Song of the Day: The Watson Twins, "Just Like Heaven" (The Cure cover)

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Nov 162010
 

Song of the Day posts one cool cover every morning. Catch up on past installments here.

Looking at Robert Smith’s exterior, you wouldn’t peg him as a romantic. Yet, behind the eccentric disheveled hair, past the purposely-pasty skin, and beyond the Goth guy-liner, Smith is a pretty sentimental dude. The Cure frontman penned “Just Like Heaven” after an inspiring trip to the seashore with his girlfriend, Mary Poole. The song not only won over the girl who became his wife, but became the band’s first song on the Billboard Top 40. Continue reading »

Song of the Day: B.A. Baracus Band, “Mama Said Knock You Out” (LL Cool J cover)

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Nov 112010
 

Song of the Day posts one cool cover every morning. Catch up on past installments here.

The A-Team influenced a generation of pre-teen boys into believing that they should “Pity the Fool!” The B.A. Baracus Band take it a step further, creating the ultimate ’80s cover band named after everyone’s favorite butt kicker, B.A Baracus. Unfortunately, gold chains or mohawks do not make an appearance. Using only guitar, djembe and kazoos, the B.A. Baracus Band has created covers that require the listener to stand up and dance. If said listener has consumed mass quantities, so much the better.

The band recently focused their creativity on LL Cool J‘s “Mama Said Knock You Out” (by the way, who wouldn’t want to see LL Cool J take on B.A. in all his glory?). As the djembe kicks in, remind yourself this is not your mama’s LL Cool J, and certainly not Street Sweeper Social Club’s Cool J. Incredibly, the white guys can keep pace with Cool J’s flow, shout-outs and overall swagger. Unfortunately, no video of “Mama Said Knock You Out” can be found on YouTube, but watch the band tear into Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” here, then head over to the band’s website and download lots more ’80s cover goodness. First things first though, download The B.A. Baracus Band’s LL Cool J cover, fool! Continue reading »

Song of the Day: Andrew Sky, “Stand by Me” (Ben E. King cover)

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Nov 032010
 

Song of the Day posts one cool cover every morning. Catch up on past installments here.

Though “Stand by Me” was originally a solo song, it has inspired many strange duets. Warren Zevon and Stephen King. Sting and Lady Gaga. Timon and Pumpa. But today we bring you a trio. Together at last, it’s Andrew Sky, Andrew Sky, and Andrew Sky! Rocking on a rooftop, the Virginia-based songwriter triples himself for some synchronized Motown snapping.

“Simplicity was key,” Sky tells us. “The bass line is so powerful by itself that I didn’t want to overpower it. I kept in mind some of the best advice I have ever received as a songwriter: don’t say in 10 notes what you can say in three. So, I chose an acoustic guitar and used a trumpet section in the chorus to emphasize the off beats, which are very important to the song.” Continue reading »

Song of the Day: Pink Fairies, “Walk Don’t Run” (The Ventures cover)

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Nov 012010
 

Song of the Day posts one cool cover every morning. Catch up on past installments here.

“Walk Don’t Run” makes a strong case as a contender for the best rock and roll instrumental ever. Sure, others may argue for “Green Onions,” “Eruption,” or even dark horse “Rumble,” but “Walk Don’t Run” combines the best elements from all three. Like “Green Onions,” the riff is simple and instantly recognizable. Like “Eruption,” there’s some serious guitar work at play (no, not Eddie Van Halen-level guitar, but still). Like “Rumble,” it’s a super-short blast of sound that shows a guitar can lead as powerfully as any vocal.

That said, this “Walk Don’t Run” ditches pretty much all of those characteristics. For one, it’s not instrumental. For another, it’s definitely not short – over nine minutes. It isn’t even surf rock. Pink Fairies’ 1972 psychedelic cacophony uses the riff as a basic template, throwing some bizarre verses in between the guitar squalls. Continue reading »

Song of the Day: Blind Melon, “Three Is a Magic Number” (Schoolhouse Rock)

 Posted by at 9:30 am  1 Response »
Oct 292010
 

Song of the Day posts one cool cover every morning. Catch up on past installments here.

Happy birthday Cover Me! Today marks three years since we began and we’ve got a full day of celebrations planned. We’ve got stuff to give away, Full Album posts to offer, and a very special surprise to top things off this afternoon. We’ll start things off with today’s special number: Three!

This one’s off the terrific Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks tribute album. It features such off-the-wall picks as Daniel Johnston covering “Unpack Your Adjectives,” Ween telling us about “The Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” and Biz Markie rocking “The Energy Blues.” Continue reading »

Song of the Day: The Hippogriffs, “All Along the Watchtower” (Bob Dylan cover)

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Oct 282010
 

Song of the Day posts one cool cover every morning. Catch up on past installments here.

The Hippogriffs bill themselves as “acoustic rock at its finest” and that seems about right. There’s nothing fancy here, just three Colorado buddies touring the state jamming out some classics. So if you find yourself in the 3-0-3 or the 7-2-0 (Denver), look ‘em up.

Their recent live cover of “All Along the Watchtower” bridges the Dylan–Hendrix divide: electric energy on acoustic instruments. Guitarist Russ Griffin lays heavy on the wah-wah for thirteen minutes of acousti-funk soloing. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but when the wheel works this well, why bother? Continue reading »

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