All you need is . . . a bunch of fantastic Beatles covers

I have obsessively been clicking over at the Contrast Podcast site for the last 24 hours or so, waiting for the unveiling of this week’s podcast (to which I contributed a track & a spoken intro piece). Our theme this time is really superb, so carve out an hour of your day to spend with your favorite bloggers as we all pick our Favorite Beatles Covers.

Since everyone and their grandma feels the need to record a Beatles cover at some point in their career, we had a lot of fodder to choose from. Beatles = great. Covers = great. An hour of this shizzle? Even better.

Contrast Podcast 15: Beatles Covers (the podcast as one big mp3)

PLAYLIST
(00:00) Salad – It’s For You

Tim from the face of today

(04:11) Low – Nowhere Man

Scleem from Spleendid

(07:16) Sparks – I Want To Hold Your Hand

Paul from They Tell Us That We Lost Our Tails …

(10:59) Elliott Smith – Yer Blues (live)

Chad from Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands

(16:24) Nina Simone – Here Comes The Sun

Michael from The Yank Sizzler

(20:09) Laibach – Get Back

FiL from Pogoagogo

(25:12) U2 – Happiness As A Warm Gun

Taylor from Music For Kids Who Can’t Read Good

(30:11) Chris Eckman – Yellow Submarine

Merz from Mars Needs Guitars

(36:07) Mich̬le Arnaud РJe Croyais

ZB from So The Wind Won’t Blow It All Away

(39:03) Abra Moore – Blackbird (live)

Cindy from Adzuki Bean Stash

(43:55) Al Green – I Want To Hold Your Hand

Chris from Culture Bully

(46:17) LaSalle – While My Guitar Gently Weeps (live)

Bethanne from Clever Titles Are So Last Summer

(51:42) Marilyn Manson – Come Together (live)

Marcos from Mind Booster Noori

(57:27) The Chameleons – Tomorrow Never Knows

Colin from Let’s Kiss And Make Up

(01:04:17) Nada Surf – All You Need Is Love

Heather from I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS

(01:08:22) Cornershop – Norwegian Wood

Tom from Other People’s Toys

(01:11:37) The Fall – A Day In The Life

Jamie from The Run Out Groove

My thanks go out to Bruce at Some Velvet Blog for unearthing the little gem that I contributed to this bacchanalia.

Lemonheads new album release date & confirmed tracklisting

This just goes to show that all the best albums are, clearly, recorded in Colorado:

“THE LEMONHEADS SELF-TITLED DISC DUE OUT SEPTEMBER 26, 2006 (US)

The Lemonheads have just announced a September 26th, 2006 release date for the group’s first new album in almost 10 years. The self-titled disc will be released on Vagrant Records and was co-produced by Evan Dando and drummer Bill Stevenson (Descendents, Black Flag) and was recorded at Stevenson’s Blasting Room studios in Ft. Collins, CO earlier this year. Joining the two was bass player Karl Alvarez (Descendents) along with special guests Garth Hudson and J Mascis on select tracks.

The Lemonheads are planning a U.S. tour for the fall (!!!), but fans in the U.K. will get to see the band this month at the Lattitude Festival in Suffolk on July 14th and on July 16th at Somerset House in London. The current touring band includes Dando with Josh Lattanzi (bass) and John Kent (drums).”

Dando says of this new effort that it is “louder, faster, more like BUZZCOCKS pop-punk-and way less introspective” (which sounds great to me). When asked why he wanted to release a Lemonheads album, he told NME “I wanted to make a rock record, a melodic rock record. Also, I’m sick of selling solo T-shirts.”

The Lemonheads track listing:
Black Gown
Become The Enemy
Pittsburgh
Let’s Just Laugh
Poughkeepsie
Rule of Three
No Backbone (Smudge cover)
Baby’s Home
In Passing
Steve’s Boy
December

Well, I don’t have any of those new songs, not even live versions, so we can’t post that. However, as you can see, one of the songs on the new Lemonheads album is a cover of a Smudge tune, so I sought that out for you. And omigosh, this song was WRITTEN just to be sung by Evan Dando. It is fulfilling its tiny musical destiny by being on this new album (Smudge is fronted by vocalist/guitarist Tom Morgan who co-authored The Lemonheads ’92 album It’s A Shame About Ray, among other Lemonheads tunes). Take a listen:

No Backbone – Smudge

Now when the new album comes out, you can be like “Oh, do you want to hear the original Smudge song that they covered? I’ve got it here on my iPod.”

