Covers Aught-Five. I've started to think about the daily theme for these entries when I go to bed, and who knows how long this will continue. However, fueled by the acquision of Gold Sounds, the jazz album of Pavement covers as interpreted by James Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Ali Jackson and Reginald Veal, last night, I bring you a few of my favorite covered (and cover-ish -- I guess doing a standard isn't really a cover, but...) songs from 2005.
Gold Sounds (Carter, Chestnut, Jackson & Veal) -- Cut Yr Hair.
The entire album is fantastic, but this is still the standout track. Maybe that's because it's the only Pavement song that I really like. Featuring James Carter on sax, Cyrus Chestnut on keys, Ali Jackson on drums, and Reginald Veal on bass, they take indie dude-rock to dizzying heights of unparalleled joy.
Ted Leo + Pharmacists -- I'm Looking Through You
Last night, related to yesterday's entry, I came up with the analogy that in the indie rock world Ben Gibbard:Paul McCartney::Britt Daniel:John Lennon. And yet -- my favorite intellectual punk, Ted Leo, manages to embody the best qualities of both Beatles here. Taken from This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to The Beatles' Rubber Soul, which includes tracks from Nellie McKay, Ben Lee, Low, Sufjan Stevens and The Fiery Furnaces.
Okkervil River -- Black Sheep Boy
Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff channels Tim Hardin, joining the venerable company of Wilson Phillips and Rod Stewart. Oh, I kid, I kid. This is the lead track and thematic lynchpin for one of the best albums of 2005. Okkervil River, a long time favorite, is finally coming into their own. I expect even bigger and better things from these fellows in the future.
Bette Midler -- Is That All There Is?
Remember how when The Divine Miss M covered Ben Folds' "Boxing," and we realized a) that she was still a hell of a song stylist, and b) that Ben Folds was seriously one hell of a songwriter? Well, she kind of even blows that out of the water here. The world-weary Bette has seen it all, and she lets you know that with just a sardonic twirl of her still-golden voice. From her excellent album of standards from the Rosemary Clooney songbook.
Nouvelle Vague -- Friday Night, Saturday Morning (feat. Daniella D'Ambrosio)
Speaking of world-weary, Daniella D'Ambrosio, one of the jeunes chanteuses of the Nouvelle Vague project (New Wave hits as interpreted by French, American, and Canadian vocalists in the bossa nova and Yé-yé style, masterminded by producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux) brings new levels of ennui to The Specials' hymn of weekend depravity.
(to-buy links forthcoming; I need to go do some real work, for the money, now.)
Gold Sounds (Carter, Chestnut, Jackson & Veal) -- Cut Yr Hair.
The entire album is fantastic, but this is still the standout track. Maybe that's because it's the only Pavement song that I really like. Featuring James Carter on sax, Cyrus Chestnut on keys, Ali Jackson on drums, and Reginald Veal on bass, they take indie dude-rock to dizzying heights of unparalleled joy.
Ted Leo + Pharmacists -- I'm Looking Through You
Last night, related to yesterday's entry, I came up with the analogy that in the indie rock world Ben Gibbard:Paul McCartney::Britt Daniel:John Lennon. And yet -- my favorite intellectual punk, Ted Leo, manages to embody the best qualities of both Beatles here. Taken from This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to The Beatles' Rubber Soul, which includes tracks from Nellie McKay, Ben Lee, Low, Sufjan Stevens and The Fiery Furnaces.
Okkervil River -- Black Sheep Boy
Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff channels Tim Hardin, joining the venerable company of Wilson Phillips and Rod Stewart. Oh, I kid, I kid. This is the lead track and thematic lynchpin for one of the best albums of 2005. Okkervil River, a long time favorite, is finally coming into their own. I expect even bigger and better things from these fellows in the future.
Bette Midler -- Is That All There Is?
Remember how when The Divine Miss M covered Ben Folds' "Boxing," and we realized a) that she was still a hell of a song stylist, and b) that Ben Folds was seriously one hell of a songwriter? Well, she kind of even blows that out of the water here. The world-weary Bette has seen it all, and she lets you know that with just a sardonic twirl of her still-golden voice. From her excellent album of standards from the Rosemary Clooney songbook.
Nouvelle Vague -- Friday Night, Saturday Morning (feat. Daniella D'Ambrosio)
Speaking of world-weary, Daniella D'Ambrosio, one of the jeunes chanteuses of the Nouvelle Vague project (New Wave hits as interpreted by French, American, and Canadian vocalists in the bossa nova and Yé-yé style, masterminded by producers Marc Collin and Olivier Libaux) brings new levels of ennui to The Specials' hymn of weekend depravity.
(to-buy links forthcoming; I need to go do some real work, for the money, now.)
posted by cindy hotpoint at 10:56:00 AM
2 Comments:
Keep up the good work, Jake! I'm looking forward to more releases from your label!
thanks for the midler addition. i'm glad she did the clooney songbook, and although a 180-turn, this reverie in song reminds me of the covers she did wayback in 1972 on the divine miss m, especially am i blue, though all the attention went to her hyperactive rendition of the andrews sisters' boogie woogie bugle boy.
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