Prayer Life can be downloaded directly by clicking here.
1. Arthur Brown "Fire".
Alice Cooper ripped THIS guy off - with the makeup and the schtick.
2. The Hold Steady "Chillout Tent"
2. The Hold Steady "Chillout Tent"
"He looked alot like Izzy Stradlin"
3. Elvis Presley "We're Coming In Loaded".
3. Elvis Presley "We're Coming In Loaded".
It took me a long time to find this.
Sounds a lot like "God's Gonna Cut You Down" with a more fish related and less vengeful, lethally vindictive God theme. I'm pretty sure this is from one of Elvis' movies that involved boats.
4. "Fox Problems" by Pilchard.
Sounds a lot like "God's Gonna Cut You Down" with a more fish related and less vengeful, lethally vindictive God theme. I'm pretty sure this is from one of Elvis' movies that involved boats.
4. "Fox Problems" by Pilchard.
A a mashup of Jimi Hendrix and um...
5. Califone "Chinese Actor" from Roots and Crowns.
5. Califone "Chinese Actor" from Roots and Crowns.
6. GoHome Productions mashup
of Pinocchio - I've Got No Strings / Radiohead - Creep / The Beatles - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds.
Pinocchio or Ralph Wiggam?
7. "Karate"
7. "Karate"
You'll have to check back for a credit. I'm still looking.
8. Broken Social Scene
8. Broken Social Scene
9. Stevie Wonder "Are You Sure Love Is The Name Of This Game?"
10. Benny Goodman "Bolero"
11. Beck "Nicotine & Gravy" from Midnite Vultures
"she looks so Israeli"
12. Dusty Springfield "Oh No! Not My Baby".
A cover of an original Motown song. Category: Doormat. A song in which stalwart denial is rewarded with an eternally stable relationship.
13. Air "Sexy Boy" from Moon Safari.
14. Bryan Ferry "I'm In the Mood For Love"
15. Lou Johnson "Always Something There to Remind Me"
13. Air "Sexy Boy" from Moon Safari.
14. Bryan Ferry "I'm In the Mood For Love"
15. Lou Johnson "Always Something There to Remind Me"
The definitive version of this song for my money. "How can I forget you?" His phrasing actually sounds like a question. Shockingly, the Onion's writers gave the best cover version of this song to Naked Eyes.
16. Langley Schools Music Project "Desperado"
I, of course, grew up thinking that this was a song by the Carpenters,
and I still find the Eagles version a little "off". So this version recorded in 1976-77 sounds still less "off". This girl sings "a bull" instead of "able".
17. The Korgis "Everybody's got to learn sometime".
16. Langley Schools Music Project "Desperado"
I, of course, grew up thinking that this was a song by the Carpenters,
and I still find the Eagles version a little "off". So this version recorded in 1976-77 sounds still less "off". This girl sings "a bull" instead of "able".
17. The Korgis "Everybody's got to learn sometime".
Not as good as Beck's cover,
but holds up okay. Thanks to Branan for the info.
If you have to, you can watch the video if only to admire the lead singer's odd pink bass.
18. Genesis "Carpet Crawlers"
but holds up okay. Thanks to Branan for the info.
If you have to, you can watch the video if only to admire the lead singer's odd pink bass.
18. Genesis "Carpet Crawlers"
from The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway. Did you know that Brian Eno worked on that album? I didn't.
But Wikipedia says he did, and I shan't argue.
19. Will Oldham "Strange Form of Life" from The Letting Go
20. Robyn Hitchcock with Gillian Welch and David Rawling, "Television" from Spooky.
21. Radiohead "Subterranean Homesick Blues". I know. The voices that appear in the chorus is fake.
22. Beach Boys Pet Sounds title track. I imagine a credit crawl up the screen.
from Wikipedia:
the brittle brassy surf of the title track, "Pet Sounds." (originally "Run James, Run", the suggestion being that it would be offered for use in a James Bond movie).
The inevitable John Barry/Brian Wilson intersection. The circle is now complete.
In my mind.
image:
Helnwein was the artist who painted the cover of "Blackout" by the Scorpians. Really.
