Brian - Metal Covers of Eighties Songs!

I've been gathering covers of 80's songs for awhile now, never sure what shape it would all take. My only parameters were they had to be covers of pop tunes: no college rock, metal, or rap songs. I've ended up with about 100 covers, almost all of them from actual releases - not so many YouTube rips as the R•diohead post. An interesting side effect of all this, I found myself with a whole album's worth of metal covers! Keep in mind, it's metal covers of pop songs. Several of these are some of my favorite covers ever, just great reimaginings! The other four volumes will be coming in a few days, but since this came together so easily I wanted to get it to you. I am cackling with glee at the thought of this one!

We start with Austrian Death Machine's version of the "T2 Theme". Remember those three albums of theirs I posted last year? Didn't think so. Disturbed's great cover of "Shout" comes from their first album. Linea 77 bring a dose of East Coast hardcore to "Walk Like An Egyptian". Leo Moracchioli's metal version of "Never Gonna Give You Up" came from YouTube. Look up the video; he plays all the instruments himself, and the guy is gonzo! It's fun to watch.

Colombian group Los Rabanes do a great Spanish language version of "Electric Avenue" that rocks like hell! American thrashers Lich King drop a meaty, pitch-perfect rendition of "Hot For Teacher"... love it. Downplay's cover of "Cruel Summer" owes more than a little to the earlier Disturbed song, but I like it. And a surprising find, Children of Bodom fucking rip up "Jessie's Girl", finding a song that suits their synthesizer proclivities.

Now, by this point you guys have heard any number of strange covers coming from me... but Panzerballet's version of the Dirty Dancing song almost defies description! Starting with a straightforward pop vocal, then moving into the jazz fusion verses, before it gets all metal on the choruses, it's gotta be heard to be believed! Northern Kings are a Finnish metal supergroup, and they bring the right amount of grandiosity to "We Don't Need Another Hero". Warmen is also a Finnish group, and they perform a sleek, metalicized version of "Like A Virgin" (still sung by a woman, fortunately).

In his career, Marilyn Manson has done many 80's covers, and his breakout song was his version of "Sweet Dreams". But I've always thought his cover of "Tainted Love" from Not Another Teen Movie was better, so that's here. Madison Apart turn "Love Is A Battlefield" into a still-melodic scream fest. Vision Divine are an Italian power metal band, and they swing for the fences with their cover of "Take On Me". With the overdriven synthesizers and the singer going for his Bruce Dickinson Award, it's a beauty!

"Beds are Burning" was always a fave of mine, and Devilment do a great headbanging version of it. Ten Masked Men (remember their version of "Goldeneye"?) warp Madonna's "Live To Tell" heavily out of shape. Scandinavian metal heroes In Flames give "Land of Confusion" a great crunchy update. And whereas Til Tuesday's original "Voices Carry" was kind of meek and gentle, Dear Enemy's version will fuck you up.

German Dark Wave metallers Umbra et Imago might be the only group that could do "Rock Me Amadeus" justice. Necronomiccon's cover of "Separate Ways" is brilliant, maintaining the melody of the original while still being hardcore black metal. Comes from their great album Mjølnir For Nothing. 

And we end things with the group Arsis. Remember their "Roses On White Lace" from the Alice Cooper comp? Well, their cover of Corey Taylor's "Sunglasses At Night" just rips from the get-go; metal as hell! I play these last two for people just to watch their expression change!

Hope you guys dig this. There'll be more covers on the way. Now, BANG YOUR HEAD!

1. Austrian Death Machine - T2 Theme

2. Disturbed - Shout

3. Linea 77 - Walk Like An Egyptian

4. Leo Moracchioli - Never Gonna Give You Up

5. Los Rabanes - Electric Avenue

6. Lich King - Hot For Teacher

7. Downplay - Cruel Summer

8. Children of Bodom - Jessie's Girl

9. Panzerballet - (I've Had) The Time of My Life

10. Northern Kings - We Don't Need Another Hero

11. Warmen - Like A Virgin

12. Marilyn Manson - Tainted Love

13. Madison Apart - Love Is A Battlefield

14. Vision Divine - Take On Me

15. Devilment - Beds Are Burning

16. Ten Masked Men - Live To Tell

17. In Flames - Land Of Confusion

18. Dear Enemy - Voices Carry

19. Umbra Et Imago - Rock Me Amadeus

20. Necronomiccon - Separate Ways

21. Arsis - Sunglasses At Night

Brian - This Is A Hijacking!

(Brian here)

Since I'm briefly at the helm of Growing Bored, I want to stump for some old links of mine, including some comedy that was hidden. But first something Scott wanted put up...

"Day Of The Dead" comp

Three disc set of Grateful Dead covers from 4AD Records. While Scott and I aren't Deadheads at all, this is a great listen. I mean, it's 4AD! Check it out.

