Category: Alternative (Page 137 of 155)
The first two entries to my Covers thread involved more recent acts covering older songs (I say more recent, even though both of those bands, Simply Red and the Pet Shop Boys, debuted in 1986), but this time, we’re going the other way. I want old prog to cover the new prog.
Rush made an EP a couple years ago called Feedback. On that EP, they covered songs that made them want to form a band in the first place. Bands like the Who, Blue Cheer, Buffalo Springfield, that kind of thing. To this Rush fan, that is a complete waste of time. I don’t want to hear Rush covering songs that are beneath their abilities: I want to hear them covering “Welcome to the Jungle,” “Silent Lucidity” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” (don’t laugh, they’d knock it out of the fucking park), you know?
Well, here is their chance. Muse is Radiohead + Queen, if we’re using “music math,” which means that there are at least two or three songs in their catalog that would fit Rush like an old pair of jeans. Tell me that Alex wouldn’t salivate at the thought of playing the guitar line to “Stockholm Syndrome” (it’d remind him of “The Spirit of Radio”), while Neil bashes his drums to high heaven and Geddy gets to justify playing both bass and keys in a song again. Come on, you know he misses it so.
Watch the vid, and tell me that Rush doesn’t fucking love this song.
Around this time each year, LA’s most well-known rock station, KROQ, puts on a benefit concert that they call “Acoustic Christmas.” I’ve gone twice, including the great show last December.
There are two nights – here’s the lineup:
Night One: Foo Fighters, AFI, Incubus, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Papa Roach, 30 Seconds to Mars, +44, Wolfmother, Saosin
Night Two: Foo Fighters, The Killers, Beck, The Raconteurs, Evanescence, Panic! At The Disco, Angles & Airwaves, Gnarls Barkley, Snow Patrol, She Wants Revenge
For me, Night Two is infinitely better than Night One, though I would like to catch Wolfmother eventually. Beck, the Ranconeurs, the Killers and Gnarls Barkley make the second night more than worthwhile.
So why is KROQ killing me? Usually, they send out an email to their “Street Team” announcing a presale which gives me a reasonable shot at landing tickets. This morning, they announced that this year tickets will go on sale (on TicketBastard) when they play “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters. Well, I guess that’s all well and good, but play the f’ng song already! I’ve been listening all day, heard more AFI and My Chemical Romance (and other Foo Fighters songs) than I would otherwise listen to in a lifetime, and I still haven’t heard “Everlong.” To make matters worse, the late afternoon DJ (“Stryker”) said that tickets could go on sale anytime…today or two days before the show (which is next weekend).
Now that the clock has struck 5 on the West Coast, I’m pretty sure they won’t play the song today. But as I type this, My Chemical Romance is playing (yet again) in the background.
Man, this is irritating.
Russian-born Regina Spektor makes quirky, piano-driven music for the hipster set. She scored a minor hit this year with “Fidelity” from Begin to Hope, her fourth full-length release, but her catalog features several great songs. Where possible, I included links to a live performance or the proper video for each song (hosted by YouTube). I also included links to iTunes and/or Amazon for convenient purchase. Let’s get to know Regina Spektor.
“Fidelity” – Begin to Hope
This song is insanely catchy, from the lovely melody to the creative chorus. It’s one of the few of her songs that doesn’t feature the piano, but it works nonetheless.
iTunes | Amazon
“Samson” – Songs / Begin to Hope
This track is also available on Begin to Hope, but the version on Songs is longer (and therefore, better). “Samson” is Spektor’s signature tune. Her voice and the piano are gorgeous and the lyrics are inventive.
iTunes | Amazon
“Buildings” – 11:11
This song is about an alcoholic wife who is enabled by her husband. Despite the subject matter, it’s quite lovely.
iTunes
“Ode to Divorce” – Soviet Kitsch
This haunting track is about a breakup. Spektor hits one out of the park when she asks, “Won’t you help a brother out?”
iTunes
“Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men” – Reptilia (by The Strokes)
The Strokes brought Spektor in for this duet, which is a little bit harder than most of Spektor’s usual fare. The song still shows off her considerable singing chops.
iTunes
“On the Radio” – Begin to Hope
Like “Fidelity,” this song is meant to be radio-friendly. The strings and piano at the beginning are inviting and the lyrics (which describe listening to “November Rain” on the radio) are quite witty.
iTunes | Amazon
“Us” – Soviet Kitsch
This track shows of Spektor’s great voice and illustrates the beginning of the stuttering singing style she later used in “Fidelity.” The video is pretty quirky, not unlike her music.
iTunes
…but damned if this doesn’t sum up my feelings on Pitchfork.com perfectly.
Glad to know it’s not just me.
FOLLOW US!
CATEGORIES
© 2026 Eat Sleep Drink Music
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