Monday Music Roundup

Oh, I could talk about the World Cup all day today, but you know already from the last post.

So instead I will chat about the cinema. Last weekend I saw The Break-Up with my sister (I know, I KNOW). I told her that she is the only one I would see it with and enjoy the experience. The movie itself was an odd combination of really FUNNY moments (mostly due to Vince Vaughn), melded with supremely nasty fighting that made me feel a bit uncomfortable and sad because they were being so mean to each other. I did, however, think I was going to die of laughter during this scene: “Come, come GARY on the kickdrum! That’s GARY! On the kickdrum. Come, come on the kickdrum!” Just watching it again gives me immeasurable joy.

“Slip Away” (Cars cover)
Sparkle*Jets UK
This collection of smaller indie bands covering Cars songs sought me out on MySpace, and I am glad they did! The disc, entitled Substitution Mass Confusion, slipped by me when it was released in 2004 (Not Lame Records). There’s a splendid variety of bands: Jon Auer, Butch Walker, Owsley, The Bravery, Gigolo Aunts and more – all covering those great Cars songs that you didn’t realize you knew until you start singing along.

“Sunday“
Sia
This cued up at the college radio station when I was visiting the other week, prompting me to ask “Do you guys play Beatles songs here?” One listen and I think you will see why – a winning combinations of rich woodwinds and a swanky female voice. From Sia‘s lovely Colour The Small One album (2006 in the US, Astralwerks). She is currently on tour with Zero 7 in Europe.

“Crash and Burn“
Gran Bel Fisher
I wasn’t sure about this song when it first started, it’s got sort of an early-’90s brit-pop/mature folk sound to the vocals and a rhythmic piano backing, but it blends into a supreme and uplifting pop song. Gran Bel Fisher has recently been opening some shows for Brandi Carlile, who you know I love, and I have heard he is magnetic live. From his mellifluous album Full Moon Cigarette; give it a listen.

“Brimful of Asha” (Cornershop)
Fatboy Slim
This song instantly transports me to my senior year of high school, with its catchy riff and Indian feel – one I had largely forgotten about. This remix from Brighton’s favorite son Fatboy Slim is from his new greatest hits collection, Why Try Harder (Astralwerks, June 2006). It’s nothing that will change the world, but it’s fun and great for a summer playlist.

“World Surrounded“
Sam Powers
Yep, I was apparently smoking crack when I posted earlier what I said was a Mic Harrison track. Because it SO wasn’t. I mislabeled. Let’s listen to “World Surrounded” by Sam Powers – that’s what I posted earlier today under a different title. So fix your labels if you already snagged it.

Three members of Superdrag — Sam Powers, John Davis, and Mic Harrison have all done the solo thing, and this lovely fuzzy pop song demo from Powers has the rough hallmarks of the unique, classy sound that made Superdrag great. I agree with this little blurb that says “the solo echoes what it might sound like if Jimmy Page was in The Replacements.” Sam played bass on Last Call For Vitriol, however, since this demo was posted in 2004, I cannot find ANYTHING online about what album this ended up on (hence no corresponding picture), or even Google “Sam Powers” without getting an Australian magician. Anyone know anything about what the actual Sam Powers in question has been up to?

This is one of the many ace related songs you can find in the downloads section of the Superdrag site. There’s also a good variety on eMusic. Superdrag’s a band I’ve been revisiting lately, and one that always makes my friends ask, “Hey, who IS that?”

And Zidane watches it all from the locker room

Sweet, sweet beauty. Ma che bella gioia! That was a fantastic, tense, magnificent game and I could seriously not be happier right now for my beloved adopted country. It’s like Noel Gallagher said, “The Italians need to win for Italian football.” And so they did — and I wish I was on the streets of Firenze celebrating.

I couldn’t believe that Zidane lacked the basic character and foresight (as the CAPTAIN of his team) to risk losing it all just to give a childish and hot-tempered headbutt. I thought that was unclassy and uncalled for, whatever Materazzi said to him. Have more respect for the game than that. The match might have ended differently with Zidane out there to kick for the penalties.

