Covers Suck: A Commentary

This past weekend, I was subjected to a cover band. Check that, a horrible cover band. While listening to them ruin a perfectly good song, I got to thinking about good covers. I couldn't think of many, especially of those performed by national acts. Most are shells of the original. And most of those that make popular radio play are performed by bands that have passed their peak, looking for a little more glory and more accurately, a little more money. Case in point, 311. They took a good song, not great by any means (try "Prayers for Rain" or "Disintegration", much better selections off of the same album), in "Love Song" by The Cure, and added a psuedo-reggae riff and it gets huge radio play, more than the original. Using a cover as a radio single is saying to me that you are lazy or have lost your originality and can't come up with something new to hold the interest of your fans or attract new one. You can call it a tribute, wonderful, but keep it on the album and off the radio. Make it a gift to those who actually buy your album or come to your live show. Artists are also making whole albums of covers. 'I don't feel like writing anything. I know, let's make an album of covers!' Cat Power? I know you have it in you to write your own material. You are breaking my heart. Please, save it for a live performance. Even if they are songs that no one has heard in years, please be original. And country artists, stop taking relatively current pop songs and turning them country-fried. These songs were never meant for the audience you are reaching!

The biggest problem is those subjected to these covers actually think that the songs are the performing artists orginal work. I don't know how many times I heard the story of a 'tween saying how the Dixie Chicks ruined the Smashing Pumpkins "Landslide". I am no means a Fleetwood Mac fan, but for god sakes people, know your music history! Those of you in my age group know the Say Anything soundtrack like the back of your hands. I was at a concert this fall and one band (Shiny Toy Guns) took a Depeche Mode classic, "Stripped", and tore it a new one. It almost brought a tear to my eye, and not in a good way. I had to go out and indulge my nicotine habit during the debacle. However, the kids on the floor in front of the stage were eating it up. They had no idea that the song is 20 years old and was on one of the best soundtracks and live albums ever made (thats the double disc 101 for the DM deprived). And the band never made a mention of who's song it was, maybe trying to pass it off as their own?

That is not to say there are not worthwhile cover songs out in the world. "Killing Me Softly" by The Fugees is one that strikes me as a good cover (I could have done without the 'one-time' and 'two-times'). Of course, Roberta Flack is not in my current playlist, but I recognize a good song when I hear it. Lauryn Hill was the right person with the right voice to remake that song. If some pop-whore tried, it would have gone down in flames. Even 10000 Maniacs feminizing "Everyday Is Like Sunday" was a little weak, but better than most efforts.

Here's the bottom line: For the most part, covers are an abberation that should be limited to crappy bands at college bars, live shows and B-sides. Some may break the mold and actually be as good as the original, but that is a longshot.

Some covers for you. Decide if they stand up to the original. Comment away...

Creeping Weeds - (I'm a) Donkey For Your Love (BOAT)
David Ford - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Smiths)
East Hundred - Save A Prayer (Duran Duran)
Editors - Lullaby (The Cure)

Finally, Shows in Philly

It's about time something worth mentioning comes Philly's way. It's still a little light, but more is coming, I promise.


The big show of the weekend is Editors, Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV at The Electric Factory Friday.

Check out Joe's post for some music.


If you want something a little more local Friday night, check out one of Philly's best live acts, The Teeth, at Johnny Brendas. With them is Gildon Works, a little ambient shoe-gaze outfit claiming Philly home and indie-popsters Future Tips.

The Teeth - Ball of the Dead Rat
Gildon Works - Artful Rifle
Future Tips - Chins Up


If you like a set of melodic and lyrically sharp compositions, come back to Johnny Brendas Saturday night and check out Philly songstress and Bar-None recording artist Birdie Busch. She is opening for another Philly songwriter, Ben Arnold, who reminds some as a bluesier Randy Newman.

Birdie Busch - Mystical

Quick Picks For Tuesday

Alright, there are a couple of good shows to help you get through this finger numbing Tuesday.

