B-Side Of The Week: Chris Cornell

This one comes at you by request, and though it's technically not a "b-side", it's still a non-album track which is good enough for me.

This stunning song penned by Chris Cornell appears on the soundtrack to the film Great Expectations, starring Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow. Cornell performed it live while touring on his first solo album, 2000's Euphoria Morning.

Chris Cornell - "Sunshower"

Buy Chris Cornell's music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous B-Sides Of the Week:

Centro-Matic - "Not Like Anyone Would Mind"
Nirvana - "Even In His Youth"
Radiohead - "Bishop's Robes"
Catherine Wheel - "Capacity To Change"
The Black Crowes - "Waitin' Guilty"
Jeff Buckley - "Thousand Fold"
Idlewild - "Good Times Wasted"
Foo Fighters - "Baker Street"
Muse - "Fury"
Screaming Trees - "Silver Tongue"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Loaded Gun"
Stereophonics - "Carrot Cake And Wine"
Oasis - "Let's All Make Believe"
Guns N' Roses - "Shadow Of Your Love"
Ryan Adams - "What Sin Replaces Love"

Monday Morning Live: A Perfect Circle

I stumbled across this amazing live acoustic track from A Perfect Circle while sorting through my ridiculously unorganized CD collection. I have no idea where it came from, except that I know I've had it since the glory days of the old Napster. If you like this one, let me know. There may be another one like it on the same old disc...

A Perfect Circle - "Brena (live acoustic)"

Buy A Perfect Circle's music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Monday Morning Live Tracks:

Alice In Chains - "Love, Hate, Love"
K's Choice - "Believe"
Soundgarden - "Beyond The Wheel"
Lucinda Williams - "Which Will"
Doves - "WWCF --> Pounding"
U2 - "Staring At The Sun"
Damien Rice - "9 Crimes"

BRMC: Acoustic Tracks

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club are now streaming two songs from their forthcoming release, Baby 81, on their website. The songs are amazing, and if the rest of the album is as good as the streamed songs, Baby 81 will likely be one of my favorite records of the year. As a celebration of sorts, here is BRMC performing a couple of their old songs acoustic-style for XFM.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
Live Acoustic XFM Session

In Like The Rose
Going Under

Buy BRMC's music here.

Radiohead Live Project: Hail To The Thief

So we've reached the final installment of my little Radiohead live project (unless I decide to tackle the b-sides...). The band played every song off Hail To The Thief when they toured in support of it, so it wasn't difficult to compile quality versions of the tracks. I hope you've enjoyed this obsessive series of posts.

Radiohead
Hail To The Thief
Live Versions

2+2=5
Sit Down. Stand Up.
Sail To The Moon
Backdrifts
Go To Sleep
Where I End And You Begin
We Suck Young Blood
The Gloaming
There There
I Will
A Punchup At A Wedding
Myxomatosis
Scatterbrain
A Wolf At The Door

Download the set here.

Buy Radiohead's music here.
--------------------------

Radiohead Live Project:

Pablo Honey
The Bends
OK Computer
Kid A
Amnesiac
B-Sides

Son Volt: WXPN 02-23-07

Son Volt performed yesterday for WXPN at one of the station's "Free At Noon" concerts, which is exactly what it sounds like - a free concert held at noon on Fridays at World Cafe Live. The band played a bunch of songs from its forthcoming record, The Search, which hits stores on March 6th. Can't wait!

Son Volt
WXPN 02-23-07

Circadian Rhythm
Underground Dream
The Picture
Action
Methamphetamine
Highways & Cigarettes
Phosphate Skin
The Search
Bandages & Scars (on setlist but not aired)

Download the set here.

Buy Son Volt's music here.

Cover Of The Week: Cast does The Who

I'd never heard of Cast until I picked up the album of The Who covers, Substitute: The Songs Of The Who. "The Seeker" has always been one of my favorite tracks by The Who, and Cast does a great version.

