Monday Morning Live: QOTSA

I thought we'd start this week off with a bludgeoning live track from Queens Of The Stone Age. The studio version of this song appeared on Songs For The Deaf, the album which featured Dave Grohl on drums. Like the studio version, this live tune is made doubly cool by the fact that Mark Lanegan performs vocal duties.

QOTSA - "A Song For The Dead (live)"

Buy QOTSA's music here.
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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"
A Perfect Circle - "Brena (acoustic)"
Juliana Hatfield - "Nirvana"
Ryan Adams - "New York, New York"
Tool - "Intolerance"
Idlewild - "Love Steals Us From Loneliness"
Josh Ritter - "Thin Blue Flame"
Radiohead - "Creep" + bonus tracks

Cover Of The Week: Stereophonics do Nirvana

Yes, folks, it's another Nirvana cover. This week finds us revisiting the Stereophonics as they tackle the tune "Something In The Way", the closing track on Nevermind. The Phonics' version is pretty much by-the-numbers, but singer Kelly Jones' raspy voice, a good fit for the song, makes for an enjoyable listen.

Stereophonics - "Something In The Way"

Buy Stereophonics music here.
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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"
Cast - "The Seeker"
Manic Street Preachers - "Been A Son"
Steve Earle - "Breed"
Sheryl Crow - "Keep On Growing"
Nine Inch Nails - "Dead Souls"
Kathleen Edwards - "A Face In The Crowd"
Catherine Wheel - "Spirit Of Radio"
Stanley Jordan - "Stairway To Heaven (live)"

B-Side Of The Week: Foo Fighters

I'd almost forgotten how much I like this week's b-side. I hadn't listened to this track in ages b/c it's buried on the soundtrack for the film Godzilla (the tragically bad one starring Matthew Broderick). It's a typical Foo Fighters song in many ways, starting out mellow and poppy and then taking a turn towards the rawk in the second half of the song with a chunging rock riff, elevated by swelling strings and pounding drums.

Foo Fighters - "A320"

Buy Foo Fighters music here.
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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"
Chris Cornell - "Sunshower"
Feeder - "Bruised"
Snow Patrol - "Post Punk Progression"
Jeff Buckley - "Strawberry Street"
Rainer Maria - "Automatic"
Radiohead - "Coke Babies"
Gomez - "Shot Shot (Folk Shot)"

Monday Morning Live: Radiohead

I've always loved this version of Radiohead's "Creep". At the peak of the song, singer Thom Yorke holds a note on the word "rrrrrrrrrrrrruuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnn" for what seems like an eternity. Good times.

Radiohead - "Creep (live)"

Buy Radiohead's music here.

Hidden Bonus Tracks:

I recently found what appears to be the only soundboard recording of Radiohead's 2006 "we need a break from recording" tour. Here are the two new songs that they played in the set. If you are interested in the whole show, just send me an email and if there's enough interest I'll post the rest of it.

Radiohead - "Down Is The New Up (live)"
Radiohead - "Bangers 'N' Mash (live)"

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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"
A Perfect Circle - "Brena (acoustic)"
Juliana Hatfield - "Nirvana"
Ryan Adams - "New York, New York"
Tool - "Intolerance"
Idlewild - "Love Steals Us From Loneliness"
Josh Ritter - "Thin Blue Flame"

Matthew Good covers Josh Ritter

I found this little gem while trolling the 'internets' last night. Matthew Good, one of my favorite musicians, did a live acoustic cover of Josh Ritter's fantastic tune "Girl In The War", the lead track from last year's The Animal Years. Good is set to release a new album early this summer, and he will do an acoustic tour in Canada to support it. Guess I know what part of my summer plans will be.

Matthew Good - "Girl In The War (live acoustic)"

Buy Matthew Good's music here.

Cover Of The Week: Stanley Jordan does Led Zeppelin

I thought I'd try something a little different for this week's cover. Stanley Jordan is a solo guitarist, and he sounds like no one I've ever heard before. I had the good fortune to see him live at a small concert hall in Delaware years ago, and he blew my mind. Here he is doing a live version of Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven". All the sounds you hear are just Stanley doing his thing. Give it a shot.

