Cover Me Impressed: 'There Is A Light...'

With a catalog as stellar as the Smiths, it's tough to state a particular song as being the band's best, but Simon Goddard, author of the 2003 book 'The Smiths: Songs That Saved Your Life,' wrote that "in a straw poll among Smiths fans today, 'There Is a Light That Never Goes Out' would more than likely still come out victorious." There have been a few bands brave enough to take a stab at the classic, including the Lucksmiths, the Magic Numbers, the Divine Comedy and Death Cab For Cutie. Of that lot, I can recommend the Divine Comedy's take. I believe only Neil Finn's live version -- taken from the 2001 album '7 Worlds Collide' -- is in the same league as the original song from the Smiths' 1986 album 'The Queen Is Dead.'

This is as good a time as any to add the caveat that Finn had a lot of help with the song. So much so, in fact, it's almost cheating to call it a cover. You see, Johnny Marr, guitarist for the Smiths, performed with Finn during the show recorded at the St. James Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand. Other notable friends on stage for the song include Lisa Germano on violin and Phil Selway of Radiohead behind the kit. Here is the original song (ripped from my vinyl), as well as the only cover that has nailed it. Also, check out a couple of videos I dug up for the occasion. More on Mr. Finn next time. Enjoy.

The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (mp3)
Neil Finn - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (mp3)





More Cover Me Impressed:
Halloween Edition
"Porpoise Song"
"Prairie Rose"
"Come On Eileen"
"Walking On Thin Ice"
Jason Falkner Edition
"True Love Will Find You In The End"
"This Will Be Our Year"
"You're My Favorite Waste of Time"
"Nightime/Thirteen"
"The End Of The World"
"(Don't Go Back To)Rockville"
"God Only Knows"
"And Your Bird Can Sing"
"So Sad About Us"
"Everywhere"
"Walking The Cow"

New Releases: Eno, Costello and More

Get out and vote! After you've pulled the lever, head over to your local record shop for these LPs out today. LTL! isn't a democracy, however. I only give you the records I think are good.

For the second time in as many weeks, I get to mention the great Brian Eno. He showed up on Bryan Ferry's latest, 'Olympia,' and today Eno releases 'Small Craft On A Milk Sea,' his first new record in five years (album cover above). This one is for fans of 'Music for Airports.' You can stream three songs before you buy it.

Elvis Costello teamed up with T Bone Burnett in 1985 for 'King of America.' Throughout the ensuing years that has consistently been my second favorite Costello record of all time. (In case your curious, 'Get Happy!' always tops my list.) Costello and Burnett have worked together a couple of times since then, and here they are again with 'National Ransom.' With all of the guest spots and genre hopping, this one reminds me of 'King of America.' Both of his recent bands -- the Imposters and the Sugarcanes -- are here, as well as Vince Gill, Jerry Douglas, Marc Ribot and Buddy Miller. Here are a couple of live takes from the new one. If you like what you see and hear, buy it here.





On the reissue front, the Jam's catalog continues to get the deluxe edition treatment with 'Sound Affects.' The 1980 album is a must. It features the UK No. 1 "Start!" as and fan favorite "That's Entertainment." For those of you who own the 'Direction Reaction, Creation' box set, this release isn't a big deal. If you have the B-sides collection 'Extras,' it is a little more important to get this two-disc set. As for me, I don't have the Jam's take on the "Waterloo Sunset," and that is my absolute favorite Kinks tune. So, I'm in. There are more than 20 bonus tracks in all, and eight of them have never been released. Here is a look at disc two, as well as the video for "That's Entertainment." You can buy 'Sound Affects: Deluxe Edition' on the other side of the pond today, or you can pre-order here and sit for a week. We Americans don't like to wait, but I would cast a vote for patience.

Demos, B-Sides and Alternate Versions:
1. Start!
2. Liza Radley
3. That’s Entertainment
4. Pretty Green
5. Pop Art Poem
6. Rain
7. Boy About Town
8. Dream Time
9. Dead End Street
10. But I’m Different Now
11. Scrapeaway
12. Start!
13. Liza Radley
14. And Your Bird Can Sing
15. Monday
16. Get Yourself Together
17. Set The House Ablaze
18. Boy About Town
19. No One In The World
20. Instrumental
21. Waterloo Sunset

Beginning of the End for mp3 Blogs?

If, like me, you believe a good mp3 blog helps -- not hurts -- the recording industry, this article in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal will fill you with dread. In "All Eyes on France as Officials Enforce New Antipiracy Law", we learn the French government has hired a private company to watch file-sharing Web sites to determine who is illegally downloading music. The users' IP addresses are given to Hadopi, a government arm, who in turn contacts Internet providers to get the users' e-mail addresses. Warnings are sent out in the following manner:

1) An email is sent to the computer owner telling them he is legally responsible regardless of who actually downloaded the song from the device.
2) If it happens again within six months of the first warning, a registered letter is sent warning the computer owner to stop downloading.
3) A third warning results in legal proceedings and a one-year Internet blackout.

