It's always fun to compare originals and covers, and even more so when we're talking Bonnie Prince Billy. The lion from Louisville has always been keen on interpreting the songs of other musicians - check out a most fascinating list here - and the results are nearly always interesting to say the least. Below's a first batch of cool ones, and there's more on the way. John Phillips - Someone's Sleeping Bonnie Prince Billy - Someone's Sleeping E.C. Ball & Orna Ball [...]
"I wrassled with the hounds, black man, hounds of hell all day, I squeeze them so tight, until they fade away..." These two tracks - recorded in the sewing room of the infamous Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman in 1939 - may just contain the most bone-chilling a capella blues you've ever heard. " Well, Mattie had a baby and he got blue eyes - that must be the captain's, keep on hanging around..." Mattie May Thomas - Workhouse Blues Mattie May Thomas - Dangerous Blues
"A woman in a prewar Dodge coupe passed them on the road. She was headed for Brakke's. She turned into the parking lot and drove the car up to the front door. Inside, the boys were just getting started on Divorce Me C.O.D. , which had been a big hit for Merle. The woman opened the trunk and began to throw items of men's clothing out onto the parking lot. Suits, shirts, underwear, shoes, the works. When she was done, she backed the Dodge out. The future ex-Mrs. Ray McKinney headed north toward Willow Springs in a cloud [...]
Buried on a Sunday. From ancient British nursery rhyme - also known as Solomon Grundy - straight to infectuous early-sixties ska song. As a bonus: two more songs that namecheck Solomon and his rather rapid decline. And as the mighty Big Youth toasts over K.C. White's Anywhere But Nowhere , and the fun duo Lloyd & Carey utilises World Upside Down by Joe Higgs, you get to hear these excellent roots tunes as well. Big up. Eric Morris - Solomon Gundie Lloyd & Carey - [...]
"I was looking out the window and a witch flew by, whipping her broom and she said you're gonna die..." Just got the sad news that influential modern artist Mike Kelley has passed away. He was 57, and was found dead at home yesterday, an apparent suicide caused by depression. Music fans will mainly know Kelley through his artwork for Sonic Youth's fine Dirty album, but he was also a founding member of Detroit cult artpunkband Destroy All Monsters. For further reading: a full obit from the LA Times . Destroy All [...]
This ageing hipster - or should that be titan of the mediasphere - was asked to write a feature for Nerve magazine's Five Albums You Should Be Listening to Right Now . Read it here if you got a lotta nerve. Or if you're just my friend. Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street (live Sydney '66) Emile O'Connor - The Nerve Of You Motorpsycho - The Nerve Tattoo Silkworm - Nerves
"Pick it for me, James..." And mr. Burton, proud veteran of the Elvis band, takes care of business. Q.E.D. Gram Parsons - Return Of The Grievous Angel
John Cale alone on a stage is always a joy to behold. The following tracks were recorded live in 1983 at a place called The Gluepot in Auckland, New Zealand. "Looking for a friend, looking everywhere, to go walk down the boulevard, boulevard of friends..." John Cale - Leaving It Up To You John Cale - Buffalo Ballet John Cale - Chinese Envoy
Recent pickings aplenty in the For The Sake Of The Song headquarters, so let's not waste any precious time. First up: the Owsley Brothers, doing that dirty garage blues thingy very well. Rotten On The Vine is a teaser for their new album Cobalt , out in March. Can't wait, guys. On now to our Canadian pals from Woodpigeon. Love some of their tunes, while others strangely enough leave me cold somehow. This time I'm in luck, as the dreamy title track of their recent ep For Paolo definitely falls in the former [...]
"And I think I'll call it morning from now on... why should I survive on sadness and tell myself I got to be alone..." Presenting a six pack for early risers. Wakey wakey, people. Gil Scott-Heron - I Think I Call It Morning Rob Galbraith - Jezebel Of The Morning Doug Sahm - Catch Me In The Morning Lighty Singers Of Estill, SC - In The Morning When The Trumpet Sound The [...]
