Covers Project Vol. X

Awright, here we go for the tenth time. Some of the best songs ever written, some of the worst, and all of them made awesome by bands that grabbed something familiar and made it their own. Or something like that. There's usually two ways a band can go with a cover. One is to play it close to the original, and the other is to re-invent the song into something entirely different. In either strategy, I tend to prefer the ones that maintain the melody. Those hooks were put there for a reason, people - mess with 'em at your peril. 

Twelve of these twenty-two songs come from the '70s, which is still the great goldmine of classic bubblegum pop. Of course, that might be a declaration made by my own prejudice and preference - but, let's face it, something like the Sweet's "Little Willy" couldn't have existed in any other decade. It's equal parts hook-riddled genius and cloyingly saccharine; you just know the hippies of the 60s would've shunned it with the same fervor as the noo wave disco mavens of the 80s would have banned it from the VIP room. In one sense, the same could be said about every tune included here, regardless of era: it's all so cool it ain't cool no mo', which only makes it cooler. Or, y'know, something like that.

Someday You'll Remember Me

1. Tsar Pool Party (The Olsen Twins)
2. Needles//Pins Picture My Face (Teenage Head)
3. Rocket Rocket (Mud)
4. Bamboo Kids Jet Boy, Jet Girl (Elton Motello, by way of Plastic Bertrand)
5. Howler Up the Bracket (Libertines)
6. Best Coest Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac)
7. London Calling Just Got Back (Cheap Trick)
8. Nushu My Best Friend's Girl (The Cars)
9. Tina & the Total Babes Tell That Girl To Shut Up (Holly & the Italians)
10. Kasey Anderson & the Honkies Save It For Later (English Beat)
11. Warm Soda Waiting For The Man (Velvet Underground)
12. DM3 Sweet Hitch-Hiker (Credence Clearwater Revival)
13. Material Issue Little Willy (The Sweet)
14. Imperial State Electric I Don't Know What I Want (Raspberries)
15. Yesterday's Kids Tired of Waking Up Tired (Diodes)
16. Ko & the Knockouts If I (Nolan Strong & the Diablos)
17. Superchunk Cruel Summer (Bananarama)
18. Boys School S.O.S. (Abba)
19. The Connection Yeah Yeah (Ramones)
20. The Dollyrots Dream Lover (Bobby Darin)
21. Bayside Oliver's Army (Elvis Costello)
22. Ash Teenage Wildlife (David Bowie)

Faves of 2013 (Vol. 1)

Spring has sprung, which means I'm a little overdue for the first faves mix of the year. But never fear, good things come to those who wait (usually in the form of a 20% gratuity).

The first four months of 2013 have produced some outstanding music. Too much for a single mix, in fack, which means a) there's already a fine chunk of Volume 2 primed for posting, and b) this one is chockful of greatness. Among the new(-ish) finds you may note the reappearance of some of my longtime obsessions (for example, I'll be pushing the Yum Yums, Zachary James, and the Biters until they all become as hugely popular as they deserve), as well as new ones by 80s faves the Del-Lords and the Grapes of Wrath. There's also a bonus track, hidden more out of my paranoia of major label assholeishness than any sense of added value.

Let the sun shine in. And remember: SPF 30 or above is not sunscreen, it's a shirt.

The Bands I Like They Don't Sell A Lot Of Records

1. Slam Dunk Dying Breed
2. Purling Hiss Rat Race
3. The Yum Yums I Like Good Music
4. Biters So Many Nights
5. Night Marchers Big in Germany
6. Warm Soda Jeanie Loves Pop
7. Two Hours Traffic Ready For a Look
8. The Postelles Caught By Surprise
9. Grapes of Wrath Good To See You
10. Polly Put a Little English On It
11. Bed Wettin' Bad Boys Sally
12. Red Jacket Mine Someone Else's Cake
13. The Del-Lords When the Drugs Kick In
14. Sugar Sugaar Stoned
15. Dirty Fences King's Cross
16. Dick Diver Alice
17. Mount Mariah Bright Light
18. Matt Costa Shotgun
19. Har Mar Superstar Lady, You Shot Me
20. The Virgins Prima Materia
21. Zachary James & the All Seeing Eyes Runnin' Outta Tyme

Re-Ups

Okay, so now that Mediafire has become virtually useless, I'll have to slowly start migrating almost all my files elsewhere. Here's the first few:

Faves of 2012 (Vol. 3)

Faves of 2012 (Vol. 2)

Summer 2012

Suck it, Mediafire.