Editors - credit
At 9:30 Club, Editors come to town for a sold out show and they bring Hot Hot Heat and Louis XIV along for the ride. You can also check out this bill Friday night at Electric Factory in Philly.

Editors - Lullaby (The Cure cover)
Hot Hot Heat - Rehab (Amy Winehouse cover)
Louis XIV - Guilt By Association

Vandaveer
Over at Black Cat is a great little show. DC's own Vandaveer is playing along with an excellent band from Brooklyn called Bottle Up & Go. For those of you looking for something a little bit different, I highly recommend this one.

Vandaveer - Marianne, You've Done It Now
Bottle Up & Go - Take This Hammer

This Week's Mix

Next week, I will present you with my favorite albums of the year. Before I do that, I wanted to touch upon some of my favorite songs that aren't on the CDs that made my list. So I decided that this week's mix would be a good chance to that. Enjoy!

Modest Mouse - Spitting Venom
Film School - Must Try Easier
Band of Horses - Is There A Ghost?
Junius - A Word Could Kill Her
Kinetic Stereokids - Explosions Were Heard
LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
Battles - Atlas
Simian Mobile Disco - I Believe
Kasabian - I.D.
Editors - Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors

This Week's Mix

Busy times with school work this week, so I wasn't able to get a mix out for Friday. However, I will give you one for your Monday workday to help you get over that weekend hangover and I'll be back on Friday. Enjoy!

LCD Soundsystem - Someone Great
Datarock - Bulldozer
Peter Bjorn & John - Amsterdam
The Details - Reunion Souvenirs
Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Let It Dive
Rilo Kiley - Dejalo
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up
Editors - Blood
Joy Division - She's Lost Control

Editors Tonight

There is a big show at 9:30 Club tonight. Editors are in town and they are joined by Ra Ra Riot and Biffy Clyro.

Editors - An End Has A Start
Ra Ra Riot - Can You Tell
Biffy Clyro - Folding Stars

This Week's Releases

Editor's Note: This is the first post from our new DC reporter, Chris. He will be covering anything and everything. Live shows, CD reviews, mixes... they are all in play. You will definitely be seeing him around town. Please join me in welcoming him to IA.

Some huge releases dropped last week. We saw new offerings from Interpol, Spoon, BOAT, Justice, Ra Ra Riot and The Smashing Pumpkins. The one thing that I noticed, was that the list was very US heavy. This week also saw several big name releases and this time, the UK flexed some muscle.


The first big release is from Editors, with their sophomore disc An End Has A Start. I have listened to this CD a couple of times so far and I highly recommend it. They built upon all that they learned from the first release and this one sounds like a more upbeat Boxer from The National, with the same amount of emotion and great lyrics packed into it.

For those of you who like to dance, The Chemical Brothers finally dropped their new album We Are The Night. I haven't heard the whole CD yet, but the few songs that I have listened to have been amazing.

Our third UK band may not have as big of a following as the other two, but definitely brings it in their new release. The Cribs break out with Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever. The first single "Men's Needs", is a hard hitting, energy packed song that will have you rocking out after the first verse. I also had a chance to listen to "Women's Needs" today and although not as fast paced, the song also has great hit potential.

For our hip-hop fans out there, M.I.A. releases her first single off of her newest CD KALA, called "Boyz." M.I.A. is from Sri Lanka and takes a different approach to hip-hop than most artists from here in the states, in that she mixes a good amount of dance beats into her music. She draws her beats from all around the world, making her songs some of the most invigorating and unique experiences you have heard from a hip-hop artist.

For a full list of all of the notable releases out there, check out this list. There should be something for everyone this week and a lot of things for those of you that are like me and like music from all genres.

I also want to recommend a CD that I discovered yesterday, called How It Ends from DeVotchKa. Check out "Enemy Guns" to get a good idea of what they are like. Their music and vocals are simply amazing and like M.I.A,. they take their musical inspirations from many different places, yet have huge ties to Eastern Europe and gypsy type music.

