The Animal Show » Covers

Cover City

dfjacobs — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:00:42 +0000

Cover City: Population us

While the prodigious hilltops and heightening molehills of Cover City exist only in my dreams, I believe I would be a prominent constituent of such a community. After all, my immense affinity for covers ranks among my family, Martin Luther King Jr., Walter Sobchak, Snapple Peach Ice Tea and BET as a few of my favorite things (I apologize for plagiarizing Maria’s favorite things). Sadly, it has been sometime since my last official visit to Cover City, and so I will now rectify that.

Our first stop is with Show favorite The Bird and The Bee. These choice artists were not only responsible for our seventh favorite record of the year Ray Guns Are Not Only Just Future, but also recently released an entire album of Hall & Oates covers. While the album boasts a title too long to include here, it runs just under 33 minutes long, when surely there were more timeless tracks to cover. While covering these deserving masters presents a formidable challenge, The Bird and The Bee execute a venerable service to the mustachioed 80’s elite. Each cover balances tribute with innovation to form an exemplary homage. Although each track merits a purchase, the standouts of the album are “I Can’t Go For That,” “Rich Girl” and “Private Eyes.” Having said that, the decision of which to append to the article was extremely difficult, but I deferred to personal preference of the original, and with that, enjoy “Private Eyes.”

The next cover was bound to arrive at the Show at one point or another due to its creator. As Edward told me before I began my tenure, it is our mission to post any Vampy track or variation upon its release. And while searching for its proper home took longer than I had hoped, I think we’re all ready for it. This version of “Cousins” was laid down by rising British folk foursome Mumford & Sons in BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, also known as the capital of Cover City. Mumford & Sons initially slow down the frenetic Contra single, before letting “Cousins” become a bluegrassy delight. In the end, it’s a complete reinvention of one of the few merely adequate Contra tracks.

Finally, we arrive at music blogger darlings The Morning Benders. These San Francisco natives are already meritorious in the realm of tributes, having released The Bedroom Covers. The album includes tracks by The Smiths, Paul Simon, Talking Heads, Randy Newman and The Velvet Underground, however, the most exceptional is indubitably their marvelous rendition of The Cardigans classic “Lovefool.” Nevertheless, much like their life-altering single “Excuses,” it has already received due praise. Their cover of the Jungle Book anthem “I Wanna Be Like You” on the other hand, could use some approbation. With its funky, garage rocking and doo-wop sound, the Morning Benders admirably pay homage to the Disney classic. And if you haven’t already, definitely go buy their first album Talking Through Tin Cans and their instant classic follow-up Big Echo (in addition to commandeering The Bedroom Covers), I assure you The Morning Benders never disappoint.

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Private Eyes – The Bird and The Bee (YSI)

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Cousins – Mumford & Sons (YSI)

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I Wanna Be Like You – The Morning Benders (YSI)

At least it goes to charity?

Dave — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:15:51 +0000

Not FROM the heart. That's even worse.

Bob Dylan says that all the proceeds to this album go to charity, specifically, solving world hunger. Well, as my dad said, “They all say that, and yet there’s still world hunger.” Right on, dad. But while Dylan is out “doing good” with this album, he doesn’t mention the true reason this album is worth the price of admission: you can drop fifteen dollars into UNICEF and receive the satisfaction derived from doing good, OR you can drop your fifteen dollars into purchasing Christmas in the Heart and gain endless hours of entertainment, for what Bob Dylan never mentions is that, in this case, charity and hilarity come hand in hand. And Christmas in the Heart provides hilarity in huge dollops.

You pop the album on, and you hear the quintessential sounds of Christmas music: slick sounding production, smooth choral harmonies, sleigh bells. Indeed, it sounds like a throwback to the better days when Bing Crosby or Nat King Cole dominated Christmas. Then, the voice comes, and while I understand that some defend Dylan’s voice these days, saying that he chugs along admirably after all these years, those that say his voice is good are lying. Those that say his voice suits Christmas have consumed the Kool-Aid.

