28 February 2013 - Insane Clown Posse - Let's Go All The Way

Faithful readers of our blogs will recall that, yesterday, we featured the original version of this song on Wicked Guilty Pleasures.

Today, we feature a version of this song with an interesting backstory.  Insane Clown Posse were a couple of hip-hop goofballs from Detroit who got themselves quite a cult following with their "horrorcore" music and freaky clown makeup.  This was an attempt by the band to make a big move into the mainstream.  This video was played only once by MTV, and in late night.  In response, ICP mobilized their fan base to request the song be played on the MTV show Total Request Live, or TRL, on a particular date in 2000.  The fans responded in droves.  On that date - December 8 - the band and 400 of its fans showed up at MTV Studios in an attempt to persuade MTV to play the video and invite the band on TRL.

MTV sent security and police to remove the fans, some say with excessive force, and did not mention the band, acknowledge the votes for the song, or play the video.  They furthermore informed ICP's record label that the network alone decided what videos and bands were eligible for TRL, proving that they were not really taking requests - they were promoting what they felt should be promoted.

The song itself, while changing some of the initial lyrics, still keeps the darkness from the original, and works well in the ICP style, while staying true to the Sly Fox original, of which the band was a fan.  It's melodic, the lyrics fit in the times, and the video - filmed in Compton, CA - is interesting and compelling.

27 February 2013 - The Cranberries - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

I'm sure there are much better versions of this Smiths song online, but I guarantee that none of them are as properly enunciated as this one by The Cranberries.

26 February 2013 - Orgy - Blue Monday

New Order purists hate this version.  They find it clumsy and lacking in grace.

I disagree strongly.  The original was a sanitized attempt at a dance-pop song.  And it was a good dance-pop song at that, but it was flat emotionally.  Orgy takes the song to the next level emotionally - you feel the anguish and not simply flat depression.

And sure - the song is late-90's emo-metal that was so popular back then.  Just because the band could be pigeonholed doesn't mean it wasn't a good version of the song.

25 February 2013 - Pearl Jam and Mudhoney - Kick Out The Jams

I'm fairly certain no one has EVER thought of covering this MC5 classic. Right? OK fine, everyone's done it. Hell, even I probably played it at one point a lifetime ago. Regardless, Pearl Jam and Mudhoney certainly did a killer version of it. Check it out.

22 February 2013 - The Ataris - Boys of Summer

Despite having a serious distaste for anything Eagles related (this "hatred" includes the Philadelphia football team and not just the California soft rockers), I have to say that this Don Henley cover off of The Ataris' So Long, Astoria record is still pretty rad.

21 February 2013 - Iggy Pop & The Stooges - Burnin' Up & Ray of Light & Ciccone Youth - Burnin' Up

I went looking for Madonna covers today.  A lot of bands have done covers of a lot of her singles.  Perhaps her most covered single, however, is "Burnin' Up", which was a very early single and her first minor pop chart hit.

So, when I stumbled upon Iggy Pop & The Stooges doing that song, as well as "Ray of Light." a later single, I had to jump on that.  Sure, they aren't traditional covers of her songs, but Madonna - who is in attendance - seems to enjoy them.



A side note - Mike Watt, who has been a Stooge since 2003 and is on stage for this performance, also covered "Burnin' Up" as a member of the Sonic Youth side project, Ciccone Youth.  (It is said that this project is what got Mike Watt out of his deep depression over the loss of his best friend and Minutemen bandmate d. Boon) Here is their version, with Watt on vocals and boom stick, and guest starring Greg Ginn (of Black Flag fame) on guitar.

20 February 2013 - Beastie Boys - Screaming at a Wall

I've always been pretty hit or miss when it came to the Beastie Boys. I really liked that era in the early 90s when they picked up their instruments and played some bad ass punk rock. Granted, there wasn't a lot of songs they did this on, but I certainly appreciated it more (especially when I "had" to see them at Lollapalooza). Anyway, I stumbled upon this pretty true to the original live version of them playing a classic Minor Threat song. Can you imagine if it was the other way around? I can totally see Ian MacKaye singing Brass Monkey...awww that funky monkey.

19 February 2013 - The Fat Boys feat. The Beach Boys - Wipeout

Happy birthday to Prince Markee Dee, who celebrates a birthday today.  What better way to celebrate than  this reinterpretation of a Surfaris classic?  

The Beach Boys, who some people think did the original, but didn't, were really good sports in sharing the spotlight with (the late) Human Beatbox.  Surprisingly, this teaming, which came in the shadow of the Aerosmith-Run DMC pairing, worked well musically.

