Friday, I'm in a trance

Heard a track on the radio that included sampled bits of "Street Dance" by Break Machine. I remember that my then 2 year old little brother used to "break" to it.

For some reason I came to think about Fatboy Slim. Brilliant Friday stuff.

Is this the one?

For some reason this makes me think of Christmas, I think it has something to do with the chords in combination with the chorus.

Works well Aprés Easter too. Here are The Van Doos with "Is this the one?".

A not so gentle reminder

Just in case you haven't taken the time to listen to Foo Fighter's latest contribution to the ever growing collection of rock classics, here's a quick reminder.

This second single from the album Waisting Light, "White Limo" reminds me of Queens of the Stone Age, and if you find it too "hard" I still think you should listen to the album as this track isn't typical of a majority of the material on the album.

Would you like a cup of tea with that hook?

A preview from The Victorian English Gentlemens Club next album: ‘A Conversation’. Not quite as well behaved as the band's name might indicate.

For Free

Just stumbled across this Spotify competitor:

listen.grooveshark.com/

Beatles and Dylan included!

Cold Primates

Even though I was a huge Arctice Monkeys fan in the beginning of time I hardly knew they still existed.

Turns out they're alive and kicking.

This new track opens with what sounds like the Doors on an expedition to Manchester.

ring ring

I think I need to review all the different acts I have launched as "the next big thing" over the past year or so. So far all have failed to make any sort of impression on the world.

I'm hoping this will be the exception to the rule: The Bell with "Whatever did you say".

I like the mix of influences, including New Order, early Depeche Mode and the Cure served with a huge portion of POP.

7 great covers: #1 Feeling good

So. Finally.

Number One. Numero Uno. The shit.

Can it get any better? One of my favourite bands of present times covering one of my favorite artists of past times. (Sorry about the adverts - Muse have dissalowed the embedding of the YouTube clip).




I started this list with a punkrocker covering a jazz classic. Only fitting that I end it with a rock version of another jazz classic.

Previous great covers

#2 Hey Joe

#3 Hallelujah

#4 Personal Jesus

#5 When tomorrow comes

#6 Mad world

#7 I'll be seeing you

With a little help from my friends

A handfull of my favourite songs:

7 great covers: #2 Hej Joe

Many might not even know it's a cover, but legend has it that Chas Chandler of the Animals was looking for somebody to cover "Hey Joe" with when he stumbled upon Jimmy Hendrix in NYC.

The exact origins of the song are disputed, but the earliest known recording is from 1965 with the Leaves. I never heard any other versions of the song other than Hendrix's, so I would be lying if I said that the interesting thing about Hendrix's version is how it in some or other fashion adds something new to the song.

It just rocks.



Now that actually I have heard an earlier version of the song I must say that Jimi's feels just slightly more interesting.





Previous great covers
#3 Hallelujah
#4 Personal Jesus
#5 When tomorrow comes
#6 Mad world
#7 I'll be seeing you

7 great covers: #3 Hallelujah

In my previous post I wrote that listing "Hurt" as one of my great covers would be slightly obvious.

To prove I'm human I now give you an even more obvious choice:



There's somthing about Buckley's interpretation that adds a divine sense to the song, something that gives the song a different direction - from a sense of sarcasm to a sense of total devotion.



Previous great covers
#4 Personal Jesus
#5 When tomorrow comes
#6 Mad world
#7 I'll be seeing you

7 great covers #4 Personal Jesus

Listing covers without touching upon Cash's "American IV: The man comes around" would be a little silly.

Listing "Hurt" would be a little obvious.

Besides, I don't like that cover as much as many others seem to do, probably because I like the original version which I will assume hasn't been played as loud as it deserves in most homes.

One cover on that album that I prefer to "Hurt" is this:



The original:




Previous great covers
#5 When tomorrow comes
#6 Mad world
#7 I'll be seeing you

7 great covers: #5 When tomorrow comes

As you may have noticed, I like covers that move a song out of its original context by changing something. Like adding Iggy's attitude to a jazz song, or transforming a synthezised pop arrangement into an accoustic guitar. Turning fast songs into slow songs may seem like an easy trick, but it isn't always as successful as this.



The original:




Previous great covers
#6 Mad world
#7 I'll be seeing you