What saves the album, ultimately, is Dylan’s confidence in his song, though it is a VERY misguided confidence. He sings with such conviction, regardless of whether he sings the proper melody, or proper lyrics. In “Here Comes Santa Claus,” he opens right up with pronouncing the word “lane” with an emphasis I’ve never heard on the word, and likely never will hear again. Dylan doesn’t do anything egregiously wrong on “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” and it’s clear he knows the song, but his voice in juxtaposition to angels makes me chuckle. Hearing him strain to sing, “angelic” makes the song. He sounds like he’s that guy that crashes a party and forces himself into every photo (melody) in “The First Noel”–and that party is the church choir party. Finally, I’m convinced he DOES NOT KNOW the true words or melody to “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” In a way, it feels like grandpa scratching to relive his childhood Christmas memories–an idyllic early studio soundtrack plays over a scene of hot drinks enjoyed by a warm fireplace–but only if grandpa has a penchant for going somewhere, forgetting where he was going, becoming very confused, but rolling with it anyway.

In the end, this Christmas, if you want to get in the spirit, you may be best served listening to something else. But if you want something to laugh about for years to come, regardless of the season, pop on Christmas in the Heart. Oh yeah, the proceeds go to charity…

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Here Comes Santa Claus – Bob Dylan (YSI)

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Hark the Herald Angels Sing – Bob Dylan (YSI)

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Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Bob Dylan (YSI)

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The First Noel – Bob Dylan (YSI)

These Streets.

Dave — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:15:26 +0000

Nighttime on the streets of Philadelphia.

So, I’ve had some tough times these past few weeks that have prevented me from really posting. Really not tough times–more mitigating circumstances. The hard drive in my computer started to shit the bed, so I was two weeks without great access to my music, which really put a damper on things. Local area baseball also recently came of note, then, much to the dismay of me and everybody around me, just as quickly went out of note. Now, my hard drive is starting to shit the bed again, which means lots of messy cleanup, and probably another two weeks without great access to my music. Goodbye, for another two weeks. Perhaps this is why my mood is slightly down.

It could also be because I’m listening to “The Streets of Philadelphia” on repeat. I was up in New York last weekend to watch my teams (Phillies, Eagles) beat their teams (Yankees, Giants). Somewhere in the process of watching that become only partially true, someone clued me in to the brilliance of Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind” (which of course the Show covered blog years ago). It’s like a modern, rap update of “New York, New York!” It is what foxy bingo online and other computer games are to old-school things like Scrabble and a deck of cards. Revolutionary. Exciting.Returning to Philadelphia, I set out on a quest to try to find a song that matched its spirit in anyway.

Somewhat unsurprisingly, nothing. We’ve got something that blares at almost every event here in Philadelphia in Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom,” but honestly, that song was irritating twenty years ago, and much more so today. Also dated: “Motown Philly” by Boyz II Men. Sorry, it’s true. What else do we have? A semi-good re-dub of “Empire State of Mind” called “Ill State of Mind?” It’s not bad, but it’s lyrics are not nearly as timeless. In fact, they’re irrelevant now, having called for the Phillies to repeat their bid for the World Series. Also, the video is balls to watch. Willy Nelson’s “Philadelphia Lawyer?” Not exactly flattering. G. Love & The Special Sauce (remember them?) came out with a song called “I-76″ that’s actually really a pretty solid song, but it focuses on basketball, which has been dead to the average Philadelphian for the last decade. So that leaves “Streets of Philadelphia,” whose sound is always relevant, and whose lyrics are always depressing–but not more so than the fact that this song best represents Philadelphia at this juncture in time. And that leaves me. Where I am. Eventually I’ll snap out of it. Or move…

For Philadelphia, there’s hope for the next year, and another parade. But, more pressingly in my mind, there’s another year to come out with something as kick-assingly Philadelphia as “Empire State of Mind” is kick-assingly New York. But in the spirit of area-based pessimism, I won’t get my hopes up.

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Bruce Springsteen – Streets of Philadelphia (YSI)

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Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Streets of Philadelphia (YSI)

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G. Love & The Special Sauce – I-76 (YSI)

Covers? We're covered: "Train Song"

Did Brown Reinvent the Wheel?

dfjacobs — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:42:28 +0000

Teenage fun

After reading my first few articles, hopefully you are all thinking, “Edward struck gold again, who is this young Renaissance man?” And while I hope that the belief applies to more of you than my mother, I trust that you are not so outraged by my writing and musical selections that you find yourselves collectively organizing to storm my house, pitchforks in hand, asking for my head, or at least my wordpress password. Remember, Edward has his reasons for everything; I was not just brought to the Show to end my incessant begging.

