It’s hard to get excited about covers…I’ve always been more interested in a band’s original work. But the more I think about it, the more respect I have for cover songs. There is something to be said for a band’s ability to take a song that has already been written and transform it into something entirely new and unexpected…and entirely their own. Now this isn’t to say that there aren’t bad covers out there, on the contrary, their are hundreds (if not thousands), but there are definitely a few that are well worth a listen (and if you know of others, send them along).
It should come as no surprise to anyone that the first song I would start with is a Dylan song…and not just any Dylan song, but what is arguably my all-time favorite Dylan song, “To Ramona.”
Bob Dylan – “To Ramona”
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Now there have been any number of disastrous Dylan cover albums…some songs should just not be tampered with, and some artists should not be allowed anywhere near a cover album…These United States, however, are not one of those bands. I’ve had an incredible amount of respect for These United States ever since I heard their first album, Crimes. The fact that they chose to cover “To Ramona” for a recent Dylan cover album, though, has raised them to the level of legendary in my eyes. They have managed to capture Dylan’s emotion and sentiment, but have infused the song with their own brand of toe-tapping sound and optimism. The result is something new and exciting…they have succeeded where so many others have failed.
These United States – “To Ramona”
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And if you had told me when we started this blog that I would someday be writing about Lady GaGa, I would have told you that you were out of your mind. But let’s all be honest here…you can lie to your friends, your family, and even perfect strangers…but you can’t lie to yourself. You know this song is great. Go ahead and deny it, but we all know that you will go home and lock the door so that you can blast it out of your speakers and sing it at the top of your lungs. So just embrace it.
Lady GaGa – “Bad Romance”
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And it may come as some surprise that this song has been covered so quickly, but what is more surprising is that it was covered by the indie folk singer Lissie. And as if that weren’t surprising enough, it is actually fantastic! Go ahead, have a listen…and just let me know which you like more, because frankly, I can’t pick.
Lissie – “Bad Romance”
Paul Simon might not have the same pop flare as Lady GaGa (I don’t believe he has EVER worn a bubble suit), but it’s hard to imagine that “Bad Romance” will ever have the staying power of “Graceland.”
Paul Simon – “Graceland”
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I have to admit though, that I hadn’t listened to “Graceland” in ages…that is, until I bought Casiotone for the Painfully Alone’s Advance Base Battery Life. The album has a pretty good number of covers, but none as impressive as their rendition of this song. You can’t really hear a whole lot of the Paul Simon in this cover…the lyrics are the same, but that’s about it. They have completely redefined the track. Paul Simon is lost somewhere behind a veil of digitally rendered sound and monotone vocals, but in the end, isn’t that what we want? Something new, even though it’s old?
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – “Graceland”
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And last but not least, I had to end with Buddy Holly’s “Rave On”…not simply because I like the song, but because I never would have heard it if M. Ward hadn’t covered it.
Buddy Holly – “Rave On”
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Not surprisingly, perhaps, M. Ward has managed to make Holly’s rock-and-roll classic into a more mellow folk production. But it’s not his cover that interests me the most…it’s the video he has made for it. Of all the musicians I’ve listened to lately, there are very few who produce videos better than M. Ward. He always manages to capture the spirit of a song and transform it into something visual and tangible. He has succeeded in a way rarely seen…he has recreated a song not only aurally, but visually as well. Have a listen…and a look, and of course, if you can think of other memorable covers, let me know for Volume 2.
There aren’t many times when I would consider writing about spoken word pieces, but when Tom Waits is talking to Bob Dylan, well, you just listen. I’ve often wondered what it would be like to have lunch with two of the greatest song writers who have ever lived, and I can’t help but suspect that it would be something like this…random, off the wall, ridiculous, and absolutely brilliant.
