A Word on Covers

A song cover is a tricky thing. It's a good way to introduce people to your style of music using something that they're already comfortable with... if you do it right. If you do it wrong? Well, if the best song on your album is a cover it means that you need to hire someone to write some songs for you, because you suck.

Sometimes, though, you just hit it out of the fucking park.

For example: when Morrissey recorded "First of the Gang to Die", he was probably thinking 'Yeah, that's exactly what I wanted.' I mean, it's a good song. I'm not a huge Morrissey fan, but I do like that song. He's a pretty solid musician, but normally I'm not that into his stuff. Anyway, I like "First of the Gang to Die", it's catchy. You find yourself whistling about Hector being the first of the gang with a gun in his hand.

At this point, I recommend that you click on my link above and listen to Morrissey's original recording. You can definitely see what he was going for and you can appreciate that he has achieved it.

Then, NPR's All Songs Considered podcast introduced me to the cover of this song by an artist known as Zee Avi.

Damn. She fucking nailed it. I mean, Morrissey didn't even realize that this is what his song should have sounded like! He must have heard her version and been like "Ah, come on! How could I have known that's what my song was meant to sound like?" Sucks for him, because Zee Avi's voice and inflection are perfect for that song. Good news for us though, because I find it to just be an awesome song now. I haven't listened to her other stuff yet, but this could well be one of those times when a good musician and singer needs a strong songwriter, don't know yet.

Anyway, score another one for the All Songs Considered podcast. Seriously, it's like the most consistent source for awesome new music I've found.