You see, young Skywalkers, the educational establishment which I attend happens to be the very same institution that famed Ivy League front man Adrian Simon and lesser known yet equally awesome Ivy League guitarist Alex Beer attend. And it just so happens that I am actually pretty good friends with the both of ‘em. Now, what does this mean you ask? Didn’t the Ivy League disband? Well, yes and no. Yes they did, but it lasted about 30 minutes. They have a new CD in the mixing stages and from the one or two songs I’ve heard, you will not be disappointed. “Adrian Simon and other kids playing instruments” stay true to their bubble gum pop roots and a bust out an even tighter record than their debut (I say all this having heard only two of their new songs, although I have heard most of the others live).

But for all of you New York based readers (or at least those of you within 6 hours driving distance), boy, do I have a surprise for you! November 14th at Don Hill’s, Adrian, Alex, Dan Hockstein (the regular bassist, for all of you non-Ivy aficionados), and Griffin Emerson (a dashing young drummer who’s been groomed for the role of drummer for about 4 years), will all assemble to play a show entirely devoted to covers. And good ones too, I can’t reveal the set list, but I can give you three previews of classic Ivy covers. I think it’s safe to say I’ll see most of you in a few weeks.

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The Good Life (Kanye West Cover) – Adrian Simon (YSI)

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Sleepyhead (Passion Pit Cover) – Adrian Simon (YSI)

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Buy U a Drank (T-Pain Cover) – The Ivy League (YSI)

But really, go to the Ivy League concert, it’s gonna be insane.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Edward — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:40:04 +0000

They know how to get there

If I were to make a list of places I wish I could go tonight, coming in right between “Endor” and “Someplace warm” would be Carnegie Hall, where several thousand lucky fans have the chance to see the miraculous Punch Brothers unveil new tunes and fill the sacred space with their beautifully melodic and thrilling folk/pop/bluegrass/classical amalgamated masterpieces. If you’re in the NY area, you have to go. I don’t do much ordering, but this is one. Plus, I’m told that rush tickets are only $10! LET ME LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOU.

Any faithful reader of this blog has heard plenty about our collective adoration for Thile + co. If not, below are a few youtube videos to whet your proverbial whistle, one of which (the first) was a bonus track from 2008’s delectable Punch (the track is available exclusively on iTunes). Watch, listen, go. Then tell me all about it. In great detail.

I Know You Know

It’ll Happen

Rye Whiskey

I Dream of Genius.

Dave — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:15:17 +0000

And, unfortunately, not enough of these.

So, I have nothing new to bring to the table right now. But in the interest of interest, it’s interesting that recently I’ve been listening to more individual songs than albums. Normally, I’m really an album guy, slavishly devoting my ears to the artist’s intent. Mixes are fun, but usually I’m too respectful lazy to embark upon making them.

And I’m still not. I’ve just been hitting the genius button on my iTunes a few more times a week, letting it scour my massive library for gems I’d never given a chance to before–gems past and present. Here are some great launching points for me from this past year:

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Buck 65 feat. Sufjan Stevens – Blood Pt. 2 (YSI)

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Metric – Help I’m Alive (The Twelves Remix) (YSI)

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Avett Brothers – And It Spread (YSI)

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The Antlers – Bear (YSI)

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Franz Ferdinand – Call Me (Live) (YSI)

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Monsters of Folk – Temezcal (YSI)

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Dirty Projectors – Stillness Is The Move (YSI)

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Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For The Others (YSI)

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My Morning Jacket – El Caporal (YSI)

Birds Aren’t Muppets.

Edward — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 15:42:32 +0000

It's about time for this to go down.

There are a few things I’m incredibly passionate about that I don’t end up giving much attention to here at the Show. Usually, this is because a lot of people are writing way too frequently about them, like Mad Men, the Red Sox, or Star Wars. I mean, do you really want more Star Wars than I’ve already given you? Get lost, nerd! This isn’t a Star Wars-based music blog! It’s an egocentric, me-based music blog. (That said, icebergxc has a pretty shweet album of Star Wars Breakbeats I may finally be able to convince him to post.) But, like every new relationship, I ended up oversharing in the beginning of my blog career, and, as a result, it should come as no surprise to you that I love the Muppets*.

It may surprise you, however, that so does Best Album of 09 competitor Andrew Bird.

