Thursdays and Covers

[MP3] Jay Reatard – Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle

The news of Jay Reatard passing away last week was quite sad, especially considering it seemed like he was just entering into the prime of his musical career. Unfortunately, I never dove as deep into his catalogue as many other Reatard fans did and am only now discovering some of the great tunes he put out over the years. He’s fallen into that category with a handful of other musicians who have posthumously gained my appreciation, a bittersweet circumstance. Kurt Cobain was another artist in the same category, who I loved in adolesence some three years after he died. So, it’s only fitting one of Reatard’s last recordings is a scintillating post-punk rendition of my In Utero fave “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle”.

[MP3] Phoenix – Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowlands (Live)

I’ve never actually wondered what Phoenix would sound like shedding their guitar pop/rock lovliness for a few folky-acoustic renditions. Who needs to wonder when they go unplugged and let their rustic side shine through anyways? Stemming form the aforementioned live and unplugged set the French fellas try their hand at Bob Dylan’s “Sad Eyed Lady of The Lowlands”. I prefer them to stick to their guitar rock perfection, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

[MP3] Peter Gabriel – Flume

It’s like Connor tweeted earlier today, “I don’t like a man with two first names” (you crazy, Ron Paul). Peter Gabriel has done some cool things and I get what he’s trying to do with his new song-swap/covers album Scratch My Back but can’t help it if I think it sounds iffy (at best). He probably does enjoy all the songs he covered but also has an indie ear (Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Regina Spektor, etc) sure to keep him in the conversation.