Cast - "The Seeker"

Buy Cast's music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Covers Of the Week:

M.A.C.C. - "Hey Baby (Land Of The New Rising Sun)"
Gov't Mule - "30 Days In The Hole"
Veruca Salt - "My Sharona"
Soundgarden - "Come Together"
Pearl Jam - "I've Got A Feeling"
Gomez - "Getting Better"
Muse - "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"

Radiohead Live Project: Amnesiac

Radiohead's Amnesiac has some great songs on it, no question. But if I'm honest with myself, I'd have to say there are a couple that I could do without. Admitting to that is a big deal, because I think I'd enjoy listening to Radiohead play the "ABC's" song or pretty much anything. But I almost always skip "Hunting Bears" and "Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors" when listening to this record, and "Morning Bell/Amnesiac" seems a little unnecessary based on the quality of the version from Kid A. Anyway, I haven't been able to track down live recordings of those three tunes, although I was able to find a short tease of "Hunting Bears" played at the end of another song.

Radiohead
Amnesiac
Live Versions

Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box
Pyramid Song
Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors (not included)
You And Whose Army?
I Might Be Wrong
Knives Out
Morning Bell/Amnesiac (not included)
Dollars And Cents
Hunting Bears
Like Spinning Plates
Life In A Glass House

Download the set here.

Buy Radiohead's music here.
--------------------------

Radiohead Live Project:

Pablo Honey
The Bends
OK Computer
Kid A
Hail To The Thief
B-Sides

Brandi Carlile WXPN 02-20-07

One of the great things about Philadelphia's WXPN is how well they treat their members. Last night the station held a free concert for members featuring Sweet Oblivion favorite Brandi Carlile. Before I headed down to the show, I managed to set up a contraption to record the concert as it broadcast over the radio.

Carlile was fantastic as always, and she and her acoustic band played eight songs from her forthcoming sophomore effort, The Story, due out April 3rd. In addition, she threw in a couple of old favorites and bookended the set with covers. The new songs were awesome, and if you've heard her perform live before you may recognize a few of the tracks. The highlight for me had to be "The Story". When she kicked into her high register to belt out the second verse the crowd went appropriately nuts and I got shivers down my spine. What a voice! Enjoy.

Brandi Carlile
World Cafe Live
02-20-07

The Times They Are A-Changing
Late Morning Lullaby
Turpentine
Follow
Have You Ever
Josephine
Until I Die
What Can I Say
Cannonball
Downpour
The Story
---------
Throw It All Away
Folsom Prison Blues

Download the show here.

You can buy Brandi's debut or preorder her next record here.

B-Side Of The Week: Ryan Adams

Only available on import versions of Jacksonville City Nights, here's Ryan Adams' nine and a half minute slow-burning epic, "What Sin Replaces Love".

Ryan Adams - "What Sin Replaces Love"

Buy Ryan Adams' music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous B-Sides Of the Week:

Centro-Matic - "Not Like Anyone Would Mind"
Nirvana - "Even In His Youth"
Radiohead - "Bishop's Robes"
Catherine Wheel - "Capacity To Change"
The Black Crowes - "Waitin' Guilty"
Jeff Buckley - "Thousand Fold"
Idlewild - "Good Times Wasted"
Foo Fighters - "Baker Street"
Muse - "Fury"
Screaming Trees - "Silver Tongue"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Loaded Gun"
Stereophonics - "Carrot Cake And Wine"
Oasis - "Let's All Make Believe"
Guns N' Roses - "Shadow Of Your Love"

Radiohead Live Project: Kid A

When Kid A was released in 2000, it was a challenge for me. I had a difficult time getting my head around some of the new songs, although I eventually came around. In a live context, Kid A's more sonically "interesting" songs take on more of a rock feel. Good stuff. I don't believe Radiohead has ever played "Treefingers" live, so it isn't included in this set.

Radiohead
Kid A
Live Versions

Everything In Its Right Place
Kid A
The National Anthem
How To Disappear Completely
Treefingers (not included here)
Optimistic
In Limbo
Idioteque
Morning Bell
Motion Picture Soundtrack

Download the set here.

