May 212014
 

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes have got the diva thing down. This collection of punk-ish rockers from various bands (NOFX, Foo Fighters, Lagwagon and Swingin’ Utters) started thier covers-only band back in the ‘90s. They have a new album of hits from popular divas reworked to fit the Gimme’s fast-paced, guitar thrashing style. Continue reading »

Nov 092011
 

Best (So Far) finds the finest first-round covers of the latest pop hits.

With its infectious whistling hook and taut digital disco groove, Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera’s “Moves Like Jagger” is endearing a whole new generation of music listeners to the frontman of The Rolling Stones in a way Ruby Tuesday never could have expected. To those hip to the ways of classic rock, Jagger stands for a cragginess, for experience, for a libido-driven dude who’s seen a whole lot of life. But in this funky tag-team single, he’s all slickness and sultry dance beats — the key to Adam Levine’s soaring vocal seduction of a swiftly yielding Xtina, and the fuel for a very different demographic of backseat makeouts. Continue reading »

Nov 022011
 

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

In “Pot of Gold,” Irish foreign exchange student Rory Flanagan (Damian McGinty) makes his way to McKinley High just in time to see the glee club falling apart — Shelby’s (Idina Menzel) rival group continues to steal members from New Directions, while Sue (Jane Lynch) works tirelessly to end funding for arts programs once and for all. But all Rory really cares about is making a couple friends, and maybe convincing Brittany (Heather Morrison) to share her own pot of gold.

We can avoid the subject no longer – it’s time to talk about The Glee Project. Other than runner-up Lindsay Pearce’s appearance in Glee‘s season premiere, the influence of that summer reality show has so far been nonexistent on its parent program. However, in “Pot of Gold” that all changes as Project winner Damian McGinty begins his seven-episode guest arc as Irish exchange student Rory Flanagan. This episode makes it clear that Damian won more than just a bit part; he gets two of the show’s five songs tonight, making a big splash in an introductory episode which I’d guess will endear him to many a viewer. Continue reading »

Oct 102011
 

After months of controversy, the Michael Jackson tribute concert Michael Forever went on without a hitch Saturday night. Well, with only a few hitches. Jennifer Hudson and the Black Eyed Peas dropped out at the eleventh hour (one a bigger loss than the other) and a planned live stream on Facebook got nixed by the Jackson estate. Which is a shame, since we’d love to see professional footage from the event. Instead, we have some decent audience clips. Continue reading »

Feb 142011
 

Our final Grammy cover was the first performance of the evening. Christina Aguilera, Florence Welch, Jennifer Hudson, Martina McBride, and Yolanda Adams performed a medley of Aretha Franklin hits that suffered from many classic issues of star-crossed medleys, but still proved a timely reminder that Christina “Anthemgate” Aguilera could actually sing. Continue reading »