Mix CD #42 - Covers Vol. IV: Do Anything You Wanna Do

Hello and welcome to the first mix of 2019!

It's yet another instalment of cover versions because a) I like cover versions and b) it's a bit early in the year to have much current stuff to put on a mix, so I figured I could hide the fact it's all old stuff by doing a themed one.
There's a variety of stuff here but hopefully, you should like it all. I tried to stick to either a well-known band, a well-known song or a combination of both. In the cases where it's neither, it's because it's a dead good one, I promise!

As always, there's a Download link below the tracklisting, should you wish to actually hear the songs I've blabbed on about. I'll also stick links to the previous three cover mixes I've done if you're interested.

It'll be back to normal next month, Thanks for reading and all that!

Tracklisting
The Almighty - Do Anything You Wanna Do
Stavesacre - Burn The Witch
The Interrupters - The 11th Hour
Sir Hedgehog - Call Me
Neko Case & Nick Cave - She's Not There
Kathryn Williams - I Started A Joke
The Castor Troys - Runnin' Down A Dream
Paradise Lost - Small Town Boy
Refused - Voodoo People
Horrorpops - Rebel Yell (Live)
Gomez - Getting Better
Shaolin Death Squad - Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To...)
Hogwash - Save Me
Jade Bird - I've Been Everywhere
Andrew WK - Fly! Gundam
Napalm Death  - War's No Fairytale
Oceans Of Slumber - Nights In White Satin
Carter USM - This Is How It Feels
The Dresden Dolls - Pretty In Pink
Orphaned Land - Jeremy
Liv Kristine - Streets Of Philadelphia
Captain T - We Are The World

HERE's where you can download all the music, MP3 style.



The Almighty - Do Anything You Wanna Do
Originally by Eddie & The Hot Rods

These days Ricky Warwick is best known as the vocalist in Black Star Riders (and Thin Lizzy) but, to me, he'll always be the frontman of these Britrock stalwarts. I would imagine the majority of you are aware of the original version of this classic song and The Almighty stick fairly close to it. Thankfully, Ricky's distinctive, gravelly vocals stand out and give it enough of a spin not to be a pointless cover.

Stavesacre - Burn The Witch
Originally by Radiohead

I'm not particularly familiar with anything Radiohead did after Kid A so I'd not heard the original of this song until I actively listened to it to compare. I know I'm biased as Stavesacre are one of my favourite bands but I prefer this version of the song. I just think it has a bit more oomph and gravitas about it. I'm sure there's plenty of folks would like to disagree.

The Interrupters - The 11th Hour
Originally by Rancid

The Interrupters aren't doing themselves any favours with regards to Rancid comparisons by covering a Rancid song but it's a lively, enjoyable version of it and, with vocalist Aimee, there's one obvious difference between the two Ska Punk bands. They're a great band and The 11th Hour (Rancid's version) is one of the highlights on an almost flawless Punk album (...And Out Come The Wolves) so there's not much to not enjoy here.

Sir Hedgehog - Call Me
Originally by Blondie

I don't know a whole lot about this Stoner band, I think they're possibly Canadian but their lone (self-titled) album is excellent and this version of the Blondie classic is a hidden track on it, The song is instantly recognisable but they've beefed it up considerably and Jonas Fairley's impressive howl wails all over it. 
I've had a Google and they were indeed Canadian and Jonas is currently the drummer is Jake E. Lee's new band apparently, which is a shame because he's a wasted talent behind a kit. Not that drummers aren't talented. bah, you know what I mean, he's good at the singing.

Neko Case & Nick Cave - She's Not There
Originally by The Zombies

Originally on a True Blood soundtrack, this peculiar but enjoyable version of another classic is the creepy slice of Gothic Americana you'd expect from this pair. I'm a massive fan of both artists so when I found out this existed, I was pretty excited and it doesn't disappoint. 

Kathryn Williams - I Started A Joke
Originally by Bee Gees

Kathryn Williams is an English contemporary Folk singer, that I used to listen to quite a bit around the turn of the Millenium but lost track around 2004/05. I've been relistening to those CDs lately and since discovered she's released a ton of stuff since. I'll need to track it down. The Bee Gees version of this song is a bit wet and simpering but Kathyrn 's version is delicate, fragile and a thing of beauty.

The Castor Troys - Runnin' Down A Dream
Originally by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

This Canadian band offer up a Punk fuelled blend of Hard Rock and Runnin' Down A Dream is from their promising debut EP, Legends Never Die. It's faster and harder than the original, imbued with a sense of urgency and energy. it's a great version of a classic song. I'd recommend checking out that EP too, their own songs are pretty decent too.

Paradise Lost - Small Town Boy
Originally by Bronski Beat

Well, this is a weird one. Yorkshire's premier Gothic miserablists covering an iconic Gay anthem. Obviously, Nick Holmes doesn't even attempt to mimic Jimmy Somerville's distinctive helium falsetto but this works and works well. I dunno, maybe the themes of societal rejection and bullying are things that both the LGBT and Rock/Metal scenes/subcultures can identify with. This cover was recorded as a bonus track on 2005's underrated Symbol Of Life so it was after their foray into Synthy Goth Rock but before they started down a path back to their heavier roots. 

Refused - Voodoo People
Originally by The Prodigy

This is another fairly unusual pairing, Sweden's massively influential Hardcore band covering, well, you know who The Prodigy are. This is a riff-heavy, mostly instrumental version of the classic single from Music For The Jilted Generation. and, while t may be heavier than the original, it's still very dance-along-to-able.