Buy Radiohead's music here.
--------------------------

Radiohead Live Project:

Pablo Honey
The Bends
OK Computer
Amnesiac
Hail To The Thief
B-Sides

Monday Morning Live: Damien Rice

I've been listening somewhat obsessively to the lead track from Damien Rice's new record, 9, and so I thought this morning's live track should reflect that. Played live with guitar, "9 Crimes" has a different energy than the piano-led studio track, but the haunting interplay between Rice's and Lisa Hannigan's vocals still does the trick.

Damien Rice - "9 Crimes (live)"

Buy Damien Rice's music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Monday Morning Live Tracks:

Alice In Chains - "Love, Hate, Love"
K's Choice - "Believe"
Soundgarden - "Beyond The Wheel"
Lucinda Williams - "Which Will"
Doves - "WWCF --> Pounding"
U2 - "Staring At The Sun"

Radiohead Live Project: OK Computer

Here we go...live versions of the songs from the best album to be released in my brief lifetime. I was hoping for some variety in the shows that these songs were culled from, but I don't have many good recordings of "The Tourist", "Electioneering", "Subterranean Homesick Alien" or "Let Down". Again, if anyone out there has some different high quality recordings of those songs, please let me know.

Radiohead
OK Computer
Live Versions

Airbag
Paranoid Android
Subterranean Homesick Alien
Exit Music (For A Film)
Let Down
Karma Police
Fitter Happier
Electioneering
Climbing Up The Walls
No Surprises
Lucky
The Tourist

Download the set here.

Buy Radiohead's music here.
--------------------------

Radiohead Live Project:

Pablo Honey
The Bends
Kid A
Amnesiac
Hail To The Thief
B-Sides

Cover Of The Week: Muse does Frankie Valli

I almost always stop flipping the channel when the movie Ten Things I Hate About You comes on. There's no rational reason for it, but I find myself compelled to watch for a little while every time. Anyway, I saw a few minutes of the movie last weekend, and I was reminded of the scene in which Heath Ledger sings Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" to Julia Stiles. Cheesy as can be, but it inspired me to post this week's cover. Here's Muse doing a version of the same tune.

Muse - "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You"

Buy Muse music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Covers Of the Week:

M.A.C.C. - "Hey Baby (Land Of The New Rising Sun)"
Gov't Mule - "30 Days In The Hole"
Veruca Salt - "My Sharona"
Soundgarden - "Come Together"
Pearl Jam - "I've Got A Feeling"
Gomez - "Getting Better"

Updates

A few old posts are now re-active by request.

Ryan Adams 07-22-2006

Radiohead 08-13-2003

Brandi Carlile: WXPN Music Festival 2006

Brandi Carlile: KCRW 2006

Isobel Campbell: WXPN 2006

Kathleen Edwards: 10-12-2005 Philadelphia

My Morning Jacket: 06-23-2005

Radiohead Live Project: The Bends

The Bends is one of the best albums of the past twenty years, and Radiohead performed many fantastic versions of the album's songs live over the years. So it was easy to find great quality recordings of the record, except for that pesky song, "Sulk". I can't seem to find a pristine recording of the band playing that one live. They didn't play it much, except during the 1994-1995 tours, and all that I have is audience recordings. If anyone out there has a better quality version please send me an email.

Radiohead
The Bends
Live Versions

Planet Telex
The Bends
High And Dry
Fake Plastic Trees
Bones
(Nice Dream)
Just
My Iron Lung
Bullet Proof...I Wish I Was
Black Star
Sulk
Street Spirit (Fade Out)

Download the set:
Part I
Part II

Buy Radiohead's music here.
--------------------------

Radiohead Live Project:

Pablo Honey
OK Computer
Kid A
Amnesiac
Hail To The Thief
B-Sides

B-Side Of The Week: Guns N' Roses

I used to love Guns N' Roses. But I had to...move on. When I was in high school I couldn't get enough of their music, and Slash's guitar stylings still do it for me to this day. That being said, I don't really listen to them anymore, and I couldn't care less about Axl Rose's Chinese Democracy. So this week's b-side is more of a curious test on my part. I'm wondering if this early-era track will have any appeal to the folks who stop by this blog. "Shadow Of Your Love", off the "Live And Let Die" single, is a blistering rocker, featuring the group in its original form, kicking it like the hungry young band that they were. Takes me back...