19. Will Oldham "Strange Form of Life" from The Letting Go
20. Robyn Hitchcock with Gillian Welch and David Rawling, "Television" from Spooky.
21. Radiohead "Subterranean Homesick Blues". I know. The voices that appear in the chorus is fake.
22. Beach Boys Pet Sounds title track. I imagine a credit crawl up the screen.
from Wikipedia:
the brittle brassy surf of the title track, "Pet Sounds." (originally "Run James, Run", the suggestion being that it would be offered for use in a James Bond movie).
The inevitable John Barry/Brian Wilson intersection. The circle is now complete.
In my mind.
image:
American Prayer 2000
213 cm x 187 cm
oil and acrylic on canvas
by Gottfried HelnweinHelnwein was the artist who painted the cover of "Blackout" by the Scorpians. Really.
Another excellent podcast, Scott. These tasty treats have become something to look forward to for me. Great work!
ReplyDeleteInteresting about the Korgis' track here: this does not sound at all like the single I purchased as a lad at Payless when these one-hit-wonders had this song on the radio. Now granted, there's going to be a sonic difference between a 7" slab of cheaply made vinyl and a digital reissue, but this version is either not the original, has been heavily remastered, or a little of both. It's really apparent in the synth pads. I know my personal aesthetic leans towards the lo-fi, but the synths on the single version I have are way more analogue-y and lush than these. The vocals and mix sound different too, but I'll have to post my copy on a podcast in the near future, and we can compare. I also respectfully challenge your assertion that Beck's cover is superior. His is easily a minute or more too long, and compared to the aforementioned synths and the overprocessed electric violin, his cover is surprisingly traditional. It's cool nonetheless, but not the better from my point of view.
Speaking of future podcasts, you beat me to the punch with that (uncredited) Broken Social Scene tune, even though it sounded like you were bad-mouthing those guys earlier. And here I had a whole "Love Will Tear Us Apart" joke/ comparison to that bassline ready to go. Dang.
I just re-read the above, and realize that I sound like a geek arguing the continuity errors in episode #16 of Star Trek (the original series). I'm so ashamed.
Oh, I'm not badmouthing the 'recordy' guys. I think I'm just jealous. As with "Desparado" I didn't know the original version of the Korgi's song, so I look forward to hearing your version.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the Korgi's/Beck debate(not quite the word for it, but..) goes, I think it's a testament to the craft and structuring of the song that I could go either way. The original(?) doesn't suffer too much from its eighties production origin.
With the concision constraint of pop radio removed, the circular nature of the ending was too sweet to end so soon for Beck and Co. Both are very good.
I first heard (very late) Broken Social Scene in the movie "Half Nelson" that came out last year. It's an interesting movie, and BSS music makes up most of the soundtrack. There was a movie in the early 90s, "fresh", also set in Brooklyn (the Bronx) that used a soundtrack largely free of hiphop. Stewart Copeland did the soundtrack for that album, and it was strangely separated from the sound of the film's setting. To a fault. In this movie, there is a similar separation. Anyway.
I'd not made the Joy Division connection (Nazi muppet song) before- it's apt. Use it anyway.
Thanks for the considered comments!
By the way. I do seem to most definitely be knocking "recordy" bands. I am most definitely jealous of them. A. They are skinny. B. They have their own studios. Oh well. I like their music. Maybe they're not all skinny. But I don't know. Yes, but still.
ReplyDeleteDamn it and I skipped straight to Pouring Water tonight. Next we'll listen to Prayer Life. I agree with LB, they are really good!
ReplyDeleteJamie of the fantastic music blog, The Runout Groove has posted just yesterday the Korgis' "Everybody's Got To Learn Sometime." While this single and enviable picture sleeve are not identical to my copy (mine being b/w "The Perfect Hostess"), this version of "EGTLS" is, pops and all, the version I mentioned earlier. While not distinctly different, take a listen and I'm sure you'll agree it is better sounding. And take special note of the tonearm lift and set at the end. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great link. I'll check it out.
ReplyDelete