It’s been a while since i dedicated a post just straight down the line to the wonder that is cover versions……well it’s been a while since i did a post at all actually! But here are some absolutely sublime cover versions that have been tickling my ears recently.
Some are old ones i’ve had lying around for a while and some are ones i’ve just discovered. For example, i was unaware of MBV covering THAT classic! Anyways, have a listen and feel free to download.
LOUIS ARMSTRONG – WE HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD
The third version of Are Friends Eclectic? is the flatmate episode.
Meet my very own “personal chef” Gustav…
*WARNING: This interview contains Desperados tequila beer, red wine, two mildy drunken/stoned flatmates and references to Xylophonelove.*
SIT WOLF: Describe music in 5 or less words.
GUS: Well i’m gonna be honest and say that most music i listen to is basically something you’ve put me onto or has came from a suggestion you’ve made to me so i’ll need to go for “Here’s something you’d really like”. SIT WOLF: But that’s technically MY words then, no?
GUS: Yeah, but it’s true. SIT WOLF: Kinda cheating but i’ll let it slide.
SIT WOLF: What was the first album you bought?
GUS: Embarassing subject….The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers first album. SIT WOLF: *Almost chokes on Doritos*
GUS: I know man, i have no excuses. I need more wine just thinking about it. SIT WOLF: That’s a cross you shall wear for the rest of your life. Hang your head.
SIT WOLF: What was the last album you bought?
GUS: BT – These Hopeful Machines.
SIT WOLF: What are your views on illegal downloading/file sharing?
GUS: Music is universal so people should be free to enjoy it and share it however they like. Really, who are we to copyright it or have infringement policies on it. If you’re a smaller band you’d be glad of the exposure and if you’re in a huge band then shut the fuck up and stop moaning cos you know you make more than enough money through gigs and merchandise. SIT WOLF: Come to think of it there are some bands out there who have their own range of bed wear, mug ranges and all sorts of other shit. They shall remain unnamed as i pretty much detest them and their music and don’t want to give them any mention on here but the point is these bands aren’t just musical artists any more they’ve became brands. That’s when it gets worrying. I’m all for the expanding merchandise scene but don’t fucking moan when someone passes a copy of your album to a friend. Fuckwits. Sorry, rant over….. One more thing actually, KISS have a fucking coffin range! You can get buried in a KISS coffin! I mean, what the fuck?
GUS: Hahahahaha! Basically when it comes to downloading/sharing or whatever i agree 100% with Trent Reznor. His views are identical to mine. Oh and i HATE Lars Ulrich. SIT WOLF: You’re in good company. Nobody likes him.
GUS: Well, that little troll did try to sue his audience.
SIT WOLF: What was your very first gig?
GUS: Pitchshifter at The Garage in Glasgow back in 2001. I crowd surfed and danced in the mosh pit. SIT WOLF: Very credible first gig.
GUS: I ripped my shirt as well, not intentionally of course.
SIT WOLF: What was your last gig?
GUS: When i went to Stag and Dagger with you, Luisa and Shinead. Brilliant night. SIT WOLF: Indeed it was. We seen a few really good acts that night. Who stole the show for you?
GUS: Jaguar Love with an all round demented performance of alternative pop.
SIT WOLF: What’s the next gig you’re going to?
GUS: I might try and make it along to Pantha Du Prince with you next month actually. When is it again? SIT WOLF: Friday the 13th….spoooooky…it’s at The Captains Rest. Ten spot to get in.
GUS: Well, i’ll try make that and if i can’t then the next one will be the Crystal Castles/HEALTH gig in October. Unless there are any more gigs that pop up before then. SIT WOLF: I’m going to that too. Wild Nothing is playing Captains Rest this Wednesday actually (28th). You should come along.
SIT WOLF: If you were stuck on a desert island and told that you could only listen to 3 albums over and over again for the rest of your life, what would they be?
GUS: Is a compilation out of the question? Maybe even 3 compilations? SIT WOLF: Yes, out of the question. Has to be 3 actual albums. Enjoyed from start to finish.
