Delayed Gratification: Hang The DJ, the “alternative book of music lists” that I contributed to, is now available in the U.S. Amazon can’t get it to you by Christmas, but buy several copies anyway. There’s a lot of funny and thought-provoking stuff in there. And then there’s the list I wrote.

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I first experienced independent living during the 80s. I went off to college and then got my first real job and apartment and started to make my way in the world. I spent a good portion of that decade under the influence of one substance or another, falling in and out of love, and eating ramen noodles. Those were some good times and I have fond memories of things that happened then. But by and large I don’t miss the popular music of the 80s. But leave it to the legions of cover artists out there to make some of that horrible corporate dreck listenable again.

The Meat Purveyors “Beautiful World” (Devo)
They said that they had broken up forever but the Meat Purveyors are back with a new EP, making our world more beautiful with this cover that features mandolins and accordions. I don’t consider Devo to be horrible corporate dreck, of course. They were a bit too far out there for me at first. It took me most of the 80s to warm up to them.

Ariel Aparicio “Pretty In Pink” (Psychedelic Furs)
When the Furs came to play at my college their record label gave the student radio station I worked at a bunch of promotional crap. We invited our listeners to the station to “act psychedelic,” whatever that meant, for the chance to win said crap and a couple of tickets to the show. That is to this day one of the lamest radio station promotions I’ve ever seen.

Ariel Aparacio owns two restaurants in Brooklyn and still had enough free time to record an album. You can find out more about him at his web site.

The Social Services “The Final Countdown” (Europe)
I have another version of this song played by a guy who lashed together a ukulele, a kazoo, and a toy piano. But I prefer this swooning piano ballad rendition of the screeching overwrought hair-metal classic. The trumpet is really nice on this one.

Nouvelle Vague “Just Can’t Get Enough” (Depeche Mode)
Future generations may never forgive 80s musicians, what with all that hairspray depleting the ozone layer and all that fossil fuel wasted generating energy to run cheesy synthesizers and drum machines. But this cool bossa nova treatment might make them a bit more sympathetic.

Uncle Earl “Canary In A Coal Mine” (The Police)
There are more bluegrass covers of Police and Sting songs out there than you might think and they’re almost all quite good. There’s something about bluegrass players that enables them to make Sting’s songs sound not lame. Scientists are currently working to harness that amazing power for use as either a source of renewable clean energy or a horrible doomsday weapon. They haven’t made up their minds yet which it will be.

Special thanks to Uncle Flakey for sending this one my way.