Guns N' Roses - "Shadow Of Your Love"

Buy Guns N' Roses music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous B-Sides Of the Week:

Centro-Matic - "Not Like Anyone Would Mind"
Nirvana - "Even In His Youth"
Radiohead - "Bishop's Robes"
Catherine Wheel - "Capacity To Change"
The Black Crowes - "Waitin' Guilty"
Jeff Buckley - "Thousand Fold"
Idlewild - "Good Times Wasted"
Foo Fighters - "Baker Street"
Muse - "Fury"
Screaming Trees - "Silver Tongue"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Loaded Gun"
Stereophonics - "Carrot Cake And Wine"
Oasis - "Let's All Make Believe"

Radiohead Live Project: Pablo Honey

Radiohead is one of my absolute favorites bands, and I thought it would be fun to post all of their albums...as compilations of live performances. Obviously I won't post their commercially available album tracks, you should go buy them if you don't own them already. But their prowess as a live act is such that hearing the albums performed live in the proper track order ought to be interesting. I've restricted myself to soundboard, TV or radio sources unless those sources weren't available in my collection. So here we go...

Radiohead
Pablo Honey
Live Versions

You
Creep
How Do You?
Stop Whispering
Thinking About You
Anyone Can Play Guitar
Ripcord
Vegetable
Prove Yourself
I Can't
Lurgee
Blow Out

Download the set:
Part I Part II

Buy Radiohead's music here.
--------------------------

Radiohead Live Project:

The Bends
OK Computer
Kid A
Amnesiac
Hail To The Thief
B-Sides

Monday Morning Live: U2

This morning's live track is one of my favorite 2nd era U2 songs. That is, this live acoustic version is one of my favorites. I never really cared much for the studio cut, but hearing Bono and Edge harmonizing over acoustic guitars brought this song to life for me.

U2 - "Staring At The Sun (live)"

Buy U2's music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Monday Morning Live Tracks:

Alice In Chains - "Love, Hate, Love"
K's Choice - "Believe"
Soundgarden - "Beyond The Wheel"
Lucinda Williams - "Which Will"
Doves - "WWCF --> Pounding"

Cover Of The Week: Gomez does The Beatles

According to the number of downloads they're getting, folks seem to love these Beatles covers. My friends would enjoy the irony since I don't ever listen to The Beatles. They've always been one of those bands that I appreciate but don't really like. I much prefer to hear other bands I like cover their songs. So here we go with another Beatles cover, this one brought to you by Gomez. They contributed to the recent covers album, Endless Highway - The Music Of The Band, which I've definitely got to pick up.

Gomez - "Getting Better"

Buy Gomez's music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Covers Of the Week:

M.A.C.C. - "Hey Baby (Land Of The New Rising Sun)"
Gov't Mule - "30 Days In The Hole"
Veruca Salt - "My Sharona"
Soundgarden - "Come Together"
Pearl Jam - "I've Got A Feeling"

Massive Attack: Live From Abbey Road

Just found a DVD of this performance on DimeADozen, and after watching I knew I had to share the audio. Massive Attack is so freaking good live, and they played "Angel", one of my absolute favorites off 1998's Mezzanine.

Massive Attack
Live From Abbey Road

Teardrop
Mezzanine
Angel

Download the songs here.

Buy Massive Attack's music here.

