5 On A Friday : MJ 1958-2009

June 26, 2009 by -tom · 1 Comment
Filed under: Uncategorized 


RIP Michael Jackson 1958-2009
Although his eccentricities of the last few years were getting most of the spotlight time, Michael Jackson’s musical influence over the past 40 years or so is undeniable, from his early days with his brothers in The Jackson 5 as an integral part of the Motown Sound to his impact on the dance music of the 80’s with his Off The Wall album and subsequent mega smash Thriller to his part in the MTV video revolution.  Who else could crown themselves The King Of Pop and actually having it stick.  The man leaves behind a pretty impressive musical legacy.

1: Graham Parker And The Rumour - I Want You Back(live)
Buy Squeezing Out Sparks + Live Sparks
2: The Jackson 5 - ABC
Buy Hitsville USA
3:Chris Cornell - Billie Jean
Buy Carry On
4: Michael Jackson - Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough
Buy Off The Wall
5: The Replacements(w Barrence Whitfield on Vocals) - I’ll Be There
Live 06.18.86 at The Channel Boston MA

Tags: , , , , , ,

Bad Covers : WTF Was I Thinking ?

May 28, 2007 by -tom · 3 Comments
Filed under: Uncategorized 

In the words of Jenny Owen Youngs, “What The F_ck was I thinking” is a line all of the artists below must be saying to themselves after recording these recent “gems”. Here’s a few of my picks for the worst cover versions of the year so far.

I’m sure there’s many more, what are some of your picks ?

On a tribute disc chock full of clunkers, Sufjan Stevens still manages to distinguish himself from the pack with this especially lame rendering of a Joni Mitchell classic. WTF was he thinking ?
MP3: Sufjan Stevens - Free Man In Paris
Buy A Tribute To Joni Mitchell
UPDATE : 05.30.07 The Asthmatic Kitty website posts a brief essay by Sufjan explaining exactly WTF he was thinking when he covered this song.
Jesse Malin’s obviously a big Replacements fan, but I guess he couldn’t make up his mind whether he wanted to cover Androgynous or Bastards Of Young and ended up with this mess which does both songs a disservice. WTF was he thinking ?
MP3: Jesse Malin - Bastards Of Young
Buy Glitter In The Gutter
I don’t even really know how to describe this next one. Chris Cornell takes one of the biggest dance floor hits from the “King Of Pop” and turns it into a seventies style sludge rocker. WTF was he thinking ?
MP3: Chris Cornell - Billie Jean
Buy Carry On

Tags: , , , ,