GUS: Ok. Right, to chill out with at night i’d go for Aphex Twin and the “Selected Ambient Works” album. When i realise i’m lost on an island on my own i’m gonna breakdown and cry so i’ll need a pick me up. That would be the self titled Moderat album. And if i ever have to lay waste to some tribal village on the island, y’know for like supplies and stuff, then i’d like to have “The Holy Bible” by the Manic Street Preachers playing in the background. One of my all time favourite albums.
SIT WOLF: What 3 songs are currently on constant rotation on your IPod/MP3 Player?
GUS: The new Arcade Fire song “We Used To Wait”, Vitalic “Your Disco Song” and “Intro” by The XX.
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite remixes?
GUS: The KC Blitz remix of The Boxer Rebellion track “Evacuate”…. SIT WOLF: Fucking love that!
GUS: Yep, me too. That’s a perfect example of a track you got me into. Eh ok, more remixes? I do love remixes, so many to pick from. I think the James Lavelle remix of Doves “Jetstream” is brilliant, it appears on the newest Lavelle GU compilation. And lastly the PhonesLovers remix of “Banquet” by Bloc Party. Very danceable. SIT WOLF: I love Phones, he done a really good version of “Romantic Rights” by DFA 1979 as well.
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite films?
GUS: Children of Men. Such a powerful film. It’s one of those ones were you have to pay attention the whole way through but it’s worth it. Also, Withnail and I because it’s just stupidly awesome. We are “Withnail and I”! Leon is also another favourite. I mean Jean Reno just makes that film. He’s so suave, so cool. SIT WOLF: And there’s Gary Oldman. Legend. Mind when we watched Leon the morning after we moved into the flat? We were both nursing massive hangovers!
GUS: Hahaha yeah! We both had a couch each just lying there engrossed in it and thinking that we wanted a bit of whatever pills Gary Oldman was taking to make us feel better! SIT WOLF: Come to think of it, any time i’ve watched any of those 3 films with you we’ve either been drinking or hungover. We have a problem.
GUS: Wait! I forgot about “In The Loop”! SIT WOLF: Ahhhh, it’s only 3. Sorry.
GUS: But, but….Peter Capaldi. SIT WOLF: I know, i know.
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite websites?
GUS: http://www.youtube.com/, http://www.wikipedia.org/, http://www.globalunderground.co.uk/ SIT WOLF: Reasons?
GUS: Well, YouTube is self explanatory. You can watch so much good stuff on it. Global Underground is good because you can track all the DJs and find out where they are and what they’re upto. Wikipedia is just amazing for the amount of information it has. SIT WOLF: Is it all true though?
GUS: That’s part the beauty of it though that it might not be true, it all comes from people like us, it’s not a database that provides it. Oh, what about The Arches as well? SIT WOLF: That’s 4 again!
GUS: Spoil me! SIT WOLF: Ok…. http://www.thearches.co.uk/
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite cover versions.
GUS: Klaxons doing Grace’s “It’s Not Over Yet”. Frightened Rabbit covering the N-Trance “classic” of “Set You Free” and the Sneaker Pimps version of “Ashes To Ashes”. BOTH AT SAME TIME: What a hoot!
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite music videos?
GUS: Nine Inch Nails – “We’re In This Together”, amazing song and video to match. Moderat – “Rusty Nails”, visual genius and the song’s not too bad either! MGMT – “Kids”. It’s a bit trippy and scary. I feel sooo sorry for the little kid in the video.
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite TV shows?
GUS: Heroes, The Thick Of It and one that you’ll throw your bottle of beer at me for….Skins. SIT WOLF: *makes inaudible sound, yet somehow refrains from throwing said bottle of beer*
GUS: It introduced me to so much new music as well. SIT WOLF: Fair point, the music in Skins is usually really good.
SIT WOLF: Do you play an instrument? If so, which one?
GUS: I’ve played the piano on and off for 8 years. Sadly it’s one of the most impractical instruments if you know what i mean? It’s not like i could ever have dragged the piano down to the studio to jam with you and Simon. SIT WOLF: Simon was actually teaching me the piano before he went away for summer.
GUS: Well, you can play your piano scarf at the moment!
.
SIT WOLF: If you could make a Supergroup (5 members) that you’d love to hear who would be in it and what would their name be?
