Post by Cali on Nov 14, 2012 4:49:21 GMT 1
Cover songs are a tricky business, especially when I listen to them. I either really appreciate one or hate its guts, all depending on so and so. For instance, I hate a cover that's too different from its source material (Bowling for Soup's cover of 'I Ran') and I find one that's nearly a carbon copy of the original kinda boring (4 Non Blonde's cover of 'Misty Mountain Hop'). I also hate it when the artist who covered it doesn't really give a shit what the lyrics were actually about (Linsay Lohan's cover of 'Edge of Seventeen'). I also dislike slow acoustic covers of songs that truly rock (Eric Clapton's acoustic cover of 'Layla' was just lame, sorry).
So yeah. The stakes are high when it comes to uncle Cali's preferences for cover songs. So let's get to what qualifies for mine, shall we?
The first was one that I just knew would be good, because Led Zeppelin's 'Communication Breakdown' just seems perfect for a band like Iron Maiden to do a version of. The guitars are a bit more pounding, the overall volume is a bit louder, and Bruce Dickinson's voice has just precious enough rasp to sound distinctive from Robert Plant. Pretty damned good.
What's this? Chris Cornell's former band making a super-rockin' cover of an equally rockin' Black Sabbath track? Yeah, it happens, and it's nearly impossible to not bang your head in to the not-too-slow, not-too-fast tempo of the primary guitar riff. Another great thing is that the lyrics were changed slightly to fit, and it totally works.
A fantastic cover of the ultimate countryside roadtrip song. Perry Farrel's lovely and reasonably high voice, as well as the trippy guitar tuning that comes somewhat early in the song definitely is a pleaser for yours truly, and even the big man Jerry Garcia himself, who said it was his favorite cover song of his work.
This Devo cover of a much loved classic Rolling Stones track was something I started out really hating, but for some reason really grew on me. After hearing a second or third time I started appreciating it for what it truly was; a Devo cover of a Stones song. And I really can't put my finger on it, but I can just say with confidence, it really works.
I really feel bad for admitting I had not heard of Joy Division until I heard this cover by Nine Inch Nails. Been a fan ever since, naturally, and this cover is still one of my favorites.
Speaking of Nine Inch Nails, there is absolutely no way to close this opening post without putting Johnny Cash's cover of their song 'Hurt'. Mother of God, Trent Reznor himself said that he would never play this song again because he truly thought it was now Johnny's song now, and I'm not gonna lie, it kinda is.
So yeah. The stakes are high when it comes to uncle Cali's preferences for cover songs. So let's get to what qualifies for mine, shall we?
The first was one that I just knew would be good, because Led Zeppelin's 'Communication Breakdown' just seems perfect for a band like Iron Maiden to do a version of. The guitars are a bit more pounding, the overall volume is a bit louder, and Bruce Dickinson's voice has just precious enough rasp to sound distinctive from Robert Plant. Pretty damned good.
What's this? Chris Cornell's former band making a super-rockin' cover of an equally rockin' Black Sabbath track? Yeah, it happens, and it's nearly impossible to not bang your head in to the not-too-slow, not-too-fast tempo of the primary guitar riff. Another great thing is that the lyrics were changed slightly to fit, and it totally works.
A fantastic cover of the ultimate countryside roadtrip song. Perry Farrel's lovely and reasonably high voice, as well as the trippy guitar tuning that comes somewhat early in the song definitely is a pleaser for yours truly, and even the big man Jerry Garcia himself, who said it was his favorite cover song of his work.
This Devo cover of a much loved classic Rolling Stones track was something I started out really hating, but for some reason really grew on me. After hearing a second or third time I started appreciating it for what it truly was; a Devo cover of a Stones song. And I really can't put my finger on it, but I can just say with confidence, it really works.
I really feel bad for admitting I had not heard of Joy Division until I heard this cover by Nine Inch Nails. Been a fan ever since, naturally, and this cover is still one of my favorites.
Speaking of Nine Inch Nails, there is absolutely no way to close this opening post without putting Johnny Cash's cover of their song 'Hurt'. Mother of God, Trent Reznor himself said that he would never play this song again because he truly thought it was now Johnny's song now, and I'm not gonna lie, it kinda is.