2012 Orphan Mix

Too much of a good thing, y'all. Sometimes there's just too much goodness for a single sitting. 2012 was like that for music, so I figured I'd make a mix of all the great stuff I didn't get around to including last year. This mix may seem a tad schizo, eclectically darting around between a late night vibe, some cool R&B grooves, and upbeat power pop, but overall it finds a mood all its own.

I've included a couple songs from 2013  (James Hunter Six and Lady, both of which are orphaned from the upcoming first volume of Faves of 2013) and, randomly, one from 2004 ("Satisfied Fool" by the awesome Nathaniel Mayer, which is included simply because I've been obsessing over it recently). Everything else is 2012 and deserving of ears and money.

And a note of thanks to Mr. Rick Laferriere, who turned me on to a whole swack of great stuff (most notably the band Games and, specifically to this mix, Chains of Love and the Deer Tick track).

Chow down.

I Could Open Up A Bakery

1. Lady Tell The Truth
2. Mark Crozer & the Rels Put Those 80s Records On
3. Chains of Love In Between
4. Low Cut Connie Boozophilia
5. Beth Hart Swing My Thing Back Around
6. Sean Hayes Bam Bam
7. Electric Guest The Bait
8. Kelly Hogan Pass On By
9. Miss Li You Could Have It (So Much Better Without Me)
10. Amy Stroup & Trent Dabbs I Think I Said Too Much
11. Successful Failures Mickey Mantle's Knees
12. Alexandra Starlight Without My Sunshine
13. James Hunter Six Look Out
14. Eli Paperboy Reed w/ the Pepperpots There Ain't No Man That Can't Be Caught
15. Deer Tick Born at Zero
16. Nathaniel Mayer Satisfied Fool
17. Night Moves Colored Emotions
18. Two Wounded Birds I'm No Saviour
19. The Jazz Butcher Shame About You
20. The Heavy Curse Me Good

Best of 2012

Another year down the tubes and, in the case of 2012, I say good riddance to bad mojo. Personally speaking, it was a nasty dickish suminabitch to get through (career-wise, anyway) and I'm happy to have it in the rearview mirror. Musically speaking, however, it was pretty damn awesome. A whole fleet of new bands appeared to give hope for the future, and a number of old faves reappeared as well.

The Un-Herd wheelhouse was particularly well-served in 2012. So much so, in fact, that a simple Top 30 can't contain all the albums that deserve end-of-the-year attention, so I've also made a non-ranked list of honorable mentions - and in the weeks ahead I'll try to write up reviews of as many of these great albums as possible. Thanks, as always, to the bands and artists - and if you find something you like, please support 'em! I'll offer purchasing options at the end of each review.


The Un-Herd Music Top 30 of 2012

1. Foxy Shazam - The Church of Rock and Roll

Exploding with ideas, strafing hooks and demented debauchery in every direction, this album made good on the band's unbelievable live show. Full review

2. My Jerusalem - Preachers

A new kind of cosmic American music, incorporating strains of 80s goth and 90s alt.rock along with the more expected folk and Americana. Full review

3. Ian Hunter & the Rant Band - When I'm President

The one elder statesman who truly delivered. Profound, pissed-off, and still tapped into the rock 'n' roll source. Full review

3. Pilgrims - It's Not Pretty

Desperate in the best way, it sounds like it took as long to record as it took the band to run through a first take, and at the same time it sounds like a buncha guys putting it all on the line, reaching for the moon and stars, and taking a shot at greatness. Full Review

 5. Needles//Pins - 12:34

The brittle concision of Pink Flag meets the pure pop instincts of Singles Going Steady. Garage trash that hits the sweet spot. Full review

6. Nick Waterhouse - Time's All Gone

Nick Waterhouse starts with a foundation of 50s rock ‘n’ roll and rhythm ‘n’ blues, tosses in some soul and a modern eye to cool, and comes up with something that struts more than it rocks. Full review

 7. Devin - Romancing

A collection of fairly straightforward and conventional rock & roll, distinguished by the excellence of the songwriting and Devin's impossible rasp.

