SoundSalvationArmy

The Weakerthans doing something they don’t often seem to do: a cover song!

This song is taken from a short compilation 7″ put out by No Idea Records and AK Press, a collective that publishes “radical” books. The Read Army Faction was a fundraiser for the publisher and features songs from a CD fundraiser called Return of the Read Menace. However, I’ve never seen that compilation and I’m not convinced it actually exists, so I’m qualifying this as a vinyl-only release.

Anyhow, the 7″ features some really great cuts from some extremely great bands. All four turn in cover songs, and perrenial favourites of mine Hot Water Music and Discount prove very satisfying. Avail’s take on a classic Elvis/Waylon Jennings/Gary Glitter/Dionne Warwick’s sister/Fine Young Cannibals/Dwight Yoakam/Pete Yorn track is also a treat.

But cover songs aren’t something the Weakerthans are known for. I’ve seen them six or eight times and as far as I know, they’ve played maybe one cover and I can’t even think of what that song would’ve been. Maybe they never have (if you don’t count that Propagandhi song that isn’t really but kind of is a cover from the first LP). So as far as I know this is the only cover of theirs that’s ever been officially released (aside from a Rheostatics song contained in a digital live set, but digital doesn’t count). The original is by Vietnam War-era protest singer Phil Ochs. It is pretty okay. The cover is as well and it definitely sound like early Weakerthans.

Enjoy!

 

 the Weakerthans - the Ringing of Revolution [3:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The single can be purchased from No Idea’s site and it’s worthwhile. Plus, it’s green!
Other Weakerthans material is available through Maple Music but that site is kind of shitty. Cinder Block is better and has more.

Pat entries AK Press, covers, good causes, Phil Ochs, the Weakerthans, vinyl

So I’ve been listening to vinyl records for the last six or seven years, but it’s really amped up the last year or so as it’s suddenly become commercially viable or cool or whatever again. It’s pretty great to have the big art, the effort that goes into it, the whole tactile experience.

Lately, however, I’ve been doing everything I can to destroy that experience. My lady’s mom gave me a comedy LP she found at a garage sale or something, an album she’s never heard but based on the cover art and the dude’s name she would like to know what it’s like. So she asked me if I’d be able to get it onto a CD. Well, after a week or two of figurin’ and playing with the various cables and connectors I have I managed to put together a very workable patch system.

So I’ve been “ripping” all my vinyl-only material onto my laptop, cleaning it up, boosting the levels, and whatnot and loading those songs onto my iPod. It’s a wealth of material that is “fresher” to my ears because there just isn’t as much opportunity to listen to it all as frequently. So I’m totally psyched about it and I’m going to try to share that level of psychitude.

This will be the first of a weekly offering of material that has only been available on vinyl, sacrilegiously captured in a digital form.

Below you’ll find one of the best (and most traditionally country) songs by Colorado’s Drag The River, a scrappy group of old punk rockers who play their own brand of “alt-country.” Because I’m a nerd for the English language and word useage, I like this song that much more. Then, unique yet old-timey rock and rollers Murder By Death take on one of my most hated bands ever, Guns ‘n Roses, with results that I quite like. Apologies for the sound quality on that track; it appears the UK label that pressed it doesn’t give a shit for sound quality. Finally, a frenetic and hilarious re-write of Jerry Reed’s “I’m Gonna Write A Song” finds jokey punk cover band Me First and The Gimme Gimmes taking an unusually political slant. Key changes and the breakneck pace leave singer Spike Slawson gasping for air by the time it’s all over.

 

 Murder By Death - Don't Cry [3:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Drag The River - ...Has A Way With Women [2:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Me First & the Gimme Gimmes - I'm Gonna Write A Song [1:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Murder By Death’s Brother single features the Guns ‘n Roses cover as the b-side (how they made G’nR palatable shows just how great of a band they are) and can be procured here. Word of caution: it’s a UK import and thus is likely pricey.
Drag the River’s …Has A Way With Women 7″ features two other great songs and (thanks to a recent re-press) is available here.
Me First and The Gimme Gimmes‘ Jerry 7″ is part of their Square Dance Singles Series. The actual square-shaped vinyl version is long-since sold out, but the “yella” version should still be available to purchase through some retailers.

Pat entries acoustic, b-sides, country, covers, Drag The River, Guns n' Roses, Jerry Reed, Me First and The Gimme Gimmes, Murder By Death, vinyl

A well-chosen cover song is a lovely thing when performed live. If it’s familiar to the audience it can provide a shot of energy, camaraderie, or pathos. Or it can be laughable and destroy any goodwill the originals may have garnered.

Recorded covers are dangerous territory, moreso than live. Live covers are there and then gone; recorded covers exist forever and sometimes embarrassingly provide a group’s only mainstream exposure (Alien Ant Farm much?).

This past week I received a very nice surprise in the mail: along with my LP copy of Heresy & the Hotel Choir by Milwaukee’s Maritime, the band included a free 7″ with a couple of cover songs. In particular, one especially exquisite cover song. One of the finest covers I own.

“Boy From School” was originally written and recorded by the English group Hot Chip for 2006’s the Warning. The magic of Maritime’s version is that there’s really nothing different from the original version aside from the instruments it’s played on. Vibrant guitars replace buzzing keyboards and female vocals turn the vocal melody into a pristine duet.

But more importantly than that, the cover helped me realize how good the band’s original works are. Prior to the vinyl release showing up at my door, I had a digital copy that provided me little joy. Aside from lead track and first single, “the Guns of Navarone,” I really couldn’t get into any of it. “Boy From School” opened it up, and there are several pristine pop jems on the album that really beg hearing.

So here’s to you, cover song, for all the good and evil that you do. I thank you for this one.

 

 Maritime - Boy From School [5:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Maritime - Be Unhappy [3:59m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Maritime - Guns of Navarone [3:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Maritime’s website says to go to Foreign Leisure to buy vinyl, but it’s all sold out on there from the looks of things. So try:
InSound: Might be your last shot. Oh, and they have some CDs.
iTunes: three full lengths here, buddy

Pat entries covers, Hot Chip, Maritime, pop rock