covers. The stranger the better.

Sufjan Stevens "O Holy Night" (Adams/Dwight)
I love this so much I can't even believe it.

Pond "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" (Bach? Handel? Traditional?)
Not bad for a band I totally forgot ever existed. (And I only knew because a Sub Pop distributor pushed a promo on me, which I promptly forgot to listen to.)

Richard Davies "Do they Know It's Christmas (Feed the World)" (Band Aid cover)
Okay, who slipped the ativin into this guy's eggnog?

Gets colder day by day.

Coldplay "2000 Miles" (Pretenders cover)
The original used to be a big favorite of mine in high [or was that middle?] school. I wish I liked Coldplay more.

Ivy "Christmastime is Here" (Vince Guaraldi & the Peanuts gang)
A friend of mine in high school could dance exactly like Peanuts characters. It was awesome. (From Nettwerk's Maybe this Christmas Tree comp.)

Cranes "Happy Christmas (War is Over)" (John Lennon & Yoko Ono cover)
Like nails on a chalkboard to me. I remember that when I heard the Cranes were opening for the Cure in 1992, I strategically planned to miss them. I was successful. I don't mind dream pop from time to time, but I can't stand this baby-voiced schtick. Hell, I'd rather listen to Jordy's "Dur Dur D'être Un Bébé" than this. (From Rock for Choice's O Come All Ye Faithful comp.)

C3-P0 & R2-D2 "Sleigh Ride" (Anderson)
This is not as much a cover as it is an insane reworking. And could C3-P0 be more condescending? (From Christmas in the Stars.)

Taime Downe (ex-Faster Pussycat) "Silent Night" (Traditional)
Yep, you read right. (From the We Wish You a Hairy Christmas comp.)

I'll give it to someone special.

Spectrum "Santa Claus" (Sonics cover)
I'll have what they're having.

The Cocteau Twins "Frosty the Snowman" (Nelson/Rollins)
At least half of the Cocteau Twins' non-holiday songs sound Christmassy to me so I'm not sure this was even necessary.

Jimmy Eat World "Last Christmas" (Wham! cover)
Leave it to the, uh, kings (?) of emo to make this song sound even gayer than the original.

No Doubt "Oi to the World" (The Vandals cover)
Even after a decade or more, I still can't definitively say whether I love or hate No Doubt.

The Vandals "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" (Tchaikovsky)
The Vandals Christmas album is another all-time holiday favorite of mine. You should buy it.

Come, I tell you.

These are from another of my all-time favorite Christmas comps, Sympathy for the Record Industry's two-disc Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus. My favorite track is Spectrum's "Santa Claus," but that's not a cover, now is it? Here are a couple of tracks that belong here. Edit: Well, except that it is a cover. A Sonics cover. With a lot of poetic license. My bad. Maybe tomorrow.

Bomboras "Little Drummer Boy" (Davis/Onorati/Simeone)
There is an unwritten law that all surf instrumental covers must break into "Tequila" at some point. Deal with it.

The New Bomb Turks "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home" (Darlene Love/Phil Spector cover)
Not all punk covers break into "Runaround Sue," nor should they. Still, this is far more entertaining and lively than Death Cab for Cutie's version.

Let nothing you dismay.

Warning: Because I have slew of holiday songs to post before Christmas and I have very limited web space, in the next few weeks, tracks will probably only remain on the site for a day or two. So download early and often, kids. I'm doing my best to let you know so I don't have to field questions like this from mannerless ingrates.

Now that that's out of the way, these tracks come from what was once my favorite holiday album, the long out-of-print A Christmas Present to You from Zero Hour. That was back when I was all about effects-laden and/or syrupy lo-fi bands nobody else had ever heard of. Especially those on Zero Hour, as I mentioned way back here. Sigh ... was it really a decade ago that I was in my early 20s and had that kind of time? It seems like just yesterday I was stealing all the crap promos from work, but I digress.

Unfortunately, my favorite tracks from this album are the non-cover songs, such as Kittywinder's "Don't Wanna Hear No Merry Christmas" and Nicole Blackman's spoken-word "What I Want for Christmas," but at least it's not full of the same ol' Nat King Coles, Bing Crosbys, Mariahs and Enyas most Xmas comps are jam-packed with.

Grover w/Kevin Salem "Fairytale of New York" (Pogues/Kirsty MacColl cover)
This doesn't stray much from the feel of the original, but I like it nonetheless. In fact, I may be the only person who actually paid money for Grover's full-length album. The one with the Barbie doll face on the cover. Anyone? Anyone?

22 Brides "A Coventry Carol" (Traditional)
I think the gals in this folk duo were sisters. It's kinda pretty, I guess. That's about all I have to say here.

The Dirt Merchants "Jingle Bells" (Traditional)
Kinda noisy, kinda poppy, kinda rockabilly-y.