18 February 2013 - Deftones - To Have And To Hold

I was going to post a Presidents of the United States of America cover today, but that would be too obvious (and besides, Tony already posted their version of Video Killed the Radio Star). Instead, here's the Deftones playing a pretty rockin' version of one of my favorite songs off of Depeche Mode's Music For The Masses record.

15 February 2013 - The Decemberists - If I Can't Change Your Mind

Sugar's If I Can't Change Your Mind is one of my favorite songs of the 90s (heck, it's one of my favorite songs ever). The Decemberists are one of my favorite bands of the past decade. Needless to say, this video from The Onion's A.V. Club makes me one happy dude.

14 February 2013 - Golden Smog - Shooting Star

I get a message from Tony this morning saying, "hey can you do Totally Covered today." I of course reply, "screw you." But because I'm totally awesome and the nicest guy on the freaking planet I saved his lazy ass (he gave some lame excuse about a meeting or something work related...as if). So here I am even though...



Of course I couldn't find an actual video for this awesome Bad Company cover (remember the video above) so just listen to Dave Pirner's voice and stare at the Clerks poster while imagining all of Kevin Smith's characters doing wacky things.

13 February 2013 - Ween - Hot for Teacher

Y'all know I always try to find the finest of covers for this here site. And while Ween certainly lacks in lyrical accuracy on this Van Halen classic, they surely make up for it by rockin' it hard. So that's gotta count for something. Right? By the way, can you imagine if Ween recreated the original Van Halen video for Hot For Teacher? Yeah, wrap your noodles around that one.

12 February 2013 - Love & Rockets - Ball of Confusion

Long before "So Alive" was a big hit for these guys, Love & Rockets did a Temptations cover.

Of course, since Love & Rockets are nothing like The Temptations in any way, they had to make the song, about racial oppression, all their own.  They succeeded in making it into a anthem full of the same anger that The Temptations brought to it.  Each of the three instruments used - drums, bass, guitar - gets highlighted with solos throughout the song.  It's a really sparse arrangement, but really strong and emotion-filled.

 

11 February 2013 - The Clash - Police and Thieves

This posted on Friday (or at least was supposed to), but no one (cough Tony) promoted it. So, we'll just do this for today instead.

After Bob Marley covers on Monday and Wednesday (of last week), I'm happy to present you with this Junior Murvin cover by The Clash. And yes, I had to look that up. Hey, at least I knew it was a cover.

7 February 2013 - Lady Sovereign - Ever Fallen In Love

I know some of you are going to be upset with this Buzzcocks cover, but I see it as more of a Fine Young Cannibals cover, because that's the version that influenced the S.O.V more.

This is an early demo by Louise Harman.  I like the chutzpah, and it's not performed badly, either.

6 February 2013 - Allen Stone - Is This Love

Scott's Note: This post was written two days before my trip to Jamaica. All further statements come from my crystal ball...(cue the wavy look into the future tv screen)...

Day 5 in Jamaica. I've heard Is This Love about 254 times already. About half of the time it was a really cheesy cover version to boot. Starting to go a little mad. If only the fine people at this resort had this version by Allen Stone.

5 February 2013 - Pistol Annies - Fist City

I was looking for a good Loretta Lynn cover today - specifically, I was going to pull out a Sissy Spacek cover from the movie Coal Miner's Daughter.

Then I found this. That fun little (and feisty) side project of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley pays a fitting tribute to Loretta Lynn on the Grand Ole Opry stage.  This performance was made on the event of the Loretta Lynn's 50th year as an Opry member.  Brilliant song choice for these ladies!  Enjoy!

4 February 2013 - Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros - Redemption Song

Greetings from Jamaica! As you read this I'm sitting poolside with a cold drink in my hand. Seeing that I've only been here for a couple days I haven't tired of hearing Bob Marley yet. Yet. Give me a few days and I'll want to take out those three little birds. I never tire of hearing Joe Strummer's version of my favorite Marley song though.



Portions of this post (OK, all of this post) was written in a chilly Annapolis basement prior to my Saturday AM flight.

1 February 2013 - The Church - Disarm

Me and Steven Kilbey

I've been a huge fan of The Church since I was in high school. So basically, I've been listening to them for a long freaking time. In college, I was a huge Smashing Pumpkins fan (so yeah, I've been a fan of them for a long time too...well at least their older records). I've seen both bands quite a few times over the years and neither have disappointed in a live setting. Needless to say I was kind of psyched to find this live footage of The Church playing The Pumpkins' classic Disarm.