GUS: Ok, the name would be Altered States for a start. SIT WOLF: Think that’s taken man.
GUS: The Stump then. SIT WOLF: Hahaha. Why?
GUS: Because nobody can shift them! And it’s mildly offensive, that’s always a good thing. The members would be Cedric Bixler Zavala on lead vocal duties, as a programmer i’d have Gerno Bronsert from Modeselektor/Moderat fame. Thurston Moore on guitar, he can make anything sound bizarre yet tuneful. Nicky Wire on bass because he’s a total dick and every band needs a dick. Not too bad on the bass too though! Drummer would need to be Matt Tong of Bloc Party. Keeps brilliant rhythms.
SIT WOLF: Give me and the readers 3 bands that you think we might not know but we should check out?
GUS: BT. He’s this American producer/performer/songwriter. You can listen to him no matter what mood you’re in. He makes really catchy back to basics pop songs that don’t sell themselves short and steer clear of the corny side of that genre. Secondly, is a slowcore kinda band called “Low”. I love chilling out at night time with Low. Nathan Fake would be the last one. No two songs he makes will ever sound the same.
SIT WOLF: What would your ideal gig be (3 bands)? And where would it be?
GUS: The venue would be some tiny little tent at Benicassim festival. Like my own little VIP tent. Asobi Seksu would open the show than after a few drinks you’d need something crazy so Crystal Castles and then to finish off it would need to be something grand. A spectacle. So Arcade Fire get the nod.
SIT WOLF: Who are your 3 favourite writers?
GUS: Mark Danielewski, Irvine Welsh and Chuck Palahniuk.
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite books?
GUS: The House of Leaves, i love the way it’s written. The Rum Diaries, it’s simply anarchy in a book and The Devil In The Kitchen, it’s the autobiography of my idol Marco-Pierre White.
SIT WOLF: What songs best encapsulate your moods?
A) Happy
B) Sad
C) Angry
D) Lonely
GUS:
A) BT – Always
B) Deadmau5 – Strobe
C) Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster – Are You Living?
D) Low – Breaker
SIT WOLF: Who, in your opinion, are the 3 most attractive males in music?
GUS: eh…. SIT WOLF: If you want to skip this it’s cool?
GUS: No i will answer. Just let me think how to without coming across the wrong way. In sense of style i’ll go for Win Butler and Robbie Furze. Butlers choice of clothes really suit him, he does that look quite well. Furze just looks like a rockstar with the shaggy hair and denims. He kinda oozes that coolness that’s needed. And then Deadmau5 cos of his mask! SIT WOLF: You’re attracted to giant mice? And hey, what about my mask!?
GUS: Yours is way scarier. It’s that infected green eye that does it. It was even scarier when you turned it inside out at the Connect Festival back in 2007.
SIT WOLF: Who, in your opinion, are the 3 most attractive females in music?
GUS: This is more like it. I really like Florence Welch from Florence and The Machine. Her style and dress sense does it for me. Brody Dalle is another…. SIT WOLF: Careful now that’s my teenage crush/future wife you’re on about there!
GUS: Hahaha, you do love Brody. The third one is Zooey Deschanel. SIT WOLF: That’s my other future wife. That’s right, i’m a future bigamist.
GUS: *Looks in other direction* Arrest this man. SIT WOLF: *Puzzled* Who are you talking to?
GUS: The future police.
SIT WOLF: What are your 3 favourite album covers?
GUS: The new Foals one “Total Life Forever” is captivating. I like that. I’ve always loved UNKLE’s “War Stories” as well. And the last one would be the Tool one that had the whole hologram effect, i loved that. Intriguing. SIT WOLF: Aenima?
GUS: That’s the one.
SIT WOLF: What word best sums your musical tastes up?
GUS: Spiky
WORD ASSOCIATION: SIT WOLF words in bold. If anybody doesn’t know how to play word association (which i’m sure everybody does but i’ll explain anyway) it basically involves someone saying a word and you instantly reply with the first word that comes to mind.
