
Revisiting the not-so-distant past again today, this one is way to good not to pass up; Fresh off the presses is garage rock demi-gods The Dirtbombs covering fellow Detroit proto-techno classic Sharevare by A Number Of Names . The Dirtbombs - Sharevari Enjoy! LS ***PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook Fanclub [...]

Someone needs to tell God, Jesus, Zeus, Mohammed, whomever , to chill the eff out on the celebrity deaths. The latest casualty unfortunately is Mr. Cool Ruler himself, reggae legend Gregory Isaacs , who passed away today at the untimely age of 59. I know I'm not alone in saying this but he was probably one of Jamaica's finest vocalists. In fitting tribute, here he is in a somber fashion covering House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals [...]

Most people don't know this but overweening indie film vagabond Vincent Gallo also moonlights as a musician. With a career that stretches all the way back to the 80s with the infamous experimental band GRAY (which also included late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat), his current solo work seems almost at odds with his prickly demeanor; beautiful, hushed, minimal acoustic songs that border on melancholic jazz or those quieter, more introspective moments of prog rock. And for those who may think this reeks of the worst kind of dilettantism, you need only look to the company he keeps, as collaborators [...]

Here's a little something I've been dancing around to like a madman for the last few months; perennial Portugese revolving door Pop Dell'Arte and their rather glowing cover of acid house classic No Way Back by house pioneer Adonis . Too far gone... Pop Dell'Arte - No Way Back Enjoy! LS ***PS Those in Thee Versions Galore Facebook [...]

Sadly enough I was planning on doing a large Marvin Gay e - I Heard It Through The Grapevine post this week but seeing how the indomitable Ari Up of punk/post-punk pioneers The Slits has just passed away, she's getting center stage with her Dennis Bovell engineered oeuvre. The Slits - I Heard It Through The Grapevine Rest In Peace Ari LS ***PS Those in [...]

Today we got Manchester in the hizzay! And for once, unbelievably, it's got nothing to do with The Smiths, Joy Division, The Fall, The Happy Mondays or Tony Fooking Wilson. Anthemic Mancunian indie delights Elbow get covered by fellow Mancunians Tim and Sam's Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam , who churn out a rather cheerful xylophone and banjo inflected rendition of One Day Like This . Tim and Sam's Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam - [...]

While the specifics of my crimes are too lengthy to fill out today's blog posting, let's just say I've actually Been Caught Stealing twice in my life; once for a hard boiled egg, the other over a 5ml tube of Winsor & Newton Vermillion watercolour paint. Both of which I chalk up to youthful indiscretion (I was like 17/18), and the latter of which saw me pretty much curbing that derelict habit almost entirely. Save however for the occasional drunken hijinks, whose victims include anything from road cones to stuffed penguins (which [...]

I feel like I've been neglecting my reggae side recently so here's Ms. Auntie Entity herself AKA Tina Turner and her big 80s comeback, What's Love Got To Do With It getting a lovers rock/dub re-rub courtesy of The Webber Sisters (here titled What Love Got To Do With It ). The Webber Sisters - What Love Got To Do With It [...]

Given that there's a New Order Blue Monday cover being released somewhere out there on a weekly basis, it seems to make more sense to not do one of the usual round-ups but rather parcel them out on an semi-irregular, individual basis. Unlike Jolly Boys covers, whose brilliant Jamaican mento/folk covers I seem to be giving away like Halloween candy at this point. The Jolly Boys - Blue Monday [...]

You can be smart as hell Know how to add Know how to figure things On yellow pads Answer so no one knows What you just said But when you're all alone You and your head What's the computer say, it's mumbling now It says "hey Joe" It's spelled it out and "You've got angst in your pants" Somewhat indicative of the modern condition, eh? Today the Sparks sardonic synthpop classic Angst In My Pants gets [...]

The irony of today's Rolling Stones post was, try-as-I-might I could only find a handful of Versions -worthy covers of You Can't Always Get What You Want . That said, well, I got what I needed; Like yet another killer cover from old school Jamaican mento combo The Jolly Boys and the electro bhangra sounds of Opium Jukebox . Other great 'gets' were; a sweet downtempo version from Ituana , a disco cut from Aretha Franklin , several [...]

Unlike like 99% of the world, I actually really got nothing bad to say about bouffanted bad girl Amy Winehouse . Those familiar with history of Billie Holiday etc. will know that her antics are on par with most great blue singers. Drama makes for great material and boo hoo if her off-time is a little jarring for respectable street; to which I believe is what most of the gripe is over (and well I'm sure the rather unflattering press photos probably don't help much either). The only downside I can see was that she blew her shot at a James [...]

Neo-cosmic disco outfit Killer Whale (partially made up from disparate bits of ex- Nuphonic Records acts like Faze Action and Fuzz Against Junk), pay homage to the unfortunately late, but very great Arthur Russell , with a stellar live band cover of Is It All Over My Face by Russell's alter-ego Loose Joints . Primarily an avant-garde composer, Russell's unique brand of minimalist heartfelt cello ballads would literally make you weep kittens. But cutting loose from from his more cerebral efforts, as well as his day job as music [...]

Time to dust off those air drums as today we got the unholy trinity known as Rush . And tackling their modern day warrior, Tom Sawyer , are two jazz cuts from the hard hitting Bad Plus and the smooth A lex Skolnick Trio as well as a bow snapping classical rendition from the String Quartet Tribute . The Bad Plus - Tom Sawyer Alex Skolnick Trio [...]

Kudos to somebody, ANYBODY for finally covering Warp Records psych-electronic mainstay Broadcast . In this case those accolades go to Ned Collette & Wirewalker who rewire Broadcast's already 60s heavy Come On Let's Go into something akin to a Scott Walker ballad (with maybe a dash of Burt Bacharach thrown in). Ned Collette & Wirewalker - Come On Let's Go Enjoy! LS PS [...]

Where Is My Mind? Something I must ask myself on a daily basis. Today my mind is on handful of off-beat, left-field Where Is My Mind? covers by The Pixies , a song which has the dubious distinction of being broadcast live to Mars via NASA . Hands down winner today is lo-fi electronic stand-in Mr Hopkinson's Computer , who let's the Mac do all the talking. Also bending circuits are Yoav , House of Wires and the [...]

Despite the grueling recession, modern day hip-hop sill carries on it's ostentatious love affair with all things bling, begging the question: Who or where are this generation's Native Tongues ; Our De La Souls, our Jungle Brothers, our Tribe Called Quests ? While you're polishing your black medallion and waiting for those next afro-conscious super heroes, why not lend an ear to LA local favorites Carlos Nino & Miguel Atwood-Ferguson with their jazzy downtempo instrumental cover of Tribe Called Quest 's swan song hip-hop classic Find a Way [...]

"Long hair is an unpardonable offense which should be punishable by death." "Bring me the head of Elton John" (What nasty habits would you like to change?) "I'm far too generous." (Regarding a tribute album) "It wouldn't matter who's on it because if anybody covers your songs, you're incredibly grateful, as long as it's not Britney Spears". Ah Morrissey quotes. Bartlett's needs to have an entire tome dedicated to them. Well maybe not all of them. While [...]

Still under crazy deadlines this week but still have 2 seconds to put a great one out there today. LA Vampires & Zola Jesus put a truly bizarre, dubby (but not 'dub') pyschedelic spin on Dawn Penn reggae classic No, No, No (You Don't Love Me...) . Less spliff-y and more ' Music To Look At Black Light Posters Of Devendra Banhart's Dirty Beard By...' LA Vampires & Zola Jesus - No No No [...]