And there’s really not a whole lot I can say about any of these clips, they more or less speak for themselves. They are baffling, but irresistible…absurd, but impressive. The two seem to exist in a world all their own…it doesn’t matter that thousands of other people are listening, they know we can’t possibly understand. Maybe that’s why Tom Waits ends many of these segments with an assertive, “So There.” He doesn’t need to argue, he doesn’t even need to persuade, and there certainly isn’t any need for questions…he’s right. So there!
Tom Waits and Bob Dylan – “Jewish Curses”
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May all your teeth fall out except one, which should remain for a toothache.
Tom Waits and Bob Dylan – “Birds”
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He’s definitely a guy who gets his money’s worth out of a boombox…let’s hear what Tom has to say.
Tom Waits and Bob Dylan – “Numbers”
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The marmelade was just out of this world.
Tom Waits and Bob Dylan – “RX Sign”
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And Jupiter was thought to be the most powerful of heavenly bodies in curing disease. Thanks Tom.
Tom Waits and Bob Dylan – “Body Parts”
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You know, for centuries, women’s feet have been considered sexual parts in many cultures.
And while I realize this may be in poor taste, I couldn’t possibly put up a post about Tom Waits and Bob Dylan without including this video from Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy…yes, I know it’s a bit offensive, but it’s also clever…so there.
Well, Christmas is right around the corner, and if your family is anything like mine, you have been bombarded with Christmas music non-stop for the last month. Now, there is nothing wrong with a little holiday cheer, but if I have to hear one more minute of Delilah’s sentimental Christmas memories, I might swear off the holiday forever. So, rather than give up what is otherwise a very enjoyable time of year, I’ve decided instead to put together a little mix of holiday music to rescue all of you who are drowning in a sea of Delilah induced Christmas tears. Enjoy, and a very happy holidays to you all.
1. Santa, Bring My Baby Back to Me – Belle & Sebastian
2. Must Be Santa – Bob Dylan
3. Blue Christmas – Bright Eyes
4. Santa Claus is Back in Town – Elvis Presley
5. O Holy Night (Shoes Interruption) – My Morning Jacket
6. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing – Sufjan Stevens
7. What are You Doing New Year’s Eve – Ella Fitzgerald
8. Christmas in Prison – John Prine
9. Fairytale of New York – The Pogues
10. Father Chrtistmas – The Kinks
11. Chipmonks Song – Birds and Arrows & Butterflies
And I thought I would include this just for good measure. I just saw Fanfarlo in New York, and they did this song…who knew they did Christmas too!
I’m about to write a post about something for which I simply don’t have the words…I am stunned, shocked and surprised beyond all capacity for reasonable thought or coherence. I put this up only for your listening…um…pleasure? For those of you who didn’t know, Bob Dylan released a Christmas album yesterday…yes, you heard me, a Christmas album. Sigh.
As a self-professed lover of Bob Dylan, I just don’t know what to make of this. I hear the traditional sounds of harmonious background singers crooning familiar songs, but in place of Bing Crosby’s dulcet tones I hear the familiar, ragged, nasal sing-talking of Bob Dylan. It’s surreal…there is some strange disconnect that I just can’t seem to remedy.
Bob Dylan – “First Noel”
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I can’t even decide what I think about this…my mind is too conflicted. It’s Dylan on the one hand, but Dylan singing Christmas on the other. It is either sheer brilliance, or utter insanity. I can’t tell whether I feel festive, or just sad and confused. Either way, an early Happy Holidays to you all…I think.
Bob Dylan – “Here Comes Santa Claus”
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The idea of the “super group” has been around for quite some time. Whether pairing Louis Armstrong with Duke Ellington, or John Lennon with Eric Clapton, the concept is not new. Who could ever forget the extraordinary collaboration of George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan…and that fifth guy that no one can ever remember…oh yeah, Jeff Lynne (seriously how did he get into that group?!)? The tradition of such collaborative work is as strong as ever, and with the release of their self-titled, debut album, the Monsters of Folk have stepped into the scene as the newest iteration of the “super-group.”
