Cover Of The Week: Matt Nathanson does James

Matt Nathanson has commented during performances on the interesting twist of fate that resulted in his cover of this James classic becoming his best-known "original". Obviously, fans of Nathanson's love his actual originals, but this tune does seem to generate a lot of crowd enthusiasm at live shows. Some covers seem to suit an artist better than others, and this one fits easily in Nathanson's oeuvre.

Matt Nathanson - "Laid"

Buy Matt Nathanson's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Magnet & Gemma Hayes do Dylan

Any recording that features Gemma Hayes will eventually find its way into my CD collection, and this cover of Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" is no exception. The tune was featured in the remake of the film Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Magnet's arrangement and vocals are fine and all, but at 1:17 when Ms. Hayes' delicious voice kicks in the song really takes off.

Magnet & Gemma Hayes - "Lay Lady Lay"

Buy the single here.

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Cover Of The Week: Travis does The Band

This cover of The Band's classic tune "The Weight" was released on Travis' single for "Coming Around" back in 2000.

Travis - "The Weight"

Buy Travis' music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Dar Williams does Pink Floyd

A friend had this cover by Dar Williams on some random mix that she played for me, and I thought it was the perfect kind of track for this weekly post. Floyd fans out there may cry foul at anyone covering one of their favorite band's tunes, but I don't hold the band in quite such a reverent place.

Dar Williams - "Comfortably Numb"

Buy Dar Williams' music here.

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Cover of the Week: Paramore does Foo Fighters

Rising pop stars/rockers Paramore did this tasty acoustic cover of the Foo Fighters hit "My Hero" for the Sound of Superman compilation.

Paramore - "My Hero"

Buy Paramore's music here.

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Cover of the Week: Stereophonics does The Stones

Last week's post of Oasis covering the Rolling Stones was a hit, so I decided to dip back into the Stones' coverage. This one comes from Stereophonics' new single. It's a rockin' good rendition of another Rolling Stones' classic.

Stereophonics - "Gimme Shelter"

Buy Stereophonics music here.

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Cover of the Week: Oasis does The Rolling Stones

Here's a nice version of a Stones classic performed by the boys in Oasis. Enjoy.

Oasis - "Street Fighting Man"

Buy Oasis music here.

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Cover of the Week: Soul Asylum does Victoria Williams

The Sweet Relief benefit album released in 1993 to help singer/songwriter Victoria Williams after she was diagnosed with MS is full of fantastic cover versions. Soul Asylum's tune is the lead-off track, and has a title that seems like a perfect pick-me-up on this gray, rainy winter day in Philly.

Soul Asylum - "Summer of Drugs"

Buy the tribute album here.

Cover of the Week: The Watson Twins do Neil Young

The good folks at American Laundromat Records just released a CD of female artists covering Neil Young tunes for charity called Cinnamon Girl. This week's cover, a chilled out, beautiful version of "Powderfinger" as performed by The Watson Twins, comes from this fantastic release.

The Watson Twins - "Powderfinger"

Buy the record here.

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Cover of the Week: The Swell Season does Dylan

From the soundtrack for the film I'm Not There here's Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova's (a.k.a The Swell Season) studio version of the Dylan song that they play regularly in their live show.

The Swell Season - "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere"

Buy The Swell Season's music here. Get the soundtrack here.

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Cover of the Week: MMJ does The Band

This week's cover comes at you from Endless Highway: The Music Of The Band, and features Sweet Oblivion regulars My Morning Jacket tearing up "It Makes No Difference". One of the highlights of Pearl Jam's last tour was hearing MMJ finish their opening set with this song, joined by Eddie Vedder on vox.

My Morning Jacket - "It Makes No Difference"

Buy MMJ's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Tool does Led Zeppelin

Tool is one of my favorite bands, and it finally dawned on me that their stellar cover of Led Zeppelin's "No Quarter" is perfect for this weekly feature. Tool's version comes in at 11:00 long, and is every bit as amazing as one would expect from a band that holds itself to an extremely high standard of quality in the studio.

Tool - "No Quarter"

Buy Tool's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Soundgarden does The Stones

Soundgarden released a ton of covers as b-sides early in their career. This cover of the Rolling Stones' "Stray Cat Blues" is on the "Jesus Christ Pose" singles as well as on their SOMMS EP.

Soundgarden - "Stray Cat Blues"

Buy Soundgarden's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Steve Earle does Tom Waits

Fans of HBO's The Wire will recognize this cover as the theme song for season 5 of the show. It's on Steve Earle's latest, Washington Square Serenade.

Steve Earle - "Way Down In The Hole"

Buy Steve Earle's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Pearl Jam does The Who

I've been on a Pearl Jam kick this week since seeing Immagine In Cornice on Tuesday night. This cover of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me" was released on Pearl Jam's vinyl fan club single last year.

Pearl Jam - "Love Reign O'er Me"

Buy Pearl Jam's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Matthew Good does the Dead Kennedys

I'm a huge fan of Canadian singer/songwriter Matthew Good, and I'm totally loving his latest release, 2007's Hospital Music. On the record he covers the Dead Kennedys' 2001 tune, "Moon Over Marin", slowing it down into a folky version of its former punk rockin' self. The melancholy in the lyrics takes the forefront in Good's mellow arrangement, which I think allows the song to make an even greater emotional impact on the listener.

Matthew Good - "Moon Over Marin"

Buy Matthew Good's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: The Frames do Mic Christopher

Mic Christopher was an Irish singer/songwriter that Frames singer Glen Hansard befriended back in his busking days. He died suddenly at the age of 32 in a weird accident where he slipped and hit his head, causing him to fall into a coma from which he never woke up. The Frames and Damien Rice have dedicated their albums to Christopher. Here's a cover version of Christopher's "Listen Girl" from The Frames' "Headlong" single in 2002.

The Frames - "Listen Girl"

Buy The Frames' music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Elbow does Massive Attack

Elbow is one of those bands that I almost love, but instead I end up just liking. Not "like them like them", but merely "like them" (sorry for the obscure TV reference...).

Anyway, here they are doing a spot-on cover of Massive Attack's magnificent single, "Teardrop". The cover appeared on promo versions of the single for "Not A Job" off of the Cast Of Thousands LP.

Elbow - "Teardrop"

Buy Elbow's music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Oasis does The Beatles

Oasis covering The Beatles... Big surprise, eh? Featured on the "Who Feels Love?" single from 2000's Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants, this cover features Noel Gallagher on vocals and a bunch of rocking guitar soloing.

Oasis - "Helter Skelter"

Buy Oasis music here.

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Cover Of The Week: Velvet Revolver does Nirvana

Man, I seem to have a lot of recordings of people covering Nirvana tunes... Anyway, since Velvet Revolver's new record just arrived in the mail, I thought I'd post their version of Nirvana's "Negative Creep". Happy Friday.

Velvet Revolver - "Negative Creep"

Buy Velvet Revolver'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"
Stanley Jordan - "Stairway To Heaven (live)"
Stereophonics - "Something In The Way"
Mark Kozelek - "If You Want Blood"
Blake Babies - "I Wanna Be Sedated"
Kristen Barry - "Don't Cry"
Buffalo Tom - "All Tomorrow's Parties"
RATM - "The Ghost Of Tom Joad"
Turin Brakes - "Breaking The Girl"
Brandi Carlile - "Hallelujah"
Screaming Trees - "Tomorrow's Dream"
The Black Crowes - "Rainy Day Women #12 & 35"
Uncle Tupelo - "Effigy"