AMERICA – Plastic BLOOD – Ties CHRISTMAS – Family DANGER – Mouse ECSTASY – Comedown FAILURE – Communication GOD – Partical HATE – Pointless INNOCENT – Me JOHN – Knowledgeable KISS – Hopeful LOVE – Universal MUSIC – Everyones NEW YORK – New York OLD – Classic PEOPLE – Intimidating QUIZZES – Fun REGRET – Irrelevant SING – Star TOAST – Speeches UP – High VENUE – Promising WEATHER – Permitting XYLOPHONE – Awesome SIT WOLF: I concur, i used one on the last Fragile X track, sounds so unique. Giving the Xylo some love! Some Xylove!
GUS: I liked that track. YOU – Incomplete ZULU – Warrior
Ok so a week into 2010 is a bit late for a “best of 2009” post but any regular readers (are there any?) will know i’ve had problems with hard-drives, my internet connection, my laptop in general and more recently some other stuff has came up that has prevented regular posting recently.
But back to the post..
Deciding on the songs and the order of them for this Top 30 was a hard decision (the Top 30 albums was even harder, post that at the weekend) to make. Basically there were only one rule when picking the list. The rule was that a band can not feature more than once in the list. If that rule wasn’t made then i’d have had the full APTBS album in there, shit, i’ve just gave away the identity of my album of the year haven’t i?
Apart from that it was pretty simple. 30 slots and hundreds of songs. Pick the best.
Remember though, having a song in the Top 30 songs doesn’t automatically mean that the artists will be in the Top 30 album countdown as well. Take for example Yes Giantess, Ou Est Le Swimming Pool and Stuck In The Sound. In the case of YG and OELSP they won’t make the Top albums cos they don’t have one out yet and in the case of Stuck In The Sound its because their album just wasn’t good enough (imo) to be in the Top 30. The song i included here however “Zapruder” is pure shoegaze genius. There’s also the other side of the coin. Bands like The Prodigy, MSTRKRFT and many more brought up absolute brilliant albums in 2009 but even though their albums as a collective were amazing, none of the individual tracks managed to make it into the Top 30 songs.
Sorry i’m not very good at trying to get my point across. I think i might just be trying to justify the fact that i had to leave some amazing songs out of the Top 30. I would have made a Top 500 if i had the time!
So away from the mumbled jibberish that i just wrote, here is the list in countdown style 30 to Number 1
SOMEONE’S IN THE WOLF TOP 30 SONGS OF 2009
30. Erol Alkan & Boys Noize – Death Suite (Bobermann Remix)
29. Paper Planes – Permanent Marker
28. Ou Est Le Swimming Pool – Dance The Way I Feel
27. Freeland – Borderline
26. Nathan Fake – Basic Mountain
25. Stuck In The Sound – Zapruder
24. Mew – Introducing Palace Players
23. Tigers That Talked – Artificial Clouds
22. The XX – Night Time
21. Yes Giantess – Tuff N Stuff
20. Bat For Lashes – Daniel
19. Miike Snow – Animal
18. Russian Circles – Malko
17. IAMX – I Am Terrified
16. Maybeshewill – Co-Conspirators
15. Them Crooked Vultures – New Fang
14. The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (re-release)
13. Japandroids – Wet Hair
12. Tape Deck Mountain – Ghost Colony
11. Crocodiles – I Wanna Kill
10. A Place To Bury Strangers – In Your Heart
9. The Tupolev Ghost – Diagrams
8. Moderat – A New Error
7. Ex Lovers – You Forget So Easily
6. The Big Pink – Velvet
5. Cougar – Florida Logic
4. Zaza – Sooner Or Later
3. Lymbyc Systym – Ghost Clock
2. Passion Pit – Moths Wings
And the winner of Track of 2009 goes to
1. Ex Libras – Radar
Instead of making all these tracks available individually i’ve put them all in a ZipFile for anybody who wishes to download the list. The songs have been numbered so they should play in the correct order.
From my boat, i can see your house
And when the lights are on
I can watch you move
Hear the wind whispering your name
Twice the encouragement of the real you
Callie, if you really want me to
I can always get you down
If you got the money for me
Callie, in the summer rain
You and me can dry, you see
If you got the money for me
Making amends for distant wrongs, sincere
You can run away
Leave your books behind you
But you should look back twice
Just to be on the safe side
From my boat i can see your house
But now the lights are off
There’s no one home
You are just like an avalanche
Cold as I might have guessed
But at least I’m covered up for now
In a big big way i am really small
I get off my feet but i’m still distant
Don’t you just love goodbyes?