The Monsters of Folk are Jim James (My Morning Jacket), M. Ward, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes). The four have collaborated for a number of years, occasionally appearing together on stage, but for the most part they have focused on their various other projects. Despite their continued touring and new album releases (My Morning Jacket, M. Ward, and Conor Oberst have all released albums in the past couple of years), the band was finally able to come together for a studio recording, and the results are definitely worth a listen. Lyrically and musically, the album is excellent, and anyone who enjoys the music of the individual members, will definitely enjoy the product of the four together:
Monsters of Folk – “The Right Place”
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But I use the expression “the four together” loosely. The challenge of any super group is to bring numerous, individual artists together to create a new sound…a new band. And in this, the Monsters of Folk have fallen short. At no time while listening to this album did I feel like I was listening to something new, something unique…something special. With each song you can clearly tell who brought their own influence forward. Each of the members gets their moments to shine, but at the expense of the others. This doesn’t necessarily detract from the quality of the album…but I feel as though I could get the same effect simply by listening to M. Ward, Bright Eyes, and My Morning Jacket on shuffle.
Monsters of Folk – “The Sandman, the Brakeman, and Me”
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Perhaps this isn’t entirely fair, M. Ward’s vocals, for example, certainly gain a depth and texture when he is backed by the soulful sounds of Jim James, but I had hoped for more. The album seems not so much a collaboration as it is a compilation…and while I definitely enjoyed listening to the album, I was left wanting so much more.
Monsters of Folk – “Baby Boomer”
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I’ve felt a bit withdrawn from new music lately. I’ve been working overseas for several weeks, and so it has been hard for me to follow upcoming releases and new artists. I would have thought that this would be really hard for me, but in the absence of new music, I have found myself listening to many of my old favorites…too many of which I’ve not listened to in far too long. At the top of that list lately has been Bob Dylan.
I still remember the first time I heard a Dylan album. I was in the 6th grade, and I can’t say that I spent a lot of my time in the record stores back then…in fact, if I remember right, my tape collection consisted of Billy Joel’s “River of Dreams” and Soul Asylum’s “Run Away Train,” both taped off of the radio. I still remember the night my brother walked in, turned off my radio, and gave me a small pile of mixed tapes. Included in the stack were carefully selected compilations of Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, Tom Waits, the Beatles, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, and of course Bob Dylan.
Bob Dylan – “Shelter from the Storm”
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There weren’t many of my fellow 6th graders listening to Dylan at that time, but I couldn’t put it away. I was completely hooked. The first full album I borrowed from my brother was Blood on the Tracks, and I never looked back. Everything about Dylan was perfect to me…the voice, the lyrics, the music, the look…he had it all.
Bob Dylan – “Talking World War III Blues”
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It’s easy to write about Dylan’s “protest-songs.” It’s not just that they are brilliantly written, no one can deny that…the man was, and still is, an incredible poet. What sets him apart, though, is that these songs are timeless. They are profound and relevant even now…we can listen to lyrics such as “you don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” and they still hold meaning, they still inspire and incite…the Weathermen have come and gone, the times have changed, the context has shifted, but the songs still move.
Bob Dylan – “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
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Throughout his career though, Dylan always denied that he wrote “protest songs,” that he was “the voice of his generation.” He didn’t want to be labeled, he didn’t want to be limited…and he wasn’t. He wrote more than protests, he was more than a voice. There isn’t a word that describes him, and there aren’t enough to describe his songs.
Bob Dylan – “Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest”
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I’ve been racking my brain trying to choose songs by Dylan for this post. It would be easy to pick the well-known ones: “The Times They Are A Changin’,” “Hurricane,” “Tangled Up in Blue,” “Just Like a Woman.” The list goes on. I could choose the “protest-songs” that made Dylan famous, infamous, and reclusive, or focus on the folk, rock, and blues influences with which he made a name for himself while also alienating his most loyal fans; yet none of this seems satisfying. It would merely be a post like thousands of others…categorizing and extolling, somehow falling short…attempting to define the man, instead of appreciating the music.
