So, it's certainly been far too long. I won't waste valuable time with words this go 'round. Just right into the tunes and a hope that I'll be able to get back into this posting gig...
Stop & Listen-the Shag
East Side Story-Bob Seger and the Last Heard
Hey Little Bird-the Barbarians
Monkey Workout-Astro-Notes
Cuckoo Girl-Chico Holiday
I Need You Near-John English III & the Heathens
Whatcha Gonna Do-Sunday Funnies
Something-Tony Worsley
Linda-the Starfires
Say Darlin'-the troggs
The guy with the Long Liverpool Hair-the Outsiders
Yeah, soooo...I'm obsessed with cover songs. Anyone who knows me is entirely aware of this, and yet they continue to allow me to listen to music in the vicinity of their ears. Fools.
Anyhoo, Ima try and answer a question that Dave of the North asked recently. He had the gall to ask me what my favorite Cover Album was! That's right, singular. That cheeky bastard, like I could pick just one even if I could generally define what a Cover Album was.
So, for the sake of everyone else and their sanity, I will concoct a somewhat scatterbrained reply.
You see, I run the gamut from Classic Cover Albums like "Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye: A Tribute to Roky Erickson" to "Burning London: Clash Tribute" to "12 Crass Songs" by Jeffrey Lewis to "Pin Ups" by David Bowie to "Dig" by the Coolies to "Hanky Panky" by The The...Yeah, I have a lot of covers to choose from.
For a sampling, I will include something from each album I choose along with a few covers that don't fill the niche of belonging on a cover album. I only hope you don't rethink that part of letting me play music in the vicinity of your ears...
My first pick: "Dig" by the coolies- The only thing holding this back from being the greatest Simon & Garfunkel cover album ever is the fact that a lone Paul Anka tune is thrown in. I choose to think of that song as a bonus track and just keep right on loving the Simon & Garfunkel greatness. I've loved this album from the first listen and that loved has not waned in the decades since.
the Coolies-Cecilia
"Robyn Sings" by Robyn Hitchcock- Mr. Hitchcock holds a place firmly on my list of great songwriters. One Mr. Bob Dylan also holds a place on that list. The fact that Hitchcock does an album of live Dylan covers? Yep, a pretty delicious disc to me. And to here Hitchcock claim that his favorite song, the one that got him to be a songwriter, is a Dylan tune...and then hear his take on it? Love. Robyn Hitchcock-Visions of Johanna
"Apolyptica Plays Metallica by Four Cellos" by Apocalyptica- I'm definitely not a huge fan of Metallica, but I do like the cello. These songs are pretty awesome. To my ears, they sound much better than the originals.
Apocalyptica-Sad But True
"We Will Fall: the Iggy Pop Tribute" by V/A- There are definitely some gems on this one. Even if you aren't a fan of Iggy, I'm fairly certain you could find a song or two to like on here
Lunachicks-the Passenger
"Hanky Panky" by The The- I really like this band and I love Hank Williams. So it pretty much stands to reason I would like this.
The The- I Saw the Light
"Pin Ups" by David Bowie- Bowie is, to me, a very creative and talented man. I love his penchant for re-inventing himself and I love the way he re-invented some of these songs. I come back to this album quite a bit. Ray Davies, Syd Barrett, the Who...c'mon now, who wouldn't like this? David Bowie-Where Have All The Good Times Gone?
So there you have a very wee tiny sampling of some of my favorites. There are a ton of others, but those will wait for another post on another day. As for now, please enjoy these cover songs that didn't come from a cover album...
Okay, in honor of this voting season, I present to you a ballot that is far more enjoyable than anything at your local polling place. Below are the candidates, teamed up by title (or at the least nearly by title...) for your consideration. I hope we have a decent voter turnout. After all, it's your ears that will have to pay the price...
Results will be tallied and reported to the best abilities of the tireless and underpaid staff of volunteer vote counterupper guys. Thanks for your time, now go listen to some music...
As you may or may not know, I am a fan of poetry. Some songs to me are poetic. In fact there are some songs that are more poetry than music to me. Not a shit tonne, but a few. Occasionaly, a poem put to music is just right for me. Case in point? The Yeats poem 'Stolen Child' done by the Waterboys. Anyoo, this is a bunch of tunes that are more spoken than sung and that I am at least as if not more appreciative of the lyrics. Maybe for the deeper meaning, maybe for the flow of words...maybe just because I like the way the singers voice makes the words sound. Who knows and who really cares? Most of these songs are nearly spoken word pieces and that sits alright with me.