The Black Watch "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" (Traditional)
Back when the Black Watch were on Zero Hour, former Medicine frontman Brad Laner produced their album. And it shows. Very distortion-heavy sonic drones and goth-sounding violin and shoegazery overtones. (And I've never seen an album cover that screams "recommend me to fans of My Bloody Valentine or Medicine" than this.) If I could afford drugs on my measly salary, I'd consider getting into this kind of music again.

Space Needle "Silent Night" (Traditional)
Um, speaking of distortion and sonic drones, allow me to introduce you to the song that saved my sanity on more than one occasion during the holiday season. No, it's not because I find this track aurally pleasing, to say the least. My love for this track comes from the fact that, back when I needed a break during my former holiday retail whoring, playing this track ensured that the entire music department would clear out. Yeah, I had to endure a scowl or two—not to mention the tedious and seemingly relentless dissonance of this "song"—but it was worth it not to have to sell another Yanni album to a bitchy Gold Coaster.

All right, already.

As Joss Stone proved a little while back with her [excruciating, in my opinion] cover of "Fell in Love With a Girl Boy," nowadays a song need not be in the grave before someone decides to resurrect it. Here's further proof.

Ada "Maps" (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)
The original might make you want to dance and sing along, this German electronic chill-out version just makes me want to sleep.

Ben Lee "Float On" (Modest Mouse cover)
I loved Ben Lee's first album so much when it came out. I still like his stuff, but it's just not as amazing now that he's no longer 12. Still, I'll forgive his live slip-ups. He used to be cute.

Jeffrey Lewis Band "The Modern Age" (The Strokes cover)
Comic books and anti-folk? Previously stereotypical slacker types are too damned motivated nowadays.

Richard Cheese "Hate to Say I Told You So" (The Hives cover)
I had a few requests recently for more Cheese, and I'm nothing if not a giver.

REM "NYC" (Interpol cover)
God, I know it's lame to be all "cool" and say I don't like REM now, but I really don't like REM now.

Grum Lee "Get Free" (The Vines cover)
Prepare your ears for the acoustic, um, stylings of France's Grum Lee, whose covers have been submitted to and available on various sites over the years. I can't tell if he's trying to make outsider art (which would, of course, mean that it couldn't technically be outsider art) or if he's completely serious (which would mean it could be outsider), but either way, his stuff will probably frighten and amuse you in equal amounts.

Scissor Sisters "Take Me Out" (Franz Ferdinand cover)
Back in the day, everyone and their brother posted this. Well, they probably posted the full (read: a little longer and a lot quieter) version, but whatever. I figured I'd jump on the bandwagon just in case anyone out there missed it. I really love this. It makes me long for the time when Elton John actually wrote good songs. I was hoping they'd play it back in October when I saw the Sisters at the Metro, but no such luck.

Also: I'm preparing a slew of holiday covers for you. Be on the lookout.

If man is five.

Like most aging hipsters and/or indie kids who were still in diapers when Doolittle was originally released, I saw the Pixies last week. It was a good show, albeit surprisingly short and encore-free for the hard-earned dough I spent on it. And there weren't even any air-brushed paintings of the band in front of which to have my picture taken as there were at the R. Kelly/Jay-Z show I went to for free a month or two ago. What a gyp! (Holy crap, I'm 32 and I think, while typing that out, I just realized that gyp might be a derogatory term generating from stereotypes of gypsies. If so, my apologies!)

Anyhoo ... I saw the Pixies and lots of people like the Pixies. Unfortunately, very few of the bands who cover the Pixies appear to actually be even one-tenth as good, but they're certainly better than most of the predictable tracks on that stupid emoey (shut up, it's a word) tribute that came out a while back. I don't take enough drugs anymore to fully enjoy most of these tracks. But you might.

The first two are from Hey, a "CD" that's downloadable via a FrankBlack.net along with a Frank Black solo tribute. (Read how you too can get a hold of it here, if you have the patience.) Actually, the third song is on that too, although I got it initially from the Death to the Pixies, We're Better! (as if) tribute, from whence the fourth and fifth tracks come as well. The last track is from what I thought was a Japanese (but now appears not to be) Tribute to the Pixies, from which you might remember that insane version of "Debaser" by Feed I posted a while back.

Clootie "Holiday Song"
An interesting, somber take that kinda makes me want to slash my wrists.

Jonus "I've Been Tired"
I like Lou Reed, he said. And Dylan. And I sound like John Flansburg. And I sighed, "Ahhhhhh."

Mother Universe "Debaser"
This soooo could have been on the soundtrack to Electric Dreams. Or Kidd Video.

Pixels "Gigamuffin (Um, an instrumental Gigantic and a cat named Muffin?)"
Meow Meow like meow meow beats, whistles and sirens.

