Archie and the Bunkers
Play the Damned EP
scum stats: my copy on black, apparently there’s a limited quantity on black with red and yellow splatter
If middle fingers on the front cover didn’t piss me off or have me rolling my eyes, then that’s saying something.
What can I say, I’m a sucker for younger folks playing rock and roll. The drums/organ, big brother/little brother duo of Archie and the Bunkers are good. Their heads seem on straight, they’re influenced by all the right shit from the past. And I honestly think that if they keep at it, they will make something GREAT.
As for Damned covers, they dug a little below the surface, ignoring the obvious covers like “New Rose” or “Neat Neat Neat” and I have to give ‘em credit for that. I never spent much time with the Damned, really just a little bit with the first album. So besides the lead-off track, these songs are all kinda fresh to me.
I think the band is still figuring things out and I predict in another year, two tops, they will put out a masterpiece. Until then, this record (and the rest of their increasingly-expanding catalog) serve as moderate placeholders.
In my never-ending quest to keep you weirdos engaged, post in the comments about your favorite releases where one artist covers exclusively another artist. Don’t just LIST something, convince me as to why it is important. Can be Pussy Galore doing Exile, Sonic Youth doing the Fall, Dylan (or Willie) doing Sinatra, whatever. Maybe turn me on to something I’m unaware of? Anyway, most enlightening comment (as determined by me) gets an original Sub Pop pressing of the White Stripes covering the songs of Captain Beefheart. See the connection there? Deadline is a week from today, so get your shit in here already.
Ty Segall covering T. Rex on Ty Rex. Bolan’s influence on Ty is obvious and easy to hear, but that record just rips so damn hard. Taking every era of T. Rex and making it fuzzy and crunchy as hell, and clearly having one hell of a time doing it. One of my favorite things ever.
Speaking of Pussy Galore, I just saw Jon Spencer live the other night and it was amazing! He opened for the Melvins who seem to cover a lot of Kiss style artwork. I think I liked their merch better than their music though. Anthrax does a pretty great cover of Beastie Boys Lookin’ Down the Barrel of a Gun. I’m sure you’ve heard it, but it’s neat neat neat.
Might be a little close to home but Jacks cover of Love is Blindness has to be it for me. The original by U2 is full of emotion and when you listen to it, like many songs you question whether that emotion can be topped and Jacks cover absolutely does for me. Arrangement and production aside, the performance and delivery of the vocals push that song somewhere many others couldn’t get to. Reminiscent of Jolene, it takes the song from its original genre and presents it in a new one. Also, that 6/8 drum groove holding it down plays a big part too. Good work Blackwell
That Pop Llama single of The Posies doing Big Star is pretty great and, as it turns out, pretty serendipitous. It landed them a gig with the actual Big Star that outlasted the original band by many years. The single was “Feel” and “I Am The Cosmos.” “Feel” as done by Ken Stringfellow was spot on. Jon Auer doing “Cosmos” was a thing of true beauty. As the story goes, because of this release, it led to the guys playing with Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens in a reformed Big Star. That band gave audiences years of live shows and kept the Big Star name alive. And it’s certainly a name worth keeping alive.
Just as a related side note (and perhaps to turn you on to something new), another Memphis Ardent band called The Hot Dogs released a single of them doing Johnny Cash’s “I Walk The Line.” It’s one of my very favorite versions in all its falsetto goodness.
TB
While never officially released due to concerns about being sued, my son’s band Sam The Astronaut has an ep of Sticky Fingers (the band not album) covers up on youtube. These are important as the include the first recording of the then new band with their live take on Australia Street (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXYufjRwF0I) proving that a hip hop singer and punk rock drummer could find a happy starting point with reggae influenced songs. Other songs in the series are, These Girls (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zaICg_EdAA) and Rum Rage (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqLHBBb-cCw). That beginning has lead them to record a debut album that has over a million streams, a stellar live show and the current recording of album two, Midnight Car Light. The latter is super important to me as if the new album is as successful as hoped, it may actually lead to my kid moving out. It all started with a meeting of minds with a love for Sticky Fingers.
Not that this is the best album of covers but it is an interesting and noteworthy undertaking. Ryan Adams covering the whole album by Taylor Swift “1989”. When I first heard of it I was like, WHAT?? WHY?? Then I listened to it and I was amazed and over-joyed. I am not a Tay fan so Ryan really had to do something special and he did. While Tay did her typical poppy takes on her songs Ryan re-interpreted every song to reveal some of the darker side of Swift’s lyrics. Some of you will not like it anyway just because of who wrote the songs (and Ben may not like it either, but I am sure he prob already heard it. From New York to Shake it off it is pure heartbreak. Any album (or song) that can make me sad and joyful at the same time gets preferential choice when I make a playlist or any list for that matter.
Joan Osborne – Songs of Dylan is decent set
& sticking with Sonic Youth and Dylan in your post, the I’m Not There soundtrack is superb. Doesnt count because its many artists covering one artist… but Sonic Youth covering I’m Not There……wow Goin to Acapulco by Jim James…. double wow and Pressing on by John Doe excellent
This probably goes against the vibe of your post, but I’ll throw this out anyway: Dwight Sings Buck. What could be better than an album of Buck Owens’ songs being covered by Dwight Yoakam. From the first song My Heart Skips A Beat, I knew this was going to be an awesome album. Love’s Gonna Live Here, and Act Naturally just to name a few are awesome covers. If you like “Country” but don’t like Country music, you will enjoy these songs from the Bakersfield Daddy.
So, before I start, I know this doesn’t fit in your perimeters but I’m not looking to win. If I can turn one person on to this album; I’ve won. This is one artist covering multiple artists. The album? “Introducing Karl Blau” by Karl Blau. He covers everyone from Tom T. Hall to the Bee Gees to Townes Van Zandt. His cover of Link Wray’s “Fallin’ Rain” has me close to tears every time. Through the sequencing and song choice they’ve threaded a dark story but there is always hope at the end. Plus, Karl’s voice is like honey. Check it out.
Have they already contacted the people for the Seattle show who get early entry? I can’t remember how far ahead they were doing that…