Dec 072011
 

Every Wednesday, our resident Gleek Eric Garneau gives his take on last night’s Glee covers.

In “Hold on to Sixteen,” New Directions and their rival glee club the TroubleTones compete in the Sectionals competition. Meanwhile, Quinn (Dianna Agron) plots to get Shelby (Idina Menzel) fired and an old friend returns to McKinley High.

Just last week I was thinking about how, in the future, we’ll be able to look back and pinpoint lackluster Glee episodes with an alarming degree of certainty based solely on the presence of Sam Evans (Chord Overstreet), a character who appeared only in season two, which seems generally agreed-upon as the worst of Glee‘s output to date. It should be no surprise, then, that when Sam returns to the show this week he brings with him a very season two-styled episode that feels the need to rush through a whirlwind of plot points without really doing justice to any of them. Even though “Hold on to Sixteen” is one of those special “competition” episodes that brings plots to their culmination by design, everything about it feels so hurried that nothing really has a chance to land – it’s 20 minutes of plot, then 20 minutes of performances, then a tacked-on happy ending. Honestly, I did not enjoy it. Continue reading »

Apr 302011
 

They Say It’s Your Birthday celebrates an artist’s special day with other people singing his or her songs. Let others do the work for a while. Happy birthday!

Well, old Willie just keeps on truckin’, doesn’t he? A singer, songwriter, actor, political activist and truck stop owner, Willie Nelson turns 78 years old today. He achieved songwriting success in the late ’50s writing songs for Ray Price (“Night Life”), Faron Young (“Hello Walls”) and perhaps the most famous country song of all time, Patsy Cline’s “Crazy”. He broke through as a performer in 1975 with the release of his album Red Headed Stranger and cover of “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain.” Continue reading »

Nov 102010
 

Live Collection brings together every live cover we can find from an artist. And we find a lot.

The recent release of Easy Wonderful has given Guster fans reason to fall in love with them all over again. As their album title insinuates, they have an agreeable sound that resonates with you and has aged well over the past (almost) 20 years. If the Beach Boys went to college in the 90’s, added some bongos, and stayed out of the sun, Guster is what they would sound like.

Featured on soundtracks like Life as a House and Wedding Crashers, their songs can pull at the heartstrings as you croon along with them. On the other hand, they are better known for their laid-back, wisecracking personalities that beam from the stage and infect their fans. During their years of touring, they have taken on many cover songs with both their sensitive and playful dispositions (but mostly the latter). Typically at the end of a show, Guster will rile up the crowd with a number from Madonna, Talking Heads, or whoever sings the “Cheers” theme song (Portnoy) and get everyone involved.  Most of the time, it’s just an excuse to get drummer Brian Rosenworcel out in front showing off his questionable vocals, calling in the crowd for backup.  It’s just like being at a karaoke bar. Continue reading »

May 172010
 

Dio has rocked for a long long time…

As you’ve probably heard, legendary metal singer Ronnie James Dio died of stomach cancer yesterday.  The man fronted a an impressive list of heavy metal bands, popularized the devil’s horns and inspired the Tenacious D song from which the above line comes (which he apparently took in good humor).  He rose to superstardom as Ozzy Osbourne’s replacement in Black Sabbath, so today we take a look at the Godfathers of Metal.  Technically Dio only sang one of the songs covered here, but is it our fault that “T.V. Crimes” didn’t have quite the impact of “Paranoid”?
Continue reading »

May 012010
 

Cover News is a weekly feature keeping you up to date on the goings-on in the world of cover tunes, tribute albums, etc. At the bottom we showcase the submissions we’ve been sent in the past week (send us yours)! As always, follow Cover Me on Twitter for the latest news.

The Arcade Fire

This Week’s News

The latest Cover Commissions brings us an ethereal “Political Science” by We Are the Willows.  Check in next week to vote on May’s Cover Commissions!  [Cover Me]

On April Fool’s Day, I tricked our Twitter followers with a claim that Matt at You Ain’t No Picasso had posted a bunch of Arcade Fire covers.  Inspired by the joke, he did just that two weeks later.  You’re welcome, internet.  [YANP]

We already knew Bettye LaVette’s album tackling “The British Rock Songbook” would be amazing.  “All My Love” confirms it.  [Spinner]

The Flaming Lips released their Dark Side of the Moon tribute on vinyl a few weeks ago, promoting it with an acid-trippy “Breathe” on Jimmy Fallon.  [The Music Slut]

We’ve posted Via Tania’s cover of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” back in January.  Now she’s back, in front of a mountain, with a ukulele Fever Ray cover.  [Filter]

Keller Williams makes the short list (very short) of Jam Band Artists Non-Jam Fans Can Enjoy, so his Thief covers album should me fun.  [Glide]

Bon Iver covered Peter Gabriel for Record Store Day.  He then covered Tom Petty just for the hell of it.  [Each Note Secure]

Girl in a Coma (nice Smiths reference) has released the third and final volume of their Adventures in Coverland series.  Listen to the tunes online and then pick it up on vinyl.  [Blackheart]

If you want to destroy my sweater, hold this thread as I walk away.  [Stereogum]

It’s a few weeks old, but Josh Ritter covering “Moon River” is worth any delay.  [Daytrotter]

Florence and the Machine wants to get into your pants with this Mario Winans cover.  [Billboard]

The AV Club continues their series of exclusive cover videos and includes a tantalizing list of to-be-posted songs.  “Who will cover Journey’s ‘Faithfully’?” the site asks.  Any chance the answer is “No one”?  [The AV Club]

This Week’s Submissions

Christopher Bryant – Frank Sinatra (Cake)  [more]

Christopher Bryant – Going the Distance (Cake)  [more]

Christopher Bryant – Italian Leather Sofa (Cake)  [more]

Christopher Bryant – Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps (Cake Farrés/Davis)  [more]

Deerhoof – Hitch Hike (LiLiPUT)  [more]

Grand Mal – Rich Girl (Hall & Oates)  [more]

Grand Mal – Winter In (Gene Clark)  [more]

Grand Mal – You Should Be Ashamed (Emitt Rhodes)  [more]

The Hecklers – Rock N Roll Is Dead (The Rubinoos)  [more]

Peter Pracek – Kokomo Me, Baby (Mississippi Fred McDowell)  [more]

Peter Parcek – Showbiz Blues (Fleetwood Mac)  [more]

Passporte Royale – Airplanes (B.O.B.)  [more]

Passporte Royale – Born Free (M.I.A.)  [more]

Lindsay Ray – Daydream (Wallace Collection)  [more]

Snow & Voices- Mistress (Red House Painters)  [more]

Tarentem – Rockin’ All Over the World (John Fogerty)  [more]

VARN Industries – The Gambler (Kenny Rogers)  [more]

We Are the Willows – Political Science (Randy Newman)  [more]

We Are the Willows – Make the World Go Away (Eddy Arnold)  [more]

835 – Only an Expert (Laurie Anderson)  [more]

Email your cover for inclusion!