Internet providers were reluctant to help until the government passed another law fining the companies every time they didn't comply. Hadopi expects about 125,000 IP addresses a day from the country's various providers. It's thought 70 percent of those warned once will stop. Others will find a way around Hadopi, but is it worth all of the trouble?

If this country adopts a Hadopi-type bureau -- and I'm sure the powers that be are watching the French model closely -- I will close shop. There are file-sharing users out there that upload (and download) entire in-print albums, and I agree that's an abuse. If a blogger posts a song to promote an album, complete with links on how to purchase the album, however, that's where the line should be drawn. In the instance a record company or artist feels even a one-song post is one song too much, most bloggers will immediately remove the link to download. This seems fair to me. Sales are being made through this kind of promotion.

Godspeed, French mp3 bloggers. This American is thinking of you.

Cover Me Impressed: Halloween Edition

Let's follow up last year's "Like, a Totally Awesome '80s Halloween Mix" with some covers and their originals that fit the occasion. Yes, there are a couple of repeats here, but there are more treats than tricks. Cross my heart... The real curiosity of the group is keyboard wizard Steve Nieve of the Attractions doing a take on my favorite Specials tune. I think there is a pretty good chance you don't have that one. I bought it nearly 20 years ago on a two-for-one disc of his two solo albums, 'Keyboard Jungle' (1983) and 'Playboy' (1987). I hope you enjoy it. Be safe this weekend.

The Strangeloves - I Want Candy (mp3)
Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy (mp3)

The Specials - Ghost Town (12" Version) (mp3)
Steve Nieve - Ghost Town (mp3)

The Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost in You (mp3)
Robyn Hitchcock - The Ghost in You (mp3)

The Doors - People Are Strange (mp3)
Echo & the Bunnymen - People Are Strange (mp3)

Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put A Spell On You (mp3)
She & Him - I Put A Spell On You (mp3)

Download Free Show From Pixies

Pixies have relaunched their Web site, lalapixiesloveyou.com. To celebrate, the band is giving us a free download of their appearance at Coachella in 2004. Pixies promise a new show on the site each week. So, bookmark this sucker.

'Reel' Exciting: New Tapes 'n Tapes in New Year

Man, did I love the first Tapes 'n Tapes album. The Minneapolis band was all that for a bit, but their 2008 followup, 'Walk It Off,' left me cold. Now comes word the lads third album, 'Outside,' will be another self-released affair on Jan. 11. The first available song, "Freak Out," is available below, and you should eventually be able to preorder the LP here. What do you think of the new song? Don't you think it sounds a bit like something off of 'The Loon'?

Tapes 'n Tapes - Freak Out (mp3)

'Outside' Tracklist
1. Badaboom
2. SWM
3. One in the World
4. Nightfall
5. Desert Plane
6. Outro
7. Freak Out
8. The Saddest of All Keys
9. Hidee Ho
10. People You Know
11. On and On
12. Mighty Long

Bryan Ferry and Old Pals Turn Back the Clock

There is only one new release this week that interests me (outside of 'Head'). The last decade or so, Bryan Ferry's output has been pretty sporadic. With the exception of some originals on 'Frantic' in 2002, he has been in crooner mode while interpreting the songs of others. I don't know about you, but I haven't found this the least bit interesting. Still, we are talking Bryan Ferry here. In my world, outside of David Bowie, he is the coolest artist on the planet. So, finally, today's release of 'Olympia' is something for an old Roxy Music fan like me to get excited about. Brian Eno, Andy Mackay and Phil Manzanera make appearances here. It's the first time these fellas have been on a record together since 1973. Rhett Davies is producer. Davies was behind the controls of Ferry's 1985 album 'Boys and Girls.' That album and the followup, 'Bete Noire' from 1987, are his peak as a solo artist. If you don't have these two, run out to your local shop right now. Although I'm no fan of Kate Moss, it's nice to see a gal grace the album cover like the Roxy Music days. Check out the video for the first single, "You Can Dance." Can this guy really be 65 years old? Buy 'Olympia.'

Girls Announce New EP

For the price of an e-mail address, you too can have a new song from Girls. It's part of a six-song EP called 'Broken Dreams Club' that will be out on Nov. 22. It's great to hear from them again, as my top songs and albums of 2009 lists will attest. Download the song "Heartbreaker" and pre-order now.

Wake Up to Slumberland

My love for labels like Yep Roc, Merge and Matador is pretty evident, but there is a another contender that has quietly moved up my list of favorites. Slumberland has been around for more than 20 years, and I have been into one of the label's founding bands -- Velocity Girl -- for nearly that long. It has just been in the last three or four years, however, that I have noticed how many of Slumberland's bands I'm listening to from their current stable of stars.

Actually, we are a match made in heaven. The folks at Slumberland have an affinity for bands that sound like they could have come from the C-86 movement, Phil Spector's lot or the short-lived Postcard label, as do I. For me, it really started with the Lodger's debut album in 2007. Then I moved on to the Pains of Being Pure at Heart. My fondness for Slumberland became more like respect when they issued much of the Aislers Set's catalog on vinyl. Then, earlier this year, respect turned to deep appreciation when they dug up an old Chin Chin record to remind us that many of these new bands are just the next wave in the vast evolution of music.

