Sunday, February 22, 2009

Everyday is Like Sunday, Except for Blue Monday and Ruby Tuesday, and...Well, Friday I'm in Love: Weekly Mix #54


It's been awhile since I've posted a cover versions mix (and I've felt a little harried this week with both the volunteering and freelance work), so here's my rather lazy attempt. I would like to mention the War Child Heroes album since it's being touted as "The Ultimate Covers Album." As per usual, War Child is releasing an album with proceeds going to benefit children affected by war, but this year the idea was to get musical "heroes" to pick artists from the younger generation to cover a song from their back catalogue. I may not like all the tracks on the album, but there are some rather excellent ones, including TV on the Radio covering David Bowie's "Heroes," Scissor Sisters covering Roxy Music's Do the Strand, Rufus Wainwright covering Brian Wilson's Wonderful and Song For Children, Hot Chip covering Joy Division's Transmission, and Peaches covering Iggy Pop's Search and Destroy. You can find out how to order the UK version and how to pre-order the North American versions on the War Child MySpace.

This mix has got a fair bit of 80s covering going on, but it also includes Camera Obscura's excellent version of the most famous ode to a spotlight and Devendra Banhart's stripped-down re-working of Oasis (he actually makes it relatively palatable with his Marc Bolanesque bleat). This one's called Re-Make/Re-Model.

I Wanna Dance With Somebody - David Byrne (Original: Whitney Houston)

Do the Strand - Scissor Sisters (Original: Roxy Music)

Wig Wam Bam - Gavin Friday (Original: Sweet)

Johnny and Mary - Placebo (Original: Robert Palmer)

Mama Told Me Not to Come - The Wolfgang Press (Original: Eric Burdon & the Animals)

West End Girls - We Have Band (Original: Pet Shop Boys)

Love Hangover - The Associates (Original: Diana Ross)

Relax - The Dandy Warhols (Original: Frankie Goes to Hollywood)

Only You - Freezepop (Original: Yazoo)

All Tomorrow's Parties - Japan (Original: The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Jump - Aztec Camera (Original: Van Halen)

Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken? - Sandie Shaw (Original: Lloyd Cole and the Commotions)

Jolene - Strawberry Switchblade (Original: Dolly Parton)

Das Model - The Cardigans (Original: Kraftwerk)

Womanizer - Ladyhawke (Original: Britney Spears)

Party Fears Two - Heaven 17 (Original: The Associates)

Super Trooper - Camera Obscura (Original: ABBA)

Hoppipolla - We Are Scientists (Original: Sigur Ros)

Playground Love - Phoenix (Original: Air)

Don't Look Back in Anger - Devendra Banhart (Original: Oasis)

2 comments:

chris said...

Wow, this Heaven 17 take on "Party Fears Two" is so different from the original.

I can't get the Strawberry Switchblade or Freezepop songs to work! Help!

... Speaking of Dolly Parton, though, have you heard the 1981 country-new wave cover by Rubber Rodeo? Fantastic.

anglopunk said...

I tried the links for Strawberry Switchblade and Freezepop, and they both worked for me. If you still can't get them, let me know.

And I'll have to look into that Rubber Rodeo track.