Bob Dylan – “Bye and Bye”
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To that end I have decided simply to put up some of my favorites. They may not be well-known, and I may not know why they were written, but I do know what they mean to me. This is the wonder of Dylan, and the beauty of music. Others may disagree with me, but I find little reason to know the backgrounds of songs, or the history of the artists. Music is not stagnant, it is not a medium limited or restrained by the moment of its creation. It is what we make of it and take from it.
Bob Dylan – “Love Minus Zero/No Limit”
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I was stunned the first time I heard this song…it was the moment I realized that Dylan was more than just a singer. He was a poet like any of the greats we read in countless English classes. Few can weave feelings into words or express the unexpressable, but some get close:
The cloak and dagger dangles,
Madams light the candles.
In ceremonies of the horsemen,
Even the pawn must hold a grudge.
Statues made of match sticks,
Crumble into one another,
My love winks, she does not bother,
She knows too much to argue or to judge.
Bob Dylan – “Boots of Spanish Leather”
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This may be the single saddest song I’ve ever heard. There is little to separate it from any other song written about love and loss. The theme is the same…but it’s more subtle, more intense…unbridled sadness contained in a single pair of shoes.
Bob Dylan – “Eternal Circle”
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Five days ago I wouldn’t have been able to tell you that the song “Eternal Circle” existed. I know I have heard it before, I’ve had the album for years, but I had simply forgotten. I heard it completely by accident…the happenstance of the shuffle button. It is now a new favorite of mine, and I wonder just how many songs like this I have let slip by.
Bob Dylan – “Lily, Rosemary, and the Jack of Hearts”
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I absolutely love this song, but I have no idea what it could possibly be about. I understand the narrative, but can’t come up with a meaning. I’ve listened to it hundreds of times, but with each listen I end up more confused, constantly chasing the vision of “the leading actor” as he hurries by “in the costume of a monk.”
Bob Dylan – “To Ramona”
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I could think of hundreds of other songs to add to this list, but I will leave you with what may be my all-time favorite Dylan song, “To Ramona.” It’s not his most famous, and probably not his best, yet it has stuck with me since the first time I heard it. I don’t know why it was written, and I’ve never really cared to learn…I find myself swept away by the song…but the reasons are my own.
Helen Keller once wrote, “Cut off as I am, it is inevitable that I should sometimes feel like a shadow walking in a shadowy world. When this happens, I ask to be taken to New York City. Always I return home weary but I have the comforting certainty that mankind is real flesh and I myself am not a dream.” I’m coming to the end of my trip in New York, and there is little doubt that Helen Keller was right about the city. Everything is so full of life, that you can’t help but feel like an integral part of it all.
I’ve been thinking long and hard about songs that capture the feeling of the city. It’s easy to put in Sinatra’s “New York, New York” with it’s self-evident claim that “If [you] can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere;” but I can’t help but feel that it’s not truly representative of how New Yorkers feel about their city. More often than not, songs about New York highlight the love-hate relationship between the city and it’s inhabitants. People seem to hate the noise, the commotion, the traffic, and the never-ending seas of concrete; yet the city has an unavoidable pull on everyone who lives here. The culture, the sites, the people…it all draws them in, until they find that no matter how much they hate the city, they always seem to love it just a little bit more. That feeling permeates songs about New York. As Paul Banks drones on in Interpol’s NYC, “I’m sick of spending these lonely nights training myself not to care…but New York Cares.”
Interpol – “NYC”
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There are too many songs about New York to include in a single blog post…or even 20 blog posts, but below are a couple of my favorites. They run the gamut between songs of love, and songs of loss, songs of success, and songs of failure…but each captures one piece of the chaos and the beauty that make New York what it is. As the architect Le corbusier once said, “A hundred times have I though New York is a catastrophe, and fifty times: It is a beautiful catastrophe.”
Rufus Wainwright – “14th Street”
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Tom Waits – “Downtown Train”
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Bright Eyes – “Lua”
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Bob Dylan – “Hard Times in New York Town”
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