That should do it for my first post, but you will see much more from me in the coming weeks. For now, I will leave you with some mp3s.

Editors - Smokers Outside The Hospital Doors
Editors - An End Has A Start
The Chemical Brothers - All Rights Reserved (ft. Klaxons)
The Cribs - Men's Needs
The Cribs - Women's Needs
M.I.A. - Boyz (Kimino Kops Mix)
DeVotchKa - The Enemy Guns
DeVotchKa - How It Ends

Top Five Albums of 2006

So I decided to do one of these top five lists. Mine is not as funny as the cartoon above (though it does sum up why I did not go to grad school). Mine is going to be different than most other folks, because I didn't pay a whole lot of attention to much of the new music that came out this year. I'm sure the new Belle & Sebastian was great and all, but I was busy listening to mostly stuff from the DC area. But! I did have some records that I was quite fond of - these five more than any others. Check them out even if you haven't heard of them - perhaps you'll find something you'll like.

Middle Distance Runner - Plane In Flames

I told these guys when this record came out that it was the best thing that I had heard all year, and I still think that rings true. As somebody who really found music for himself in the mid-'90s, this record recalls a lot of my all time favorites, but in a way that is fresh and invigorating. With fantastic guitar work, tasteful arrangements and a refreshing variety of styles led by some outstanding vocals, Plane is Flames is a top to bottom success. Just as I remember 2003 for Death Cab for Cutie and 2004 for the Arcade Fire, Middle Distance Runner will be be how I remember music in 2006.

Middle Distance Runner - Naturally
Middle Distance Runner - That's a Lie
Middle Distance Runner - Out of Here (ACE's Feverish Remix)


Alcian Blue - Alcian Blue

Perhaps the biggest loss to DC music in 2006 came when Alcian Blue decided to part ways after almost ten years of band-dom. But fortunately, they left us this record behind as a swan song - and every minute of these coldly beautiful soundscapes is a gift. With guitar tones massaged to oblivion, reverb heavy vocals and masterful drum programming, this is an essential part of my shoegaze/dream-pop catalogue.

Alcian Blue - 71705
Alcian Blue - Frozen Sleep
Alcian Blue - You Just Disappear


Mew - And the Glass Handed Kites

Every now and again, a record makes me rethink everything I thought I knew about songwriting and arrangement. Mew's latest is one of those records. Any album where you don't realize that you've made it six tracks deep is special; the songs flow together so effortlessly that this reminds me more of a rock symphony than a collection of songs. Add in the bizarrely charming vocals and constant syncopation, and you've got a record that is completely unique and utterly amazing.

Mew - Apocalypso
Mew - Special
Mew - The Chinaberry Tree


Soccer Team - "Volunteered" Civility and Professionalism

Soccer Team is the first Dischord band that I've ever really gotten into. The songs here are so simple on some levels - but they're executed so tastefully and with such interesting quirks that they have enormous charm. This is a grower if there ever was one - on first listen, it struck me as just a good album. But I kept playing it in my car. About a month later, when it hadn't left my CD player, I realized how much I really loved it.

Soccer Team - Traffic Patterns
Soccer Team - Solid Ring Fighters
Soccer Team - Here's Why Dancers Smoke


Editors - The Back Room

I guess this technically came out in 2005 in the UK, but dropped in the States sometime in the spring of 2006. Regardless, I listened to this more than anything else this year, and Editors put on one of the best live shows I've ever seen. Who knows if they'll follow it up with something as good or better, or whether this is just the flavor of the month from across the pond. But ultimately, this is a great, great album that never fails to get lodged in my head for weeks at a time.

Editors - Blood
Editors - Fingers in the Factories
Editors - All Sparks


Honorable mentions:
The Hard Tomorrows - Lights Out
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations