Two years of Cover Freak. It just blows my tiny little mind to think of it. It’s been way more fun than I could have hoped for. Somebody even asked me to contribute to their book after reading the blog. Thanks to all of the folks who have sent me so much cool music over the last two years, especially Uncle Flakey, Mister Squid, and George Blowfish.
It’s a tall order to look back over the 260 songs I’ve posted over the past year and pick the ten best. Fortunately several readers let me know what they’ve enjoyed most. Thanks to those folks for their input and thanks to all of you for taking the time to read my little blog and to listen to the songs.
And if you’re digging the music and/or the blog in general feel free to click on the Make A Donation button at the top right corner of the page. The blog will keep going whether you contribute or not, but you’ll build up good karma if you help defray the cost of the blog. And I promise I won’t mention this again for another year.
Something For Kate “Genie In A Bottle” (Christina Aguilera)
I try very hard to ignore the tabloid train wreck skeezy pop tarts that are foisted on an innocent public by the entertainment industry. The thing is, they often have talented songwriters working for them. It usually takes a cover like this one to really put one of those artists on my radar.
Palomar “I’ll Come Running” (Brian Eno)
Brian Eno has written so much insanely dull “ambient” music that his skills as a pop songwriter are all too often overlooked. This joyous power-pop rendition helps even the score.
Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel “Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps” (Doris Day)
This song was Doris Day’s attempt to craft a hipper image after all those white-bread movies with Rock Hudson. But she never rocked like Anna Fermin.
The Zig Zag People “Little Bit Of Soul” (Music Explosion)
I was just blown away when I discovered this album. The Zig Zag People took a collection of bubblegum hits and remade them as acid rock freakouts. All the songs are so good that it was hard to pick just one to post.
Tricky “Love Cats” (The Cure)
If only the Cure could manage to sound this slinky and sensuous I might be able to stand to listen to them.
Brødrene Lövenstjerne “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Prince)
This is from a Norwegian Prince tribute album. After it came out the record label sent a copy to Prince and he responded by suing them for not paying him royalties on it. So of course I just had to buy me a copy while it was still available. And let me tell you, Google Translate is your friend when you’re attempting to do e-commerce in Norwegian.
Moonshine Willy “Don’t You Want Me” (Human League)
Moonshine Willy was one of the first acts signed by Bloodshot Records. Just one more reason they’re one of my favorite record labels. The band is gone but thankfully they left this cover behind.
Jon Langford and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts “Delilah” (Tom Jones)
I recently saw Jon Langford at my favorite dive bar performing with a very large Welsh men’s choir. When they did this song it was a grand singalong that had everybody swaying along as they waved their beers in the air. This version has a great arrangement with a barroom piano and fiddle.
Glass Eye “Minnie The Moocher” (Cab Calloway)
This is another one of those songs that has ten thousand covers. This minimalist guitar and drum version is a refreshing change from most of those other covers.
Petty Booka “Material Girl” (Madonna)
A ukulele cover of a Madonna song is cool enough, but when the ukes are played by two adorably cute Japanese women you’ve really got something special. I wasn’t sure if they sang their songs phonetically like Shonen Knife until I tried to talk to them after a show. They were gracious and charming even if they couldn’t understand a word I was saying.