“Easy”
by Faith No More (originally by The Commodores)
from the “I’m Easy/Be Aggressive” double A-side
1992 Slash Records
Buy the single on Amazon
Again, this one of those covers that I stumbled across before I had ever heard the original. Thus – in my mind – it’s the superior version. This track kind of fits into the karaoke theme as well… I’m constantly on the hunt for the Mike Patton-pitched version.
“Fade Into You”
by Dinosaur Jr (originally by Mazzy Star)
from a limited edition release
2013
More info here.
J Mascis helped design some limited edition shoes last year, which I knew about, but I somehow missed this cover that was included for people who ordered them. I discovered it last night while prepping for an upcoming duet post.
“Disorder”
by Slayer & Ice-T
from Judgment Night
1993
Buy the album on Amazon
There were a couple of other more mellow duets I had been thinking of posting first for the next #AprilDuets entry, but I wanted to be kind to Lance and completely scrub Thom Yorke out of his head. If Slayer and Ice-T can’t do it, I don’t know what can.
“I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore”
by The Menzingers
from Rented World
2014
Buy the album on Amazon
There will be another post where I expound on just how goddamn good the last Menzingers album is, but their new album just came out this week, and this song has caught me, and I completely love the video for it.
Continue reading The Menzingers: “I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore”
The car started overheating at some point while cruising the streets of downtown Nashville, looking for a dive called 328 Performance Hall. We shouldn’t have been surprised – it was summertime in Tennessee and it was as hot as fuck, the AC was cranked and we were stuck in traffic. I started to panic so we shut off the AC, switched on the heater, opened the windows and tried to bleed off some of the heat that was suffocating the engine. The car kept running, but by the time we finally found the place, we were drenched in sweat. Just two, completely filthy, miserable assholes who wanted to see a show. Continue reading First Concert
“This Mess We’re In”
by PJ Harvey w/ Thom Yorke
from Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea
2000
Buy the album on Amazon
The final Thom Yorke duet for the #AprilDuets theme.
I’ve never gotten in to PJ Harvey – nothing against her, just never owned any of her stuff or listened to her, but man, I love this song. I think out of the three Thom Yorke duets, this is my favorite. The interplay between the two singers is awesome, and I dig the part where PJ is talking while Thom sing-repeats bits of what she’s saying. The song has a bit of an epic, end of the world feel.
“Train in Vain”
by The Clash
from the album London Calling
1979 CBS
Buy the album on Amazon
This is one of those karaoke songs I sing just for myself. No one else has ever come up and been like “YEAH!” In fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say anything after this goes down. It just goes quietly into the night and that’s totally fine.
The first time I heard “Train in Vain” was in my friend Seedless’ car. Continue reading Karaoke Tuesday: “Train In Vain”
“Punk Rock Girl”
by The Dead Milkmen
from the album Beelzebubba
1988
Buy the album on Amazon
I’m not sure when or why I first sang this at karaoke, but it’s been one of my staples for quite a while. I never got into the Dead Milkmen, with the exception of this song, which I always loved. Fun fact – I always had a friend do “Stuart” from the same album as a monologue in acting class.
It’s a testament to why I love my core karaoke crew so much, because I can pick this song, and not only will they know it (which is incredibly rare in that kind of setting), but they love it and back me up on the chorus. And man, is this a fun song to sing and bounce around to.
“Never Let Me Down Again”
by The Smashing Pumpkins (originally by Depeche Mode)
from the album Siamese Dream [Deluxe Edition]
Buy the album on Amazon
All week long I had been planning on a Pumpkins selection for #CoverFriday and then Chris up and did the same thing. And while I absolutely adore “Landslide” — I’d even go so far as to call it superior to the original — I had a different track in mind. Continue reading Cover Friday: “Never Let Me Down Again”
“Landslide”
by The Smashing Pumpkins (originally by Fleetwood Mac)
from the album Pisces Iscariot
1994
Buy the album on Amazon.
I heard this in a cafe earlier this week and it got stuck in my head.
Yes, I admit, the Pumpkins’ version of this song was my first exposure to it, and I loved it. I remember listening to this album my freshmen year of college, and there was one older guy who lived in the dorms who heard me playing it and quickly denounced it as being inferior to the original.