Don’t you just love goodbyes?
Callie, let us get it over with
I can always get you down
If you’ve got the money for me
Callie in the summer rain
You and me can dry, you see
If you’ve got the money for me
Most of our lives we try so hard to find the time
I won’t care for you
Like I’m really supposed to
There are things I’ll do
That could really hurt you
Don’t you just love goodbyes?
Don’t you just love goodbyes?
156
Don’t you just love goodbyes?
156
2. THE XX – NIGHT TIME
“We’ll talk about it soon”
You mean that much to me and it’s hard to show
It gets hectic inside of me when you go
Can I confess these things to you
Well I don’t know
Embedded in my chest and it hurts to hold
I couldn’t spill my heart
My eyes gleam looking in from the dark
I walk out in stormy weather
Hope my words keep us together
Steady walking but bound to trip
Should release but just tighten my grip
Night time
Sympathize
I’ve been working on white lies
So I’ll tell the truth
I’ll give it up to you
And when the day comes it will all have been fun
We’ll talk about it soon
And I couldn’t spill my heart
My eyes gleam looking in from the dark
I walk out in stormy weather
Hope my words keep us together
Steady walking but bound to trip
Should release but just tighten my grip
Night time
Sympathize
I’ve been working on white lies
So I’ll tell the truth
I’ll give it up to you
And when the day come it will have all been fun
We’ll talk about it soon
3. TWILIGHT SINGERS – FORTY DOLLARS
“She Loves You, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah”
suckers swallow every time, airplane come erase your mind
seems there’s been an accident, telephone cost ya fifty cent
to find out the retail, gory detail
nothing here for me, i get all of my kicks for free
mangy dog without a collar, buy me love for forty dollars
i got love for sale, come on get some before it gets stale
again, i win, the double for a lie, i get my money on the fly
we’re throwin’ down, so come on by, i’ll be around
i got 3-6-9, another dollar makes a dime
y’all in double dutch again, notify your next of kin, i said
mangy dog without a collar, buy me love for forty dollars
i got love for sale, come on get some before it gets stale
now, love don’t mean a thing, but 2am and a telephone ring
love is all you need, and all you need is love
love is all you need, and all you need is love
we go underground, cos there’s emptiness above
she loves you yeah-yeah-yeah
she loves you yeah-yeah-yeah
she loves you yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah
i’m just bein’
i’m just bein’
i’m just bein’
i’m just bein’
honest
4. THE NATIONAL – BRAINY
“You might need me more than you think you will”
I’ve been draggin around from the end of your coat for two weeks
Everywhere you go is swirlin, everything you say has water under it
You know I keep your fingerprints in a pink folder in the middle of my table
You’re the tall kingdom I surround
Think I better follow you around
You might need me more than you think you will
Come home in the car you love, brainy brainy brainy
I’ve been draggin around from the end of your coat for two weeks
You keep changing you’re fancy fancy mind every time I decide to let go
I was up all night again, boning up and reading the American dictionary
You’ll never believe me what I found
Think I better follow you around
You might need me more than you think you will
Come home in the car you love, brainy brainy brainy
you might need me more than you think you will
come home in the car you love, brainy brainy brainy
5. LONGWAVE – SIRENS IN THE DEEP SEA
“You’re the only one that can”
I’ve been trying to reach you, oh
I’ve trying to get through, oh
It’s so hard to let you know
I’ve been trying, yes, it’s true, oh
You’re the only one that can
The lonely one again
You’re the only one that can
You are alone
I’ve been swimming in the deep sea
Sirens come up to greet me
But it’s not so good to be
The only one that can
The lonely once again
You’re the only one that can
You are alone
You’re the only one that can
The lonely one again
You’re the only one that can
You are alone
You’re the only one that can
The lonely once again
You’re the only one that can
You are alone
You are alone
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Someones In The Wolf 