Horrorpops - Rebel Yell (Live)
Originally by Billy Idol

Horrorpops are a Psychobilly outfit from Denmark, fronted by Patricia Day who cuts a striking image with her double bass. I saw them live back in 2005/2006 (during which they played this song) and they were excellent. As are all three of their albums (Hell Yeah, Bring It On and Kiss Kiss Kill Kill) I don't know if they're even still performing as their last album was back in 2008 but they aren't listed as defunct anywhere that I can find.

Gomez - Getting Better
Originally by The Beatles

Getting Better isn't one of the better known Beatles songs but I still seem to have a couple of different cover versions of it, this being one of them. It's a gentle yet jaunty, cheery version of it. It kind of feels like it could be used in one of them cute little Pixar montages or something. There are several lead vocalists in Gomez, Getting Better is sung by Ben Ottewell, whose husky voice is vaguely reminiscent of Eddie Vedder. A bit.

Shaolin Death Squad - Death On Two Legs (Dedicated To...)
Originally by Queen

The first of two Queen covers, this Texan Avant-Garde mob play it surprisingly straight with this cover of one of Freddie's more vitriolic songs, about a manager that ripped them off. It's more polished, better produced and a little crunchier than the original but, other than, that, it's pretty similar.

Hogwash - Save Me
Originally by Queen

This French Punk band offer up a predictably rawer Queen interpretation. It begins with a piano-led intro but soon shoots off into Melodic Punk with the songs massive, anthemic chorus lending itself well to that style. It's such an iconic song that it's difficult to make it sound like one of your own but I think Hogwash do a reasonable job.

Jade Bird - I've Been Everywhere
Originally by Johnny Cash

I've really enjoyed the last couple of singles (Uh Huh and Love Has All Been Done Before) from this young, British singer and her debut album is due in the next couple of months and I'm sure something from it will feature on this blog at some point. In the meantime, here's her stripped back performance of Johnny Cash's frenetic list of places in America he's been. 

Andrew WK - Fly! Gundam
Originally by Koh Ikeda and Takeo Watanabe

The king of gormless fun unleashes a cover that's both gormless and fun. In fact, he released an entire album of gormless, fun Gundam covers but I've chosen the most obvious one for this mix. The original Japanese version was the theme tune of Mobile Suit Gundam from 1979. AWK has rocked it up, translated it into English and turned it into an endearingly cheesy Rock Anthem that's had had me bellowing "Gundamuuuuuu!" at inopportune times. 

Napalm Death  - War's No Fairytale
Originally by Discharge

While not as short as quite a lot of their earlier songs, Napalm Death tear through this no-holds-barred Discharge track in little over a minute, beefing up what was already a pretty brutal song. It absolutely crushes and isn't much fun for a casual listener. 

Oceans of Slumber - Nights In White Satin
Originally by The Moody Blues

Almost as long as the last three songs combined, Oceans Of Slumber turn a grandiose 60's classic ballad into an atmospheric, sprawling slice of modern Prog Metal. Their version still has all the flamboyancy but manages to also be quite understated and fragile. Cammie Gilbert has a fantastic, soulful and emotive voice that helps the band stand out among their contemporaries. I love this version but their own stuff is also well worth checking out if you're unfamiliar with them.

Carter USM - This Is How It Feels
Originally by Inspiral Carpets

This is probably the only Inspiral Carpets song I remember from back in the Madchester days. It's massively anthemic and that chorus has stayed with me for 30 years or so, despite not hearing it in all that time. Carter's Electropunk version is more raucous and angry but that seems to fit the song well. You should be angry if you're made to feel small! This is also one of the rare Carter songs to feature some lead vocals from Fruitbat as well as Jimbob.

The Dresden Dolls - Pretty In Pink
Originally by The Psychedelic Furs

I was lucky enough to catch The Dresden Dolls live at the height of their popularity and was struck at just how heavy they were live, especially considering it was just piano and drums, Brian Viglione is a powerhouse! Pretty In Pink is one of their more upbeat, lively songs and the tale of a woman who equates promiscuity with popularity fits into their style well. There's some tasty melodica warbling away on this too.

Orphaned Land - Jeremy
Originally by Pearl Jam

This Israeli band normally play a blend of the Folk, Progressive and Death variety of Metals. For this though, whipped out the acoustics and the flutes for an interesting, Eastern-flavoured version of this Pearl Jam classic. I wouldn't say it was better but they've certainly done something different with it and I really like their take on it,

Liv Kristine - Streets Of Philadelphia
Originally by Bruce Springsteen

Best known as the vocalist in, the Norwegian Symphonic Metal band, Leaves' Eyes but now the co-vocalist in her sister's band, Midnattsol. Liv has also released several solo albums, all of differing genres. Enter My Religion is mostly Synthpop and Streets Of Philadelphia is from that album. I guess it's not too different to Bruce's, apart from her vocals, it's a laid back, Trip Hoppish meander that's a world away from Leaves' Eyes.

Captain T - We Are The World
Originally by USA For Africa

Captain T released a few albums around the turn of the Millenium that were equal parts Stoner Metal and Proggy Psychedelia, often with a warped sense of humour. Much like this opening track of their '98 album U.S. Aliens. It's Marilyn Manson style Gothic Industrial take on 1980's America's take on Band Aid and is a twisted, sick pisstake of the song. It's a lot of, slightly offensive, fun and the Captain's closing rant is both glorious and a fitting end to the mix.

Previous Instalments
Covers Vol I. - Such Great Heights
Covers Vol.II - Come out And Play
Covers Vol III - I Don't Like Mondays