The Music Blog of the Infonistacrat!

Another day of great covers of great songs. Today has some real treats, to say the least. Far and away the best song on the list, and perhaps the greatest cover of a song ever done is Jeff Buckley’s Hallelujah. Only time would have told us how great Jeff would have been had he not died so tragically. If this song is any clue, he would have had an amazing career. The guy had one of the great voices on the 90’s. Like I said, it’s a bloody shame he died like he did.

Sometimes you hear a cover song, and you scratch your head and say to yourself “Self, what the hell were they thinking?”. Either because the original was so good it would be impossible to improve upon it, or the choice of song is so damned odd it defies explanation. I’ve got both here today. First, No Doubt’s cover of It’s My Life. Not a bad song, if thats the only version you ever heard. But if your lucky enough to remember Talk Talk’s version, it seriously pales in comparison. (Cue Ms. Parker here for her take on this one…I know what she will say, and I agree 100%!). Then you have Faith No More remaking Easy by Lionel Ritchie. How the hell, I ask myself, did they ever get together and decide THAT would be a good move? Don’t get me wrong, they pull it off, and it’s actually not a bad song. But imagine your in a band, and someone says to you “Hey, lets remake a cheesy Lionel Ritchie song from the 80’s”. I don’t get how everyone gets excited and jumps on board that idea. I just don’t get it.

A couple other tunes of note. Live doing Love My Way…I’m a HUGE Live fan, so you know I am a little biased. But even objectively speaking, I think this is a great cover. Maybe not as great as the Psychedelic Furs (one of the best bands of the 80’s, as I mentioned the other day), but damn good. Then Camper Van Beethoven covering Pictures Of Matchstick Men. I loves me some Camper…I can still remember how thunder struck I was the first time I heard Take The Skinheads Bowling, and have basically loved everything by them since. This version is so much better than the Status Quo original. The Subways are a newer indie band, and I am a huge fan of their stuff. You For Eternity is an amazingly great album. So when I first heard them do The Beatles You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away, I was really lovin the song. So check it out. They may be young, but they got serious chops.

I think the rest of the list is pretty solid, top to bottom, and there’s something for everyone here. I hope you all enjoy, and have a great weekend. Me, I’m heading BACK to Pittsburgh, one again. Only this time, I hope to actually GET there. Last time was a complete nightmare. Anyway, enjoy the tune!

1. Ben Harper - Strawberry Fields
2. Camper Van Beethoven - Pictures Of Matchstick Men
3. Collective Soul - Jealous Guy
4. Faith No More - Easy
5. Foo Fighters - Lyla
6. Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
7. Live - Love My Way
8. No Doubt - It’s My Life
9. Pearl Jam - Baba O’Reilly
10. Sinead O’Connor - Nothing Compares To You
11. Smashing Pumpkins - Never Let Me Down Again
12. The Lovemongers - Battle of Evermore
13. The Ramones - Time Has Come Today
14. The Subways - You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away
15. White Stripes - Walking With A Ghost