ADDENDUM 7/11: So I was a little too harsh on Zidane. I just read that he broke down in front of a Paris crowd yesterday – I am sure he feels awful enough. I was astonished when he did what he did, but I can also relate to how hot tensions can run during a stressful game like that, and how one can easily be pushed over the edge. Zidane just had the misfortune of having it be internationally broadcast in his moment of fracture.

Since I also completely LACK a song to post that precisely fits the occasion (who can send me some goods?), here is the closest I’ve got. Instead of singing “England 5, Germany 1” just yell loudly “Italy 5, France 3-in-penalty-kicks” over the chorus and you’ll be golden. From the album Hardcore Hooligan, appropriate for raucous celebrating, jumping around, breaking things, et al.

“England 5, Germany 1” – The Business

FORZA AZZURRI!

Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs (aka Sid & Susie) on NPR’s World Cafe

Ooh, I’ve been looking for this show. The day after their U.S. release of their fantastic little gem of an album stuffed full of ’60s covers (Under The Covers, Volume 1) Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs visited the WXPN studios in Philadelphia on 4/19/06 to discuss their collaborations as “Sid & Susie,” their song selections for this album, and how they met as Austin Powers’ backing band in the movie.

Mehndi-licious!

That was fabulously exotic fun, and the musical accompaniment was everything I had hoped for. Now I gotta check out the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai soundtrack, which was playing in the background.

Bombay the Hard Way

So, tonight I am going to get me a little culture.

My friend (of the past 15+ years) Saira, who posesses THE BEST LAUGH/CACKLE in the known universe, is getting married tomorrow night. Tonight, in the Indian tradition, she is celebrating her mehndi, the girls-only henna painting fest. My white-girl self can barely contain the excitement at the exotic prospects.

Now, for all I know this may be a rather serious occasion, but if I were the DJ tonight, we would be listening to Bombay The Hard Way. Aside from having the best name of any CD ever recorded (I was meant to write about this from the moment a friend first slipped “Ganges A GoGo” onto a driving mix CD for me), it is fun fun music with a colorful edge.

It sounds like a rather bizzare concept: DJ Shadow and Dan The Automator (of Handsome Boy Modeling School fame) decided to take selections from early ’70s Indian/”Bollywood” b-movie crime thrillers, intersperse them with random dialogue from the films, dub in some updated trip-hop beats, additional sitars, and come up with something altogether fresh and –if I do say so myself– party ready. The new titles assigned to the songs (originally written and orchestrated by noted soundtrack composers Anandji and Kalyanji Shah) are a riot.

There’s a warning that easily angered purists should steer clear, but I am obviously not one of those so for me this is just grand. Take a listen and you might be surprised how much fun those Bollywood folks are having.

Ganges A GoGo (surprisingly retro-surf sound)

Punjabis, Pimps, and Players (low-key atmospheric music)

Inspector Jay from Delhi (oh, just quirky enough to be cool)

Buy the CD on Amazon
(there’s also a Volume II with even better song titles like “Sexy Mother Fakir”)

I’m ready to be painted!

Okay, go dance

You know I love the unabashed power pop-rock, the intelligently clever lyrics, and the infectious handclapping goodness of OK Go. If you haven’t seen their dance video for “A Million Ways,” you can zip over to this post and click on the picture.

Then read about this contest, which you can take part in if you’ve ever had the hankering to do the dance yourself (or have some pep squad experience in your past). Me? I think dancing on a stage in front of thousands is a bit outside my comfort zone, unless you gave me a LOT to drink. Then I’d be really good at it.
_____________________________________________

You’ve seen OK Go dance. Now OK Go wants you to return the favor.

Record a video cover version of the OK Go dance from their insanely popular “A Million Ways” video and you could win a paid trip (hotel and airfare) to an OK Go headlining show, where you’ll get to dance on stage with the band.

To Enter:
1) Make your video.
2) Upload it to the YouTube group.
3) Go to http://hornblowgroup.com/contest and fill out the entry form.
4) Cross your fingers.