the Waterboys-the Stolen Child
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists-Ballad of the Sin Eater
Blur-Park Life
They Might Be Giants-32 Footsteps
Soul Coughing-Collapse
Iggy Pop-Endless Sea
Nikki Sudden-Stay Bruised
Concrete Blonde-Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man
Diamanda Galas-Do You Take This Man
Wild Billy Childish & the Musicians of the British Empire-Joe Strummer's Grave
Toy Dolls-Spiders in the Dressing Room
Screaming Blue Messiahs-You're Gonna Change
Coyote Shivers-Plus One
Billy Bragg-the Saturday Boy
Flash and the Pan-Hey, St. Peter
Green On Red-the Ballad of Guy Fawkes
Ian Dury-There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards
Sometimes I enjoy songs that don't have any real deep meaning at all or could even be considered lighthearted and cheeky. They're just fun songs that tickle my fancy and give me a bit of a chuckle. That being said, they are also, for the most part, pretty decent tunes in and of themselves. Sure, you probably won't find them shooting up any charts or hear them being whistled in the elevator, but is that really so bad? Without these kinds of songs life would be such a tedious existence, flitting back and forth between Bono and Wyclef with nary so much as a Doo-Dah Band to be found...
the Kongsmen-the Gorilla
Neil Conway-Lesbian Boxer Song
Sound Apparatus-Travel Agent Man
Zander Schloss-Salsa Y Ketchup
Splodgenessabounds-Two Pints of Lager
the Tiger Lillies-Gluttony
the Cat Empire-Fishies
Eat-Gyrate
Hamell On Trial-When Bobby Comes Down
the Moldy Peaches-Steak For Chicken
Ween-Push th' Little Daisies
Crispin Hellion Glover-the Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze
Great Big Sea-the Mermaid(I've had my share of ribbing for liking this band, but they're a fun, energetic live bunch. And this post is, after all, about fun...)
Often, when one hears the term "one man band" the image that is conjured is that of a man with a bass drum on his back, cymbals on his knees, bicycle horn clamped to an accordion...you know what I'm talking about. I'm different in the respect that, when I think of a one man band, I think of a possessed dervish completely immersed in music that defies categorization. That is the easiest way to describe SLR.
I've had the pleasure of listening to SLR for a while now and I often take for granted how good it is. That all changes each time I lay witness to a live show. I had such a pleasure recently and to top it off there were many guest musicians involved. Those of you who know me know of my love of horn sections and this show delivered with a very tight trio of air masters. And while it is always nice to see a respected and talented musician with other talented folks, I am convinced that the only reason SLR has a need for guests is because he just doesn't have enough room at his place for horns or other instruments. I am quite sure he could wrap ALL of the instruments into his repertoire and pull off an amazing gig.
Anyway, that being said SLR was joined by an array of guests that all seemed to utterly enjoy playing his tunes which is, more often than not, the makings of a fun and satisfying night of goodness. This night did not disappoint.
Trying to put a label to Stanley Lucas Revolution is difficult in that each song becomes it's own tangible, sentient being. From the funk tinged guitar intro of 'Hey Charles' to the bittersweet sentiments of 'We still Love Them' to the slow-groove mojo of 'This World' to the quiet questioning of 'New Stone 40' no song is unable to stand of its own accord. And when you hear these songs live...no, when you experience these songs live, you will be instantly inducted into the cult of SLR. Rest assured, the lyrics are as up to snuff as the music. Current without being dated and as thoughtful as one could wish for. They bridge the gaps from social to personal to cultural to metaphorical with an ease that's often lacking in today's musical atmosphere.
When you become a fan, as I'm sure you will, you'll be in good company. All those others that hear the songs and know, in their heart of hearts, that SLR has read their diary, overheard their conversations, discovered their innermost thoughts and wrote them all down set to music.
I think there is something for everyone here and I'm certain that you'll hear that one song that connects and drives you to listen further. So, without further ado, please enjoy the sounds of Stanley Lucas Revolution. And if you get the chance to see a live show it will be an experience you won't soon forget. And remember, Sean is a hell of a good guy so say 'hey' and let him know what you think! And tell him Matt sent ya...
These are a bunch of my personal favorites in no particular order. Except that 'We Still Love Them' is, indeed, my favorite...
Yep, some more songs I dig covered by some old and some new folks. I hope you enjoy them since I always seem to search out different versions of things. It's sometimes nice to hear what someone else gets from a song...Be warned, most of these particular covers are decidedly on the mellower side.
There are a bunch of songs on the "mellower" side that I quite enjoy. I know, it seems odd considering I usually listen to loud electric guitars, but rest assured that I also listen to these songs at a high volume. My ears, after all, crave the ability to drown out the voices...
Clampypants can be reached at clampypants@gmail.com whenever you have a hankerin' to hear sumpin'.
Clampypants, although bearing an uncanny resemblance to Matt Bernard, is a totally autonomous and ambiguous figure. Really. Just ask anyone that's seen them both at the same time...
If you are one of the artists featured here and you don't want the possibility of someone hearing your music and enjoying it enough to get it for themselves I will gladly remove the content in question.
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