In the fourth gonzo round, I’m just gonna slam you with a bunch.
The Last Time [The Rolling Stones]-Gomez
vs.
I’m On Fire-Carbon Leaf
Winner: Bruce. If you download just one song today, make it Carbon Leaf’s cover of I’m On Fire. It’s awesome.
No Surrender-One Reason
vs.
Shake Your Hips-Joe Strummer and the 101s
Two punk versions. I love Joe, but this is early in his career so I don’t feel bad giving it to One Reason here. It’s not a great cover, but they show how the source material can really be stretched. Score two for Bruce.
The River-Josh Ritter
vs.
Cross Bones Style/I Can’t Get No Satisfaction (Rolling Stones)-Cat Power
The Josh Ritter cover is ubiquitous, but is it extraordinary? No. Cat’s is both–she truly makes the song her own, and shows that it plays just as well when a gal does it. Stones get their first point of the day.
Dancing In The Dark-Ted Leo
vs.
Divorce Song/Emotional Rescue-Liz Phair
And who can go up against this fantastic Ted Leo cover? None other than Liz Phair. And she crushes him. Plus, if she wins I get to post a pic of her.
Score now tied, two to two.
Today’s tiebreaker:
Dancing in the Dark-The Thrills and Mike Mills of REM
vs.
Jumping Jack Flash-The La’s
Two bands not known for covers in poor quality boots. I’m giving it to The La’s, but just barely.
The Stones pull it out and win the fourth post!
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January 10, 2008 at 8:29 pm |
Try Hem covering Springsteen’s “Valentine’s Day” versus Townes Van Zandt covering the Stones’ “Dead Flowers”. That’s a tough one for me…
January 11, 2008 at 9:38 am |
I can’t imagine anything being better than Van Zandt’s version. I love that song.
January 11, 2008 at 1:25 pm |
Try both before you call it. I agree that Van Zandt’s cover is great, but there’s something about the Hem cover that really strikes me. They’re a great band, by the way…very mellow and country-ish.
January 11, 2008 at 3:48 pm |
Elvis Costello – Brilliant Disguise
Dan Baird + Rick Richards (as Mystic Knights Of The Sea) – Johnny 99
Tom Petty + The Heartbreakers – Down Home Girl (from Live at the Vic)
KISS – 2000 Man
Keith Richards & the X-Pensive Winos – Gimme Shelter
January 11, 2008 at 5:08 pm |
The Carbon Leaf cover is great, but I’m also a fan of the Bat for Lashes version of I’m on fire… Anyway, loved the cover wars idea!
January 12, 2008 at 5:45 pm |
Check out Halloween Alaska’s cover of “State Trooper”…
January 13, 2008 at 1:47 pm |
Hey I like The La’s cover of Jumping Jack Flash.
January 13, 2008 at 5:49 pm |
Good call Andrew…I’ll second that one.
January 13, 2008 at 9:24 pm |
Oh, I like it enuff–by poor quality I meant poor sound quality, I should have been more specific, I guess.
January 13, 2008 at 11:31 pm |
[...] kunnen wij ons vermaken met het maken van compleet nutteloze blogberichten met links naar nog nuttelozere [...]
January 14, 2008 at 2:02 am |
elvis costello’ version og jackson cage is great but i cant find it anywhere
January 14, 2008 at 5:49 pm |
Carbon Leaf’s cover is fantastic – they’ve got a studio version of it up on iTunes. Great band.
April 2, 2008 at 6:57 pm |
[...] Song” is my number one favorite song of all time. It owes a lot, musically, to “Emotional Rescue,” which was not on Exile on Main Street. And it contains the finest lines Liz Phair ever [...]