The winning group will be chosen by OK Go, but they’re easily swayed by lots of comments and high rankings, so go crazy. Email and post the pants off it. All entries must be received by July 30th, 2006. *Contest is open to everyone, but airfare is limited to the continental United States. If you can get yourself to the contiguous US, you’re welcome to enter. Questions to Contest@okgo.net

Unreleased Jesse Malin song: “Fallen Angel”

An astute reader sent me a heads-up that Jesse Malin (warbling NYC singer-songwriter-rocker, former frontman for D Generation, longtime pal to Ryan Adams) has posted a previously unreleased song on his MySpace, recorded for The Fine Art of Self-Destruction sessions. Malin combines his fragile and aching voice with a plaintive melody here which builds into a stellar chorus – did I see Ryan Adams and Jesse sing this together in San Francisco in April? Who remembers what they duetted on? It sounded instantly familiar when I heard this warm song with a hint of lonesome country sensibilities.

Fallen Angel – Jesse Malin

Both Jesse’s The Heat album (2004) and The Fine Art of Self-Destruction (2003) are available on eMusic.

“Monday” Music Roundup, holiday edition

I did have something else in mind for the Monday Music Roundup this week, but had a flash of inspiration while I was doing a 4-mile run this morning for the 4th of July (yeah, towards the end of the fourth mile I was wishing the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 3rd, or even 2nd for that matter). This being American Independence Day, I wanted to post a few songs that, for no specific reason, evoke America for me. Some of these are loose associations, but I think you’ll enjoy.

“American Pie“
Don McLean
When I was a kid and discovered this song, it all seemed SO epic, SO meaningful to me, recreating in song a world which I knew nothing about. I instantly had to learn every single word so I could sing along (still can). In a way, it is epic – collecting memories from an American childhood in the ’50s, and how that innocence was interrupted on “The Day The Music Died,” (when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens died in a plane crash). It’s a fabulous collections of some of the moments that make us what we are.

“We Didn’t Start The Fire“
Billy Joel
Ditto with Billy Joel seeming terribly meaningful in this song to my ten-year-old self as Joel tries to encapsulate 50 years of world history in one passionate song (although a bit enigmatic: I still don’t know, exactly, what “the fire” is). I can remember singing along passionately “ROCK AND ROLL, COLA WARS, I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE!!” This is serious stuff. It’s like a history lesson set to music. This version from the new 12 Gardens Live CD.

“American Boy“
Chris Isaak
“I’m the original American boy,” Isaak croons in this charmer bit of retro Americana rock. Isaak is fun because he doesn’t take himself too seriously, as anyone who has seen him in concert can attest to. He is a holdover of the days of American ’50s and ’60s rock, a la Roy Orbison or even a bit of Elvis. He embodies a lost musical era in the present day with suavity and panache. From 2002’s Always Got Tonight.

“Jack & Diane“
John Mellencamp
Little ditty, ’bout Jack & Diane . . . two American kids growin’ up in the heartland. And thus begins another classic, epic piece of modern American rock epitomization of life as a teenager in the USA. I love the handclaps and the lyrics of nostalgia, with that guitar riff just makes me feel like I understand the world he is trying to capture. “So let it rock, let it roll . . .”

“American Life in the Summertime“
Francis Dunnery
I have no idea how this came into my collection, but as hokey as it is, it is also lighthearted and upbeat, and you’ve gotta love the chorus: “Let’s go drink ’til the beer runs dry (American life in the summertime) . . . You know the girl you want is such a waste of time (American life in the summertime).” Excellent summertime anthem when you don’t need to take yourself so seriously.

“The Star-Spangled Banner“
Sufjan Stevens
But of course, when you do want to get a little more serious and introspective, Sufjan Stevens is your man. Heralding a new brand of patriotic music, Sufjan combines gentle guitar plucking, the lyrics we all know and love about our flag, and some new lines about Jesus on the cross, just in keeping with his tendency towards religious themes. It’s the new 4th of July favorite. This live version from his 7/29/05 show at the Bluebird here in Colorado.

Two other excellent Independence Day music posts can be found here and here. And “American Girls“ by Homie can also go on your playlist for today.

Oh, and what a shocker of a World Cup weekend we just had! England, out!? Brazil, out!? My poor predicting causes my downfall as well, I’m down in 5th place. *sigh* But don’t feel sorry for me. Feel sad for the weeping Englishmen. That was heartbreaking! I am in the middle of trying to watch the Italy vs. Germany match today while simultaneously madly preparing for the huge BBQ here tonight (I went a little nuts on eVite and invited, like, everyone). Forza Italia!