Slumberland provided the soundtrack for much of my tough transition from Chicago to Seattle earlier this year. Here are a few of those well-worn songs. I hope you will like them, too. If you do, visit the label's site and drop a few bucks. Slumberland is one of the good guys.

Tender Trap - Do You Want A Boyfriend? (mp3)
Spectrals - 7th Date (mp3)
Procedure Club - Feel Sorry For Me (mp3)

Cover Me Impressed: 'Porpoise Song'

Yesterday's bit about the upcoming deluxe edition of The Monkees' 'Head' reminded me of a great cover I have of the soundtrack opener, 'Porpoise Song.' The Gerry Goffin/Carole King tune has been done well by a few bands including ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead (on the "Worlds Apart" single) and The Church (on their covers album 'A Box of Birds'), but I like the Wondermints' take the best. My fondness for their cover comes down to superficial things like it's on a rare 1996 Japanese import
-- 'Wonderful World of Wondermints' -- that cost me a lot of dough and was difficult to find. This was before searching for albums on the Internet, folks. Remember when the hunt for a record used to be fun and an adventure? Anyway, Wondermints are one of my favorite power-pop bands, and I recommend all of their LPs, including the ones where they backed Brian Wilson. They are only a few clicks away. Happy hunting.

Wondermints - Porpoise Song (mp3)

More Cover Me Impressed:
"Prairie Rose"
"Come On Eileen"
"Walking On Thin Ice"
Jason Falkner Edition
"True Love Will Find You In The End"
"This Will Be Our Year"
"You're My Favorite Waste of Time"
"Nightime/Thirteen"
"The End Of The World"
"(Don't Go Back To)Rockville"
"God Only Knows"
"And Your Bird Can Sing"
"So Sad About Us"
"Everywhere"
"Walking The Cow"

Monkees Soundtrack Moves to 'Head' of Class

I know I write about box sets and reissues ad nauseum. It's because I'm old and listen to a lot of fabulous music from my era and beyond. Let's face it. Acclaimed and properly aged are more or less the criteria for a deluxe edition. Thus, my fixation. Well, here's another one. (And you can bet I'll be writing about yet another one in the next day or two.)

Back in February when I wrote about Rhino Handmade's deluxe edition of 'The Birds, The Bees & The Monkees,' I proclaimed my unapologetic love for the band, and today I get to do it again. On Oct. 26, the same label will release a monster version of the wonderful and often weird soundtrack to 'Head.' Of the 58-tracks spread over three discs, 20 of them are previously unreleased and include live performances and alternate stereo mixes of just about every song on the original soundtrack. The last disc is a complete 1968 radio interview with Davy Jones that was only released as a rare promo LP. Finally, if you pre-order on Rhino's Web site, you gets a 7" single of "Porpoise Song"/"As We Go Along."

Like many of these multi-disc sets, you need to be a real fan. For one thing, it's $60. I should add if you haven't owned any Monkees records, this is not the place to start. The film was a complete flop, and neither the soundtrack nor the 'Porpoise Song' single cracked the Top 40. To say these were firsts is a huge understatement. In other words, this was the beginning of the end of what seemed like an indestructible pop group. So, why give so much attention to a disaster? Commercial success aside, the music is bold and some of the best work the band ever did... from Goffin/King goodies to the Michael Nesmith-penned "Circle Sky." It's too bad their core audience (teen girls) weren't ready to grow up a bit. Today, thankfully, 'Head' has plenty of cred.

The Monkees - Porpoise Song (Theme From 'Head') (Single Version) (mp3)

Domino Squeezes Every Ounce for OJ Box Set

It's about time. Orange Juice fans can finally rejoice. Most of the Scottish post-punk outfit's catalog has been woefully out of print for several years now, but Domino has once again come to the rescue. If you are like me, Orange Juice was a myth for many years. I heard some of my favorite bands talk about what an influence they had been, but I had never actually heard them. Finally, in 2005, Domino released 'The Glasgow School,' a reissue of OJ's early Postcard-era singles and other nuggets. I bought it the day it was released and, in my mind, they more than lived up to the legend. The label's packaging was a sight to behold as well.

Since then, I have picked up a song here and there from excellent Scottish bloggers like The Vinyl Villain, but that's been about it. That's why I'm so excited that Domino's Nov. 22 release of 'Coals to Newcastle,' a seven-disc set that includes all of Orange Juice's albums, outtakes, BBC sessions, 16 unreleased tracks and a DVD of music videos and live performances. Check out the full tracklist here. This is a call to all Franz Ferdinand fans. It's time to quit getting your OJ from concentrate (get it? just add water!) and drink in the real thing. Here is my absolute favorite Orange Juice song and a clip of the band's No. 8 hit (UK, of course) from 1983. It would be their only song to reach the Top 40. Pre-order now.

Orange Juice - Poor Old Soul (Part 1) (mp3)