Stanley Jordan - "Stairway To Heaven (live)"

Buy Stanley Jordan's music here.
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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"
Cast - "The Seeker"
Manic Street Preachers - "Been A Son"
Steve Earle - "Breed"
Sheryl Crow - "Keep On Growing"
Nine Inch Nails - "Dead Souls"
Kathleen Edwards - "A Face In The Crowd"
Catherine Wheel - "Spirit Of Radio"

Maria Taylor: KCRW 04-02-2007

Maria Taylor visited Nic Harcourt at KCRW earlier this month while supporting her sophomore effort, Lynn Teeter Flower. I really like her stuff in spots, and the highlights for me from this set were "Clean Getaway" and a rocking rendition of "A Good Start".

Maria Taylor
KCRW 04-02-07

Replay
Small Part Of Me
Speakeasy
Clean Getaway
Ballad Of Sean Foley
A Good Start
Xanax

Download the set here.

Buy Maria Taylor's music here.

B-Side Of The Week: Gomez

A friend just pointed out that I've tragically neglected to post anything from Gomez, a band with a bevy of outstanding b-sides, in this weekly feature. Until now, that is.

This track is an alternate version of the first single from their In Our Gun record. It starts out slow and trippy and then goes off the charts into noise rock land. Methinks the boys in Gomez may partake of the good bud from time to time...

Gomez - "Shot Shot (Folk Shot)"

Buy Gomez records here.
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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"
Chris Cornell - "Sunshower"
Feeder - "Bruised"
Snow Patrol - "Post Punk Progression"
Jeff Buckley - "Strawberry Street"
Rainer Maria - "Automatic"
Radiohead - "Coke Babies"

Brandi Carlile: KCRW 04-05-07

Brandi Carlile is out working the promo trail for her stellar new album, The Story, and we fans get to reap the benefits. Here she is performing with her band for Nic Harcourt on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic a couple of weeks ago.

Brandi Carlile
KCRW 04-05-07

Late Morning Lullaby
Have You Ever
Josephine
Downpour
Turpentine
Cannonball
The Story
Sixty Years On

Download the set here.

Buy Brandi Carlile's music here.

Monday Morning Live: Josh Ritter

This morning's feature is Josh Ritter performing the epic "Thin Blue Flame" from his LP The Animal Years.

Josh Ritter - "Thin Blue Flame (live)"

Buy Josh Ritter's music here.
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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"
A Perfect Circle - "Brena (acoustic)"
Juliana Hatfield - "Nirvana"
Ryan Adams - "New York, New York"
Tool - "Intolerance"
Idlewild - "Love Steals Us From Loneliness"

Chris Cornell: New Music!

Can't wait until Sunday 4/22 b/c I get to see Chris Cornell play with his new band at the tiny little TLA on South Street. Recent set lists included a bunch of Soundgarden songs, as well as Temple Of The Dog's "Hunger Strike" and "Say Hello 2 Heaven"!

He's streaming the first single, the rocking "No Such Thing", on his newly revamped website, and he's making the rounds doing radio shows and TV to promote the new record. There's a rumor going around that he may record a special acoustic set for Philly's WMMR sometime this week before the TLA gig. What I wouldn't give to see that taping...

I've started collecting the various performances Cornell's done to get the promo machine started, and I thought I'd post the grandest one of all first. Here's his recent Yahoo Live Set with the full band. Cornell's voice sounds top notch - hardly any of the sketchy notes that plagued him during some of the Audioslave shows.

Chris Cornell
Yahoo Live Set 2007

Outshined
Poison Eye
What You Are
Burden In My Hand
Can't Change Me
Billie Jean
No Such Thing
Arms Around Your Love
Black Hole Sun

Download the set here.

Buy Chris Cornell's music here.

U2: 11-07-1987 Denver, CO

I was at a friend's house Friday night and they happened to put U2's phenomenal Joshua Tree in the CD player at one point. Hearing each great song unfold one by one reminded me how much I adore that record.

So, on this dreary, rainy Sunday during the 20th anniversary year of the record's release, I thought I'd post a Joshua Tree-era U2 gig that many fans and traders claim is the definitive live recording of the band from that time.

U2
11-07-1987
Denver, CO
(soundboard source)

Where the Streets Have No Name
I Will Follow
Trip Through Your Wires
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For
Gloria
MLK
The Unforgettable Fire
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Exit
In God's Country
Helter Skelter
Help!
Bad
October
New Year's Day
Pride (In the Name of Love)
Star Spangled Banner
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still
Silver and Gold
Spanish Eyes
With or Without You
"40"

Download the show here.

