The Dresden Dolls and Gogol Bordello Cover Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand” in Boston

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Nov 042024
 
dresden dolls gogol bordello

At their two co-headlining shows in Boston this weekend, The Dresden Dolls and Gogol Bordello collaborated on a dark and ominous cover of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’ “Red Right Hand.” It came as the encore to Gogol Bordello’s set, and featured their full band joined by masked Dolls Amanda Palmer on vocals and Brian Viglione on tubular bell (a key instrument on this song). Well, we assume it was them; “Who that was we may never know,” Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz joked as the masked duo left the stage. Continue reading »

Five Good Covers: Karma Police (Radiohead)

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Dec 222010
 

Five Good Covers presents five cross-genre reinterpretations of an oft-covered song.

“Karma Police” serves as the centerpiece of Radiohead’s 1997 classic, OK Computer. The beginning tracks of OK Computer find Radiohead at their most experimental to that point. From the shape-shifting “Paranoid Android” to the slow burn of “Exit Music (For A Film),” these otherworldly melodies embody the theme of disillusionment that runs through the album.

The opening notes of “Karma Police,” however, hit with a directness and simplicity that immediately leaps out. Thom Yorke’s voice weaves effortlessly through the chord changes, hardly rising above a whisper when he sings, “This is what you’ll get / when you mess with us.” It’s a remarkable moment when the song’s quiet intensity finally bursts in the second half, Yorke’s disdain turning into something that sounds an awful lot like optimism and warmth. Continue reading »

The Dresden Dolls Celebrate the Season with Neutral Milk Hotel

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Dec 172010
 

By now you know all about the A.V. Club’s Holiday Undercover (if not, see our coverage here). The Club’s staff encouraged the artists to choose less conventional holiday songs and The Dresden Dolls’ selection certainly meets that criterion. Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Two Headed Boy” contains only a passing reference to Christmas trees and snow. “Holiday song”? Eh…

Nonetheless, the strength of the performance silences any quibbles over what constitutes a seasonal song. Amanda Palmer – who can now call herself a Cover Me VIP – delivers a stunning vocal performance. She gives her all – at times teetering on the edge of going out of tune, but managing to hold on. See the video below. Next week Vampire Weekend do The Sex Pistols’ “Holidays in the Sun” (we hope).

The Dresden Dolls – Two-Headed Boy (Neutral Milk Hotel cover)

For more Holiday Undercover, check out the A.V. Club’s website.

Full Albums: Pink Floyd’s The Wall, Pt. 2

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Sep 172010
 

Full Albums features covers of every track off a classic album. Got an idea for a future pick? Leave a note in the comments!

On Wednesday we gave you disc one of The Wall. Today we present disc two aka. the disc with most of the famous songs on it. Download each MP3 individually below or all together at the bottom.

Incidentally, Roger Waters’ Wall tour opener Wednesday night earned rave reviews from SPIN, The Telegraph, Spinner, and the Toronto Sun. Continue reading »

Congrats Lakers. Here’s Five Covers of “I Love L.A.”

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Jun 182010
 

The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship last night, putting them only one behind the Boston Celtics in total rings. Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” became an unofficial theme song for the team, which is pretty funny when you think about it. The song is partially ripping on the city. Sure, it does so lovingly, but it’s hardly “New York, New York.” Newman sings about a bum “down on his knees” and lists streets with some of the poorest people in the area.

Even funnier are the covers this inspires. Take this nine-year old singing, “I’m rolling down the Imperial Highway with a big nasty redhead at my side.” Or Alvin and the Chipmunks catching some waves while singing about the homeless. Does no one read lyrics?
Continue reading »

Amanda Palmer Releases First Song from Ukulele Radiohead Covers Album

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Jun 102010
 

You may know her from the cabaret-punk duo the Dresden Dolls. You may know her from conjoined-twin circus pair Evelyn Evelyn. You may know her solo work. Or you may not know her at all. But you should. Amanda Palmer creates offbeat art via music, film, theater, and her hilarious Twitter page (which this past weekend featured a lengthy discussion on the best slang term for breasts). Whatever she does, it’s bound to be interesting.

Good thing too, because otherwise the idea of another Radiohead covers EP would be forehead slap-inducing. But Palmer and her trusted ukulele may just pull it off. The album is titled Amanda Palmer Plays the Popular Hits of Radiohead on Her Magical Ukulele, which seems a bit tongue-in-cheek. How can the “popular hits” not include “Karma Police”? Generally though the tracklist contains the band’s more well-known songs. Listen to the first single below.
Continue reading »

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