Koos Kreuk "Waar is mijn Hoofd? (Where is my Mind?)"
This was my favorite Pixies song until a few years ago when it wound up in Fight Club, which is weird considering I liked Fight Club. I'm kooky. Now that I've heard this harmonica-drenched version, I like it even less.

Seafood "Levitate Me"
This makes me miss the era in which I wanted to have sex with Britpoppers. Won't they please fawn over me???

Where I belong, I'm right.

I wish I had more time in my week to point you all in the direction of covers on other mp3 blogs when they arise, but I just don't. Covers are immensely popular in blogland and they're everywhere. Still, I found a few extra minutes today, so here are a few that might interest you.

You can find ex-Dismemberment Plan member Travis Morrison singing an amusing cover of Ludacris' "What's your Fantasy" on this page. (This one gets extra points because I hadn't heard it before.)

Marc Almond and the Royal Philharmonic sing "Paint it Black" here.

SVC has a few covers in this entry, including a longtime favorite of mine, My Bloody Valentine's cover of Wire's "Map Ref 41N 93W."

David F has an electronically mangled "My Cherie Amour" here, also heretofore unknown to me.

Now for some of my own picks:

Frank Bennett "Disarm" (Smashing Pumpkins cover)
Another cover crooner in the style of your Richard Cheeses and the like, but Bennett plays up the Rat Packiness of his namesakes a bit more faithfully than the others while singing a more diverse selection. For instance, I never suspected I'd hear a swinger version of Nick Cave's "Red Right Hand."

Maisie "Fixing a Hole" (Beatles cover)
Italian music blog MusicBoom put together a downloadable tribute to the Beatles a while back that features unique combination of songs by (Italian, of course) indie, lo-fi and electronic acts. It's no longer available at the site, but here's a taste.

The Quakes "Killing Moon" (Echo and the Bunnymen cover)
This is my favorite track from Swing-a-Billy Chartbusters from Germany's swing label, Frankie Boy Records.


The next two tracks come from one of my favorite tribute albums of the past year or so, Stop Me if you think You've Heard this One Before. Of course, I'm not sure that's a rousing review, since most tribute albums really suck. But the way I see it, any tribute album that can get me to listen to a Mazzy Star song without retching has some merit.

The Delays "Ride it On" (Mazzy Star cover)

Detroit Cobras "Last Nite" (Strokes cover)

Tuesday, I am fading.

I only have 20 minutes left in my lunch hour, so I have to make this quick. First, lemme say that I am totally for democracy, I just couldn't find time in my schedule to participate in the Music Bloggers for Democracy thing. Hell, I can barely manage to post once a week right now. Who knew I could go from unemployed sloth to promotion material in a few short months?

Almost Better "Pieces of Me" (Ashley Simpson cover)
Now that we've all recovered from Ashleegate, I thought I would prove to you that, even when she's lip-synching, I'd still rather hear a saptastic song like this sung by a female pseudopunk nepotist than sung by your standard male emo whiner. Almost better, indeed.

Jason Falkner "Photograph" (Def Leppard cover)
I love Falkner's covers. This one, from the Metal Rules comp, makes me very happy.

Graham Coxon "That's When I Reach for My Revolver" (Mission of Burma cover)
I can take or leave Coxon's solo stuff, but he sure is dreamy.

Toy Dolls "Livin' La Vida Loca" (Ricky Martin cover)
I didn't even realize the Toy Dolls were still around to release albums in the new millennium. Wonders never cease. I think more punk songs need kazoos. You?

Backmask "Genie in a Bottle" (Christina Aguilera cover)
Oh, death metal. How I love your pop leanings. This is death metal, right? You'd think two episodes into Battle for Ozzfest I'd be an expert on the different metal genres, but no. All I know is that that lawyer with the freaky contact lenses gets on my last nerve and I hope he gets axed soon.

There is a light that never goes out.

John Peel is dead. This is by far the saddest celebrity death that's had an impact on me in years. I'm certain my love of music (and covers) would not be as strong as it is if it weren't for John Peel's relentless dedication to exposing new and often strange musicians to a public who'd have otherwise never discovered them. His influence on performers, journalists and fans is immeasurable. I hope that my fixation on the new in music and culture continues into my 60s (and beyond, if possible) as his did. I can't imagine living my life any other way.

Rest in peace, friend.

Flaming Lips "Life On Mars (Peel Session)"(David Bowie cover)
Edit: Sorry about this cutting off at the end. I suck.

Mogwai "Don't Cry (Peel Session)" (Guns N' Roses cover)

Kinda like the Michael Moore of the music world.