Buy U2's music here.

Link Update

By request:

Soundgarden: 10-24-1989 Providence, RI

Cover Of The Week: Catherine Wheel does Rush

This week's cover features a spirited cover of Rush by Catherine Wheel. The song appeared as one of the hidden tracks on their b-sides compilation, Like Cats And Dogs, in 1996.

Catherine Wheel - "Spirit Of Radio"

Buy Catherine Wheel's music here.
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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"
Cast - "The Seeker"
Manic Street Preachers - "Been A Son"
Steve Earle - "Breed"
Sheryl Crow - "Keep On Growing"
Nine Inch Nails - "Dead Souls"
Kathleen Edwards - "A Face In The Crowd"

B-Side Of The Week: Radiohead

I thought I'd revisit Radiohead for this week's b-side. "Coke Babies" is one of their more elusive tracks, released only on the UK version of the singles for "Anyone Can Play Guitar" back in 1993 just before the release of their debut record, Pablo Honey. It's got a similar feel to the final track on Pablo Honey, "Blow Out", in that it builds to a rocking crescendo of guitars at the end.

Radiohead - "Coke Babies"

Buy Radiohead's music here.
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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"
Chris Cornell - "Sunshower"
Feeder - "Bruised"
Snow Patrol - "Post Punk Progression"
Jeff Buckley - "Strawberry Street"
Rainer Maria - "Automatic"

Monday Morning Live: Idlewild

This week's feature is a live acoustic rendition of "Love Steals Us From Loneliness" taken from Idlewild's 2005 XFM session. This version is fairly different from the studio track, which was a single off the band's 2005 LP, Warnings/Promises. Their new record, Make Another World, is pretty sweet too, by the way.

Idlewild - Love Steals Us From Loneliness (live acoustic)

Buy Idlewild's music here.
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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"
A Perfect Circle - "Brena (acoustic)"
Juliana Hatfield - "Nirvana"
Ryan Adams - "New York, New York"
Tool - "Intolerance"

Cover Of The Week: Kathleen Edwards does Tom Petty

We love Kathleen Edwards' brand of country infused americana rock here at Sweet Oblivion. This week's cover is a rare b-side from Ms. Edwards. Taken from the "Back To Me" single from her record of the same name, here's her version of Tom Petty's "A Face In The Crowd".

Kathleen Edwards - "A Face In The Crowd"

Buy Kathleen Edwards' music here.
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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"
Cast - "The Seeker"
Manic Street Preachers - "Been A Son"
Steve Earle - "Breed"
Sheryl Crow - "Keep On Growing"
Nine Inch Nails - "Dead Souls"

Link Update

By request, I re-upped the following show:

Rob Dickinson: KEXP 01-19-2006

B-Side Of The Week: Rainer Maria

I've written about being a fan of Rainer Maria before, so I'll hold back on the kudos to this fine indie-pop group. This week's b-side was released on an EP for "Ears Ring", one of the singles from their 2003 LP, Long Knives Drawn. In many cases, if you've never heard a band before, then hearing a b-side is not the ideal introduction to their music. In Rainer Maria's case, "Automatic" is a strong enough song that I'd consider it a perfectly fine intro to their brand of pop rock. Enjoy.

Rainer Maria - "Automatic"

Buy Rainer Maria's music here.
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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"
Chris Cornell - "Sunshower"
Feeder - "Bruised"
Snow Patrol - "Post Punk Progression"
Jeff Buckley - "Strawberry Street"

Monday Morning Live: Tool

I thought I'd start this week off with a little hard rock from the good ol' boys in Tool. This track was recorded in 1993 and was released on one of the few Tool singles to ever see the light of day. It's a live version of the outstanding first track off their full-length debut, Undertow. Maynard James Keenan singing the chorus,

"You lie, cheat and steal,"

repeated over and over again is what I remember vividly from the first time I saw Tool perform live. Good stuff.

Tool - "Intolerance (live)"

Buy Tool's music here.
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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"
A Perfect Circle - "Brena (acoustic)"
Juliana Hatfield - "Nirvana"
Ryan Adams - "New York, New York"