8. Salim Nourallah - Hit Parade

Nourallah knows his way around the Beatles-esque hook, no doubt, but he also knows how to play against that hook with surprising arrangement touches. The end result is power pop that transcends its own genre. Full review

 9. Archie Powell & the Exports - Great Ideas in Action

Brainy powerchord pop with hooks that dig a little deeper every play. Archie Powell may not challenge the poppunkrockwhatever paradigm in any meaningful way, but he does manage to inject these songs with his unerring sense of dynamics. Full review

 10. Blackfoot Gypsies - On the Loose

Whenever someone rhymes "baby" with "don't mean maybe" you know they're not trying to challenge tradition, which is just as well here because these guys sound a whole lot like ’65 Dylan fronting ’65 Stones. Some things you can't improve on. Full review





11. Chris Devotion & the Expectations - Amalgamation & Capital
12. Erin Costelo - We Can Get Over Full review
13. Budokan - Spin a Little Gold
14. Nude Beach - II Full review
15. Hacienda - Shakedown
16. Wanderlust - Record Time Full review
17. Oh Mercy - Deep Heat Full review
18. Waves of Fury - Thirst Full review
19. Yukon Blonde - Tiger Talk Full review
20. The White Wires - WWIII

21. Electric Guest Mondo
22. Shovels and Rope O Be Joyful
23. Caroline & the Treats Saturday Night Rock & Roll
24. New Electric Sound New Electric Sound
25. Justin Townes Earle Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now
26. Divine Fits A Thing Called Divine Fits
27. The Walkmen Heaven
28. AC Newman Shut Down The Streets
29. Diamond Dogs Set Fire To It All
30. The Connection Connection Collection

 Honorable Mentions:

Spencer P. Jones Spencer P. Jones & the Nothing Butts
The Breakups Running Jumping Falling Shouting
Various Cruelties Various Cruelties
One Like Son Start the Show
Kid Koala 8 Bit Blues
Kurt Baker Brand New Beat
Tim Rogers Rogers Sings Rogerstein
Two Wounded Birds Two Wounded Birds
Alabama Shakes Boys and Girls
Steve Adamyk Band Forever Won't Wait
Crusaders of Love Take It Easy... But Take It
Howler America Give Up
Bare Wires Idle Dreams
OBN IIIs OBN IIIs
Prima Donna Bless This Mess
Chuck Prophet Temple Beautiful
Natural Child For The Love of the Game
Honeymoon Stallions Honeymoon Stallions
Stag Chameleon
Jimmy Cliff Rebirth
Successful Failures Here I Am
The Undecided by Default Totally Undecided
Lissy Trullie Lissy Trullie
The Living Deadbeats Living Deadbeats
Throwback Suburbia Shot Glass Souvenir
Chelle Rose Ghost of Browder Holler

 EPs:

Tsar The Dark Stuff
The Sharks Leave Me Alone/ Pop! Punk!/ Good Ecstasy/ Burn London Down
The Van Buren Boys Hit It Quick
Eli "Paperboy" Reed Meets The Pepperpots Time and Place
The Dahlmanns Dumb Me Down
Dum Dum Girls End of Daze

And, finally, here's a mix of the top 20. I've thrown in a couple extra tracks from #s 21-30 as well.

There Was A Time When I Used To Care 

1. Foxy Shazam Holy Touch
2. My Jerusalem Preachers
3. Ian Hunter When I'm President
4. Pilgrims Snow Storm
5. Needles//Pins I Heart Your Drugs
6. Nick Waterhouse I Can Only Give You Everything
7. Devin You're Mine
8. Salim Nourallah Everybody Knows
9. Archie Powell & the Exports I Need Supervision
10. Blackfoot Gypsies Been Down This Road
11. Chris Devotion & the Expectations The Girl Is Leaving
12. Erin Costelo Let It Go
13. Budokan You Don't Stop Lovin' The Band
14. Nude Beach The Endless Night
15. Hacienda Don't Keep Me Waiting
16. Wanderlust Lou Reed
17. Oh Mercy Drums
18. Waves of Fury I Don't Know What To Make of Your Fucked-Up Friends
19. Yukon Blonde Oregon Shores
20. The White Wires Down on My Own
21. Shovels and Rope O' Be Joyful
22. Electric Guest This Head I Hold
23. New Electric Sound What If I Disappear
24. The Sharks Bye Bye Baby

Un-Herd Christmas 2012

I never expected these mixes to become an annual event, seeing as I'm generally a foot soldier on the front lines waging the War on Xmas™ (thanks Fox News), but the truth of it is I'm grateful for almost any yuletide music that takes me away from the execrable traditional tunage that assaults us from every angle once the last Thanksgiving turkey gets slaughtered on the altar of rising cholesterol levels.

