Cover songs are a tricky business. Sometimes what you get is better than the original and sometimes what you get is Limp Bizkit’s version of Faith. Not pretty. There are a few rules or guidelines to making a great cover song. First off you have to start with a good original or at least one with some potential. There’s a down-home country-fried colloquialism I’ve heard here in the south that goes, “A pig in dress is still a pig.” I’m still not exactly sure what that means but I think it applies here. Maybe it has something to do with Bette Midler. You may have noticed I used the word good and not great for the original. That leads to the second rule; there should always be room for improvement. If the original was perfect then leave it alone, you’re only going to piss people off. And you should try to bring a little of yourself to the table. Put your stamp on the song. Make it your own. Lastly, and this isn’t really a rule more of a pet peeve of mine, do not release your cover as a single. Especially do not release it as the lead single off of your debut album. Have some fucking dignity for christsake.
5. Death Cab For Cutie “All Is Full Of Love” (original artist- Bjork) Pretty faithful cover as far as melody and arrangement goes. But gone are Bjork’s harps and strings and in is a propulsive drum sound not usually heard in DCFC’s mostly piano and guitar driven work. The song builds quietly and effectively and nails the climax beautifully. Ben Gibbard’s voice is in good form throughout the track and I think he outdoes Bjork with the emotion and conviction that he puts into the performance.
4. Travis “Hit Me Baby One More Time” (o.a. – Britney Spears) Let’s face it Ms. Federline has always been more about the packaging than the goods. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some quality songs in her catalogue. Take this acoustic cover of her first big hit. Stripped of all the excess of the Max Martin production machine the song shows itself for what it is, a somewhat treacly but otherwise well crafted pop song. The real hook is that the band sings it with such sincerity that it gives the whole thing a weight that it was previously lacking. The funny thing is that the fine Scottish lads were shithouse drunk at the time and did it as a lark.
3. Clem Snide “I’ll Be Your Mirror” (o.a – Velvet Underground) I love the Velvet Underground even if I didn’t quite get them at first. Their music isn’t always the most accessible. It takes a few listens to truly hear everything going on in one of their songs. With “Mirror” I could never quite place it, but something was always off. Maybe it was Nico’s Teutonic yet oddly captivating voice or that the tempo seemed just a smidgen too fast but it always had an unsettling effect on me. Then Eef Barzelay comes along with his quivering, nasal twang singing style and turns it into one of the greatest love songs I’ve ever heard. Amazing.
2. Jon Spencer Blues Explosion “Right Place, Wrong Time” (o.a. – Dr. John) “That’s right, that’s baby. The Blues is number one. I’m talking about the Blues Explosion straight outta New York City." I’ve never liked Dr. John’s music and to be honest this song used to annoy the piss out of me. But this cover makes me want to break shit and that is the highest compliment I can give to any rock song.
1. Jeff Buckley “Hallelujah” (o.a. – Leonard Cohen) Cohen is one of the all time great songwriters but the man does not have a great voice. On top of that he’s kind of a bitter, cynical dude. Seriously, just read the lyrics to his songs and you’ll see what I mean. You can only take so much of that before it gets old. What I love about Buckley and his music is that he seemed so frail and sad and blissfully romantic and hopeful. His voice could soar and hit ridiculous heights. Like Spinal Taps amps he was able to get into that extra level and go over the edge. His emotion went to eleven. Simply put Hallelujah as performed by Buckley is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. He feels every word he sings so completly that it cuts right through you. And just listen to how he holds that note at the end. Just awesome.
Honorable Mentions: Guns n’ Roses “Knocking On Heavens Door”; Wilco “Thirteen”; Ted Leo “Since You Been Gone”; Dynamite Hack “Boyz-N-The-Hood”
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