B-Side Of The Week: Oasis

Oasis has recorded just about as many b-sides as proper album tracks. Some of these non-album tracks are fully realized songs, some are demos of the album tracks featuring vocals by Noel Gallagher, and some are live or acoustic renditions of popular Oasis tunes. In other words, Oasis is the kind of band that makes being a collector a ton of fun.

This week's b-side comes from the "Go Let It Out" singles off of 2000's Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, the sessions of which produced a slew of ace b-sides.

Oasis - "Let's All Make Believe"

Buy Oasis music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous B-Sides Of the Week:

Centro-Matic - "Not Like Anyone Would Mind"
Nirvana - "Even In His Youth"
Radiohead - "Bishop's Robes"
Catherine Wheel - "Capacity To Change"
The Black Crowes - "Waitin' Guilty"
Jeff Buckley - "Thousand Fold"
Idlewild - "Good Times Wasted"
Foo Fighters - "Baker Street"
Muse - "Fury"
Screaming Trees - "Silver Tongue"
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - "Loaded Gun"
Stereophonics - "Carrot Cake And Wine"

Monday Morning Live: Doves

This week's live feature comes from Doves. Though for some reason I can't fully embrace all of their music, this track is fantastic. Recorded in 2005 in Brooklyn, here's "Where We're Calling From --> Pounding", both from 2002's The Last Broadcast. The latter is one of the best tunes in their catalog.

Doves - "WWCF --> Pounding (live)"

Buy Doves' music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Monday Morning Live Tracks:

Alice In Chains - "Love, Hate, Love"
K's Choice - "Believe"
Soundgarden - "Beyond The Wheel"
Lucinda Williams - "Which Will"

New Juliana Hatfield Tune

Juliana Hatfield posted a new song on her MySpace page called "Can't Worry About That". It's more of a proper tune than the one she previously posted.

Juliana Hatfield - "Can't Worry About That"

Buy Juliana Hatfield's music here.

Rage Against The Machine: Woodstock '99

The first time I saw Rage Against The Machine live, they didn't actually play a single song. They came to Philadelphia as part of 1993's Lollapalooza fest. I'd heard great things about them and was interested to see what they were all about. But when they came onto the main stage for their set it was clear we weren't in for a typical show. They were stark naked, with duct tape over their mouths and the letters PMRC written on their chests amid a squeal of incessant feedback, an obvious protest against the Parents Music Resource Center's censorship campaign. The band stood there for about twenty minutes before being escorted off the stage by police. At the time I was bummed that they didn't play, but their protest has since become one of my favorite concert war stories to recount. As an aside, the Philly show from this Lollapalooza was also the first gig that Tool played on the main stage. They blew me and my friends away, and I've been a huge fan ever since.

I thought I'd acknowledge RATM's pending reunion for Coachella 2007 by posting this gig from 1999's infamous Woodstock. You remember this one - where the airfield was burning at the end of a festival full of violence. Rage's set was considered the highlight by many, and they stirred the pot by burning an American flag during "Killing In The Name".

Rage Against The Machine
Woodstock 1999

No Shelter
People Of The Sun
Know Your Enemy
Born Of A Broken Man
Vietnow
Bullet In The Head
The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Bombtrack
Wake Up
Bulls On Parade
Freedom
Township Rebellion
Killing In The Name

Download the set here.

Buy RATM's music here.

Cover Of The Week: Pearl Jam does The Beatles

Last week's cover, Soundgarden doing "Come Together", was crazy popular, so I thought I'd throw another Beatles cover out there. This one comes from certain versions of the "Alive" singles off of Pearl Jam's debut, Ten. It's got some great improvised lyrics that make reference to the band's appearance in Cameron Crowe's movie Singles.

Pearl Jam - "I've Got A Feeling"

Buy Pearl Jam's music here.
-------------------------------------------

Previous Covers Of the Week:

M.A.C.C. - "Hey Baby (Land Of The New Rising Sun)"
Gov't Mule - "30 Days In The Hole"
Veruca Salt - "My Sharona"
Soundgarden - "Come Together"