Which means I've found another hour + of seasonal music that's actually worth listening to - all with an overt Christmas theme (if a sometimes less than rosy attitude towards such). So turn it up, make the kids and grandfolks cry, and good luck getting through these dark, noxious few weeks of forced sentimentality. Just remember: all good Christians will be back to cheering the execution of retarded prisoners, denying science, and assassinating doctors once January comes around.

Nobody's Supposed to be Happy - It's Christmas

1. The Barbecuties (It's Gonna Be a) Rock & Roll Christmas Party
2. The JAC Merry Christmas (Around the World)
3. Diamond Dogs Sweethearts for Christmas
4. Gruff Rhys Post Apocalypse Christmas
5. Cirrone Christmas Sun
6. My Marning Jocket Please Come Home For Xmas
7. The Genuine Fakes All I Want For Christmas
8. Roman Candle It's Christmas, Go On and Say Hello
9. Psychotic Youth Another Christmas
10. The Villas Little St. Nick
11. The Fleshtones Hooray For Santa Claus
12. The Sonics Santa Claus
13. Needles//Pins Armenian Christmas
14. The Yule Logs Christmas Lights
15. Randy Bochman Takin' Care of Christmas
16. John Moreland & the Dust Bowl Souls Christmas Lights
17. Mondo Diao Christmas Could Have Been Good
18. Joey Ramone Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)
19. Blue Skies For Black Hearts Maybe Next Christmas
20. Pat Todd & the RankOutsiders Christmas Day

Faves of 2012 (Vol. 3)

Life, huh? Mofuggah has a way of getting in the way of one's most honorable intentions (let alone the obsessive pursuit of compiling music mixes for no discernible reward), but also has a way of evening things out. Crunchy with the smooth 'n' all.

This has been another great year for music of the un-herd variety. Special shout-out to the Pilgrims, who showed up out of nowhere with an album so good it made me compare it to no less a legend than the Replacements. More ups, props, and whut-whuts to Mott the Hoople's Ian Hunter, who returned with what might be his best album since the 70s, and Tsar, who rose from the dead after a 6 year absence with their hyper-melodic brand of power pop/punk perfectly intact. And the rest compiled here - My Jerusalem, The New Electric Sound, Tim Rogers (You Am I's mainman), Divine Fits (Spoon's Britt Daniel with guys from Wolf Parade and New Bomb Turks), AC Newman (on a break from New Pornographers, with help from Neko Case), Rooni (aka Gustav Nilsson, and not to be confused with slick LA popsters Rooney), the Honeymoon Stallions (Sun King's Andy Goldberg's new band), Hot Freak Nation, OBN IIIs, Chelle Rose... well, hell, all of them - are making a strong case to show up on the upcoming Best-of-2012 list. That's the crunchy and the smooth. 'N all.

I'm Just Talkin' 'Bout Your Mama

1. Rooni Run (Into My Arms)
2. Ian Hunter Comfortable (Flying Scotsman)
3. Tsar Police Station
4. Lissy Trullie You Bleed You
5. Thee Attacks Stab
6. The Dirty Guv'nahs Good Luck Charm
7. The New Electric Sound Boston Shuffle
8. AC Newman Encyclopedia of Classic Takedowns
9. The Dollyrots Hyperactive
10. Tim Rogers One O' The Girls
11. Divine Fits Like Ice Cream
12. The Honeymoon Stallions It Never Ends
13. Dan Miraldi The Runaround
14. The Pilgrims American Eyes
15. Bare Wires Starting To See
16. My Jerusalem Oh Little Sister
17. The Whigs Waiting
18. Hot Freak Nation Never Coming Home
19. The Peacocks Need a Break
20. Chelle Rose Alimony
21. Cowbell Hanging By A Thread
22. OBN IIIs So What If We Die
23. Jim Jones Revue 7 Times Around the Sun
24. Titus Andronicus (I Am The) Electric Man