King Tubby may have been the dub organiser supreme, but Lee Perry wasn't that far behind. So here's Scratch behind that rickety mixing desk of his in the legendary Black Ark studio, with a couple of inventive and - contrary to the album titles - rather laidback tracks from his two tough to find Megaton Dub volumes. Lee Perry - Freedom Dub Lee Perry - Megaton Dub Lee Perry - Big Neck Dub Lee Perry - [...]
"Romeo said to the graveyard keeper, something must be done..." A somewhat belated tribute to Doll By Doll foreman Jackie Leven, Scottish gypsy with a heart of gold, who left us to play that great gig in the sky last November. Touching obit here . Doll By Doll - The Palace Of Love
Here's some more hot nederbiet for ya, with vocals in English this time, from a cool compilation I picked up recently called Dutch Beat Explosion . Do try on these rough but utterly charming mid-sixties treats with a strong Beatles influence from the land of windmills, clogs, and coffeeshops. My fave? The amazing Rodys from Groningen Rock City, who come on like a wild cross between the Kinks and Barrett-era Floyd. "Just fancy living between the people without ears..." My point exactly. The Sandy Coast - Subject Of My Thoughts [...]
"In this dirty town, there's nothing going for me..." Presenting a lunar ten pack for your listening pleasure. Just sit back and watch that ole devil come down. Thin White Rope - Moonhead Quicksilver Messenger Service - Maiden Of The Cancer Moon Dead Moon - Dagger Moon Jonathan Wilson - Valley Of The Silver Moon Lucia Pamela - Walking On The Moon Graham Parker & The [...]
High time for some more recent stuff around here. Got Is Growing Faith a tad too late for my end of year list, but otherwise White Fence's second outing could have been a contender. Fingerlickin' lofi jangle that alternately took me back to Alex Chilton, Skip Spence, Syd Barrett, and a plethora of bands on New Zealand's famed Flying Nun label. Grow faith, y'all. And then there's Israel Nash Gripka, whose Barn Doors And Concrete Floors I haven't even fully digested yet. I do know that standout track Louisiana is one tough piece of [...]
Here's to keeping the adventurous guitar spirit of John Fahey and Sandy Bull alive. And somehow, it even kind of boogies, too. Chris Forsyth - New Pharmacist Boogie (For Jack)
"I wanna be straight, I wanna be straight, I'm sick and tired of taking drugs and staying up late..." Following up on a conversation with faithful reader Holly in the post below this one, here's a fun showdown between messrs. Richman and Dury. And as a chaser: a hot quartet of not so straight jazz cuts. The Modern Lovers - I'm Straight Ian Dury & The Blockheads - I Wanna Be Straight Art Pepper - Straight Life Thelonious [...]
Maybe you have to speak the language to really dig these totally whacky Nederbiet songs... all I know is that I find them totally irresistable. The Softs wear purple pants and grow their hair long, something daddy doesn't like at all, while N.V. Group 65 travels all the way to Morocco to buy that devil weed. Meanwhile, the Dukes go wild in a bar in Turkey, and The Mokum Beat Five (from my native city Amsterdam, a.k.a. Mokum) issues a stern warning against marriage. Wonder what my non-Dutch readers think. Softs - Paarse Broek [...]
"Baby, my love will follow you, as the years go passing by..." Which basically means I'm wishing you a very funky 2012, dear readers. Albert King - As The Years Go Passing By The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year The Rumour - Frozen Years Leo Kottke - The Driving Of The Year Nail Patti Smith - My Blakean Year Howlin' Wolf - How Many [...]
"Well, you know, you can't make it without ever even trying... and something's on your mind, isn't it... tell the truth now, isn't it..." It's always time for a very special voice, and sweet mother K.D. sure had one. Bobby Notkoff plays that exquisite violin. Karen Dalton - Something On Your Mind
For The Sake Of The Song
Watch: Trailer for Dave Grohl’s documentary, Sound City
Childish Gambino - "Heartbeat" (Official Music Video)
First Aid Kit – Emmylou
Hardwell Bootleg Pack 2012
Circo Voador anuncia shows de The Kooks, Foster The People, Friendly Fires, Gogol Bordello e mais
