Wednesday, May 9, 2007

Wilco, Again



The new Wilco b-side I posted up a couple days ago got me all excited about Wilco again; the past 48 hours have seen me searching through all my favorite old tracks from Tweedy & Co. I definitely have some favorite Jeff Tweedy moments, and I've been thinking about where "One True Vine" might fit in.

Ok, it might not be quite that good - Tweedy has blessed us with some seriously astounding moments - but it's still pretty wonderful.

Anyhow, here are some of my favorite Tweedy moments...

I'll start off with my absolute favorite, Uncle Tupelo's "Wait Up." This song has been one of my favorites since the first time I heard it. I was still just a young'in when March 16-20, 1992 released, but I'm pretty sure that, even then, I would have recognized this song's grandeur.

Uncle Tupelo- Wait Up


This next song released 3 years later on Golden Smog's 1995 LP Down by the Old Mainstream. You probably already know about Golden Smog's allstar cast, but despite being a veritble rock and roll "who's who," in my opinion, they've never really delivered. Think a modern day Travelling Wilburys. This song, though, is spectacular. Sounds like Wilco...

Golden Smog- Radio King


What else... There's just too much to choose from.

I guess I'll go with one of my all time favorite Wilco songs, "She's a Jar." That kind of feels like cheating - you know, posting up a track from a Wilco LP. Instead I'll use the demo...

Wilco- She's a Jar (Demo)


If I'm gonna post a Wilco song, I should try to give you something you haven't heard before, eh? Well, I have no clue where this one came from, and I haven't really seen it floating around the net anywhere. Don't believe me? Go search for it. I would guess it released as a b-side at some point, but I really don't know when or to what. Amazing song, though. Definitey a top 10 Tweedy moment.

Wilco- No More Poetry

In 2003 Tweedy teamed up with Jim O'Rourk to release Loose Fur their first album under the moniker Loose Fur. Much like Golden Smog, I was very impressed with some of it, and with some of it I was very underwhelmed. In 2006, though, they released a sophomore LP entitled Born Again in the USA, and the last track on that album has definitely become one of my favrite Jeff Tweedy moments.

Loose Fur- Wanted

This last song may not be an absolute favorite, but it's still very cool. It's a live cover (that you probably haven't heard) of a great song (that you probably have heard).

Jeff Tweedy- I Shall Be Released (Live Bob Dylan Cover)

Ok, that's all for today.

Enjoy.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Wilco- One True Vine (BRAND NEW, YOU HAVEN'T HEARD THIS)


I just got my hands on the first b-side from Wilco's Sky Blue Sky.

Wow.

You know how I feel about Wilco.

This track is no exception. I absolutely LOVE it. Actually, after a few listens, I might like this more than anything on the album, and I love the album.

Wilco- One True Vine

I wanna be what you are to me...

Remember where you heard it first.

Enjoy.

Sunday, May 6, 2007

DON'T CALL THIS A COMEBACK

Ok, this time I'm not even going to apologize. I'm just going to start posting again. I'll earn your trust back.

Actually, I will apologize for not responding to emails. That's fucked up on my part. I really do want to fill requests, but honestly, I get really, really bored writing about old White Stripes b-sides and whatnot.

On to today's post...

I've been thinking about covers a lot lately, probably stemming from reading that I Am Fuel post. I made a list in my head of recent indie covers that I've loved, and, I dunno, maybe you'd like to hear them...



I can only listen to Magnolia Electric Co. when I'm sad. That's why I was so surprised when I found out that the last track on their 2005 Hard to Love a Man EP was a cover of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London." What a great cover; Molina & Co really make it work...

Magnolia Electric Co.- Werewolves of London




Last year Regina Spektor visited the BBC Radio studios and performed a few songs. Among them was my favorite rainy day song, Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel #2." Spektor's version of the song is beautiful.

I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best...

Regina Spektor- Chelsea Hotel (Live)



Talking Heads covers... I really don't know how I feel about them in general. I've heard some baaad ones, but I've also heard some that I love...