At some point in the past few months, the Birdman was across the pond, and played a radio show in France, on which he performed a beautiful rendition on Kermit the Frog’s timeless signature song, “Bein’ Green.” In French, no less. Ladies and gentlemen, the man can do it all. According to my #1 source for Muppet-related news, the Muppet Newsflash, this song will be released (presumably in an English version) alongside Weezer’s highly-anticipated cover of “Rainbow Connection” on an upcoming album titled Muppets Revisited (as corroborated by the Muppet Wiki). Can’t wait, ya’ll. So sit back, enjoy, and reminisce. Remember, we can’t be young forever, but we can listen to Andrew Bird without being ashamed for at least another couple years.

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Bein’ Green (Muppets Cover) – Andrew Bird (YSI)

*reading those first few posts is sort of like watching the first season of the Simpsons, because some of the jokes are funny, I guess, but everyone’s voice sounds weird and seriously, why is Bart’s hair so pointy? So my apologies for that.

When 8-bit goes bad.

Dave — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:49:41 +0000

'Nuff said.

Several things help us connect to older, simpler times. Some of us like to retreat to wide open fields located in remote reaches of the worlds; a lot of us still like people. Some others like to go one step more remote and try to remember the days when Weezer was good; a lot of us know better. For me, remembering those simple times comes back to one thing: 8-bit.

I remember the first time I played Nintendo, pushing Mario to walk or run using only the four directions the controller allowed you to. Who were we fooling? We could only really use two of those directions anyway. Those were days when things could only move forward or backward (on the screen, right or left), and when bumping your head on something didn’t hurt you, but gave you a chance to grow bigger and stronger, if only temporarily. Oh, 8-bit.

And the music! Always music, always stuck in your head much beyond hitting the off switch on the game. Always sounding more modern today than the day it was born, many only blossoming into themselves in this more modern age, with new spins on “old” ideas. Futurity, I say. 8-bit had it. That’s why I love the Gameboy Variations of Beck’s Guero so much. That’s why I like cheap MIDI covers of songs.

But 8-bit has a dark side. It’s not black, but rather, kind of blue. Or as the creators like to say, “Kind of Bloop.” I had this conversation with the project’s visionary, Andy Bajo, in my own head:

Me: Andy, I’ve listened to “Kind of Bloop” now. So tell me, why did you decide to take a shit all over a classic album like “Kind of Blue?”

Andy:

Me: Okay, so maybe I phrased that a bit strongly. Let’s try this: how did you decide on 8-bit as the perfect medium to castrate the soul of Miles Davis?

Andy:

Me: Fine. Probably still coming on a bit harshly. Why does–

Andy: BLAEEEEEEEEERRRGGGGHHHH.

He screamed this as he put up his finger and pointed right at me, staring blankly past me into the unknown beyond. You see, it seems our friend Andy Bajo was really pod-person Andy Bajo. I took a shovel and jack handle and did his head in. Then, checking franticly around me, I ran away as quickly as I could with no apparent direction because if I didn’t the rest of the pod people would find me.

That was all in my head though. You can hear the actual reasons for the project here, or contribute to it here. The truth of the matter is that Miles’s music simply loses dimension in 8-bit. It all seems a bit flat, a bit two dimensional. Perhaps this should be unsurprising. The real Miles Davis would roll over in his grave, but movement in that dimension is impossible in the 8-bit world.

But with 8-bit, you take the good and the bad (and I have a few covers listed below to reflect it). I have to. It’s deliverance. It’s futurity.

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Firebrand Boy – Such Great Heights (Postal Service Cover) (YSI)

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the 486 kid – Sweet Chip of Mine (Guns ‘N Roses Cover) (YSI)

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Shamikaizer – The Final Countdown (Europe Cover) (YSI)

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Virt – Freddie Freeloader (Miles Davis Cover) (YSI)

No related posts.

Wilconey Island and Other Elisions

Edward — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:30:12 +0000

Greetings from the Scariest Place on Earth!