Petra Haden & Bill Frisell "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)" (Stevie Wonder cover)
I've been meaning to post some Petra since Fluxblog posted about her unreleased acappella version of The Who Sell Out. (!!!) I had a brief obsession with that dog. in my early twenties and loved me some Rentals shortly thereafter. I love that sweet-voiced girl twee crap. You know, songs that remind you of breaking up with your teenage boyfriend at summer camp and then going out with your best friend to wallow in self pity over a chocolate sundae? Or songs whose lyrical basis is seeing a cute guy at a show? That kinda shit.

I'm not sure if Petra's jazz connections (her dad's Charlie Haden, you know) were at all involved in the Frisell collaboration, and quite sadly, I'm too lazy even to do a quick Google search to find out, so look into that on your own if you want to know. Heh. Sorry.

Anyhow, their Petra Haden & Bill Frisell album is available as a Canadian import and is chock-full of sweet little covers of very diverse songs like the Foo Fighters' "Floaty," Tom Waits' "I Don't Wanna Grow Up," Coldplay's "Yellow" and songwriter Henry Mancini's "Moon River," among others. Check it out.

Oh, and this Stevie Wonder song, while very pretty and uplifting, always reminds me of working music retail when the soundtrack to High Fidelity was released and hearing it constantly and wondering why everyone seemed to love that movie (or book, even) so damned much. And that it was filmed in Chicago only annoyed me more. I swear to God, I was walking in Wicker Park one day last year and overheard some yuppie girl excitedly tell her out-of-town friend, "High Fidelity was filmed right around here. You could be walking where JOHN CUSACK WALKED!!!" and go on to giggle maniacally as I looked on, cynically nonplused.

Marianne Faithfull "What Have They Done to the Rain?" (Malvina Reynolds cover)
This folk staple has been covered by Joan Baez and Melanie and The Searchers and The Seekers (Searches and Seekers? '60s folk combos were really hunting for truth and solutions to the world's ills, weren't they?) and probably many others. Most importantly to me, though, is that the Lili Taylor character in Dogfight sings a very tentative rendition to the lovable asshole as played by River Phoenix, thus inspiring me to hunt out every version I could find, original or otherwise. And because I caught a Marianne Faithfull concert last night on Trio, it's her version I chose to share with you today. And, yes, almost all of my decisions are based on things I see on TV.

The Ataris "A New England (Live)" (Billy Bragg cover)
Speaking of TV ruling my decisions, in the most recent episode of The Surreal Life (which lives up to its name more this season than ever), former American Idol wannabe Ryan Starr whines about singing a pop single penned by Jordan Knight because it's not the kind of music she's into, and if it gets played on the radio (shah, right!) her fans (?????) will think she's "selling out." Um. Did her publicist not inform her that she's the lowest rent "celebrity" on The Surreal Life and that being a part of this show is, indeed, a greater form of selling out than singing some crappy song? Apparently so. Aaaaaanyhoooooo, while our fair Ryan is crying and pleading her case (and eventually totally giving in, by the way), she happens to be wearing an Ataris shirt. And that reminded me that I had this live acoustic cover of Billy Bragg's fantastic song, which—for a version by your standard pop-punk act that only knows three to five chords—isn't really half bad. Much better than their god-awful cover of "Boys of Summer," by far. "A Black Flag sticker on a Cadillac"? Whatever you say, kids.

Dr. Ammondt "Quate, Crepa, Rota (Shake, Rattle, and Roll)" (Big Joe Turner/Bill Haley/Whoever cover)
To help cope with his divorce in the late '80s, Dr. Jukka Ammondt, a 50-something Finnish ethnomusicologist, decided start recording Finnish tangos. Who knew such a thing existed? Subsequently, he paired his love of '50s rock 'n' roll with his love of dead languages, bringing us a Latin Elvis tribute as well as Rocking in Latin, from whence this track comes. His most recent effort features three songs sung in Sumerian. Ah, academia!

On his site, he acknowledges:

Despite that my singing career is at the same time an intellectual joke, I have also a serious message to the people: "Don't stop, find always new ways to break the borders- your own and the others." I think that's the most important thing in the creativity.

Damn. Just when I wanted to kinda mock him, he acknowledges his "intellectual joke" and gets all positive and inspirational on me. This album cover is still fair game though, yes?

Re: Moon River

Maybe lack of sleep is making me extra cranky, but I feel the need to tell everyone that I KNOW HENRY MANCINI WROTE MOON RIVER!!! I've had a few comments and a handful of e-mails about it. I KNOW!!! I knew when I posted it that he wrote it. But, since we're talking covers here, I went for the Andy Williams reference because his version is plausibly the most famous.

Please, forgive me for the mini-rant. I do appreciate your feedback, but after the 10th or so person submitted his or her "correction," it started to bug me.

So, um, yeah. My next post, which will hopefully occur later tonight or early tomorrow, will feature some actual MP3s. Promise.