In 2003 the Constantines released the Nighttime Anytime EP. It was their first release on Sub Pop, setting the stage for their prodigious sophomore LP, Shine A Light. The third track on the four-track EP was a cover of the Heads' "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel." This is how a Talking Heads cover should sound. Bry Webb mimics Byrne's voice a bit, but the sound is still unmistakably Constantines...

Constantines- Thank You For Sending Me An Angel



Another Talking Heads cover done right...

Last year Voxtrot played a quick set for Seattle radio station KEXP. Along with three tracks from their Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives EP (Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives, Rise Up In The Dirt, and Soft & Warm), the band played a version of the Heads' "Heaven." I was raised on Talking Heads, and as far back as I can remember, "Heaven" has been one of my favorite songs. Imagine my excitement, then, when I discovered that it was covered by my favorite new band.

Voxtrot- Heaven (Live on KEXP)




I guess I'll keep with the Voxtrot theme.

I've been sitting here thinking about how to present this next track for a few minutes now. I can't really paraphrase the story for you, so here it is, straight from Ramesh...

"About a week ago when we were driving back to Texas for the final two dates of our tour, Jared (keyboardist) received a message from Garrison of Indieinterviews.com, suggesting that Union City Blues would be a nice song for Voxtrot to cover. I mistakenly believed Shayla to be called Union City Blues, and thus promised to work up a cover to record at the venue. There was some confusion but after we sussed it out I borrowed an accoustic guitar from Bosque Brown and we headed to Garrison's Corrola to record it. Small space, but his microphone was quite hi-tech so I think the sound quality is actually okay. I had first heard this song on a free Optimo New Year compilation and have always been moved by the liquid quality of her voice on the recording."


So there you have it.

Ramesh Srivastava- Shayla




I think that's a good place to transition to Jose Gonzalez, yes? Of course I can't have a covers post and talk about Jose Gonzalez without mentioning his take on the Knife's "Heartbeats." When "Heartbeats" released as a single, the b-side was, well, a live version of the track (That seems like cheating to me, but whatever).

Jose Gonzalez- Heartbeats (Live)


That's not what I wanted to talk about, though. In 2005 Gonzalez released a pretty limited Australian Tour EP. The first track on the EP is a cover of Joy Division's infamous "Love Will Tear Us Apart." I know I probably don't need to give you the backstory, but Joy Division recorded this song pretty much right before Ian Curtis committed suicide. What a sad, sad song.

Jose Gonzalez- Love Will Tear Us Apart



In 2005 Calexico and Iron & Wine got together to record their In The Reins EP. As good as that EP was, I think my favorite part of their partnership was revealed at their live shows, where they frequently played a fantastic cover of the Rolling Stones' "Wild Horses." Something about that song has always just killed me; it's definitely one of my favorite Stones songs, and these guys do it justice. This recording is from October 22, 2005, at the Triple Door in Seattle.

Iron and Wine with Calexico- Wild Horses (Live)




You may remember a post I made a month or two ago about Beirut in which I included a Calexico cover of the Clash's "Guns of Brixton." I'll go ahead and post it again here. It's definitely the best cover of the song that I've ever heard.

Calexico- The Guns of Brixton


While I'm posting a couple Calexico tracks I might as well give you their take on the Minutemen's "Corona," eh? In 2004 Calexico released their Convict Pool EP. Among the six tracks on the EP is a cover of "Corona," complete with mariachi band. It's such a great song to begin with, and I love their take on it.

Calexico- Corona




I'll round out this post with the song that inspired it: Britt Daniel's take on Sam Cooke's immortal "Bring It On Home To Me." This track just came out on Bridging the Distance, a compilation of covers from Portland area bands. I would suggest that everyone go to the site and BUY IT... I mean, come on, it's only $10. I honestly wish I could post just about every track from the compilation.

Britt Daniel- Bring It On Home To Me


Alright, that's all for today.

Enjoy.