Last night, I had the good fortune to see Wilco at Coney Island’s Keyspan Park, home to the brilliantly-talented and usually-sober Brooklyn Cyclones. With new Show staffer David by my side, I blocked the view of everyone behind me, towering over the competition in a way I’m capable of doing when not standing next to the 6-6 behemoth Marquis Meowmers IV, which really heightened the experience. (Hoho!) Seriously, if you ever get a chance to be the tallest person at a concert, you should capitalize on it. It’s quite an experience. There’s nothing like making the 5-6 kid behind you furious. Or the 5-9 girl with the drunky-eyes who just elbowed her way to within 15 feet of the stage after arriving 30 minutes after the opener but, like, seriously dude, you’re so tall and she’s so short and why can’t you just trade places with her? And then you’re all like, hey lady, I’ve been here for 3 hours in the sun inhaling the Brooklyn barf that trails across from the boardwalk, and I totally hear you and all but I really have trouble seeing how that’s fair to any of the other 17000 people here who are shorter than I am. And the 5-9 girl whines that maybe if you worked a fucking job you wouldn’t have the time to stand out here for 3 hours and that’s why you should give her your spot. So you’re like, lady, keep insulting me and maybe I’ll have to go to the Port-a-Throne (Registered TM) and cry, leaving my spot for you, even though I have a job and it’s probably better than yours. And then David the Rookie (registered TM) is like, you should probably write about this, because it could be funny. So you do. With long, unedited sentences. All are great experiences, and I recommend them. But even if you can’t do all that, at least go see Wilco. And here’s why:

They rock as hard as anyone in rock right now. Period. Last night’s show was an almost 3-hour tour-de-force, coming in at 26 songs and featuring a few choice Indie Rock All Star guests, like the beautiful and talented Feist (joining for “You and I,” “California Stars,” and tambourine on “Hoodoo Voodoo”), Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste (Vocals on “California Stars” and maracas on “Hoodoo Voodoo”), and all three of the members of Yo La Tengo, who opened for Wilco and then returned during Encore #1 for a raucous and rocking “Spiders (Kidsmoke).” The band is a tight, cohesive unit, and are note-perfect live, while still retaining their noisy daring. Glenn Kotche is one of the most energetic and phenomenal drummers I’ve had the opportunity to see, and I’m sure I don’t need to say anything about the brilliantly innovative Nels Cline.

However, no concert is without its flaws, and this one certainly had a couple. These flaws were mostly in song choice, though. And that’s not to say the setlist wasn’t good. In fact, they played a pretty awesome cross-section of their fantastic back catalog. I just wish they’d played more from 2001’s breathtaking Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which is probably one of my 5 desert island albums. In particular, I had requested the rara avis “Magazine Called Sunset” on the Wilco site (they have a “request” feature, which is a fantastic idea), and was disappointed it didn’t make it into the show. But it was a long shot, and such is life. Lucky for you savvy readers, I’ve provided a few of my Wilco highlights below. Almost as good as the live experience, and all without having to peer over my tall, strong shoulders.

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Heavy Metal Drummer (Live) – Jeff Tweedy (YSI)

From Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest

This version features the alternate verse “She lifted up her shirt/at the battle of the bands/he twirled his sticks/she helped him to his van,” which Tweedy sang last night, causing Rookie of the Year David’s eyes to almost pop out of his head.

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A Magazine Called Sunset – Wilco (YSI)

From the exclusive YHF-era EP, More Like the Moon. (I can help you find it, if you’re at a loss.)

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Poor Places – Punch Brothers (YSI)

Recorded at their Daytrotter session, this may be the best version of this song I’ve ever heard. Better even than the original. That’s right — I went there. You know how much I love Chris Thile covers, and this is his finest, hands-down.

And if you like you see, turn off your tv and ZOOM!

Another Reintroduction (and more Thile)

Dave — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:28:14 +0000

Clue: I am not reintroducing this guy.

Now that the blog has officially changed it’s address from “http://animalshow.wordpress.com” to “http://thenanimalshow.org” (and undoubtedly disappointed legions of horny teenage males looking for kinky internet porn), I suppose it’s time for me to reintroduce myself as well. So hi. My name is Dave.

I would post on this blog sometimes, but most of the time, I would say I’m a part of this blog, but make minimal contribution. Sometimes, it would be because I didn’t have time to post. As a hard-working college senior (no joke intended there), I would find myself buried in too much other writing to consider writing for some animal-based fun. Sometimes, I’d just want to sleep, for the same reasons as listed above. But if I’m completely honest with myself, it’s pretty much because I suck.

Not anymore! As an enterprising and independent (read: unemployed) college graduate, I should have time finally to root through the years of music stored in my magnetic catacombs, and more importantly, I should have the time to report it. And to demonstrate that I belong on this blog, I bring more Chris Thile!

Here’s a song that is pretty good in it’s own right that Chris Thile makes his own: The Strokes’ “Heart in a Cage.” Thile takes the cool, disinterested sound of The Strokes and turns it into his brand of passionate, dreamy-blonde bluegrass. I listen to this song over and over; you should, too.

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