PURPLE ODDITIES

When I did that P Covers post awhile ago, this was one of the files that I'd hidden a link for. It is a compilation of P songs from all over: B-Sides, movie tracks, odd mixes, latter day singles....there's also him doing a live version of R•diohe•d's "Creep" at Coachella. Please check this one out.

Adam S - They're All Gonna Laugh At You!

Great comedy album from back when he was funny.

Stevens & Grodnic - Somewhere Over The Radio

Great 70's comedy album based around FM radio. A lost classic.

David Brenner - Excuse Me Are You Reading That Paper?

Funny shit. Kind of a comedy concept album about growing up in Philly.

Roy Orbison - Greatest Monument Hits

You all need more Roy in your life, so get to it.

Redd Foxx - 2 Albums

The ultimate smartass.

G.G. Allin Compilation

That ugly little masterpiece I made. I listen to this one on shitty days. Give the world the finger.

Live at the Vortex, Volume One

YEAH! Haven't heard this one in years, I think somebody made off with it a long time ago.....TOTALLY obscure UK punk ca. 1977-78, from a buncha great bands we've all never heard of......The Wasps, Art Attacks, Maniacs.......thanks to John N for this one, you GOTTA love ya some obscure Brit-punk from the REAL scene!

LIVE AT THE VORTEX VOLUME 1-01 THE WASPS-Can't Wait Til '78/02 MEAN STREET-Bunch of Stiffs/03 NEO-Small Lives/04 THE WASPS-Waiting For My Man/05 BERNIE TORME-Living For Kicks/06 ART ATTACKS-Animal Bondage/07 BERNIE TORME-Street  Fighter/08 ART ATTACKS-Frankenstein's Heart/09 NEO-Tell Me the Truth/10 SUSPECTS-nothing to Declare/11 MANIACS-You Don't Break My Heart/12 MANIACS-I Ain't Gonna Be History

The Ultimate Power Pop Guide part 2/2

Here are the other four discs of this collection, apparently, according to a couple of people, the first post track lists don't line up with what is actually on the discs.... I'm going to try to investigate that a bit, hopefully I can square everything, but you never know.... I am going to go ahead and put volumes 6-9 up there, hopefully things come CLOSE at least to matching..... we'll see, but this set is so good that we can listen NOW, correct technicalities later, I guess......
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VOLUME 6

Sixth part (126->150) of the unauthorized best of the ultimate power pop guide. A few items are tricky-to-find (R.F & The Radar Angels, TheChicaynes/Patriots), some others (Numbers, The Pop, The Cryers and Dancing Hoods) which are not available in CD format can be found all around the blogs. Finally, some CD's (Jim Basnight & The Moberlys, The Hudson Brothers, Artful Dodger and Blue) are not the easiest items to find. (Try ebay).

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THE LIST(126 -> 150)
Rank Band - Album (Song)

126 Three Hour Tour - 1969 (Valentine's Day)
127 The Three O'Clock - Arrive Without Travelling... (Underwater)
128 RF & The Radar Angels - Picture Of Linda (The Heartbeat Song)
129 Jason Falkner - Necessity (The 4-Track Years) 
130 Tim Cullen - Fun Razor (Now It's Over)
131 The Hudson Brothers - So You Are A Star... (So You Are A Star)
132 The Cryers - The Cryers ((It's Gonna Be A) Heartbreaker)
133 The Pop - The Pop (Nobody's Toy)
134 Numbers - Add Up (Can't Take It)
135 The Tickets - The Tickets (I Don't Belong)
136 Dancing Hoods - 12 Jealous Roses (Impossible Years)
137 Swinger - Half Day Road (Away)
138 The Bad Examples - Bad Is Beautiful (Ashes Of My Heart)
139 The Mockers - The Lonesome Death Of Electric... (Mola Guay OK)
140 Jim Basnight & The Moberlys - Seattle-New... (Alone With Her)
141 Artful Dodger - Rave On (A Girl (La La La))
142 Owsley - Owsley (The Homecoming Song)
143 The Click Five - Greetings From Imrie... (Angel To You (Devil To Me))
144 Chopper - Slogans And Jingles (She Exploded)
145 The Orgone Box - The Orgone Box (World Revolves)
146 Blue - Blue (Look Around)
147 The Blondes - Swedish Heat (California Sunshine)
148 The Patriots - Second Thoughts_Pharaoh´s Land (She Loves You Too)
149 The Cowsills - Global (You've Got No Time)
150 The Mice - For Almost Ever Scooter (Bye Bye Kitty Cat)

VOLUME 7

Penultimate Part (151->175) of the unauthorized best of the ultimate power pop guide. Once again, a few items (Jack Lee, Hawks,) have never been reissued in CD format, so you'll have to blog around, try ebay, or even better any vinyl bargain bins. The Pleasers' CD is now out-of-print but has been remastered and is available thru itunes. Kenny Howes is also OOP (try ebay). The Roswells 's CD is just back in stock at Not Lame, so grab it as soon as possible.

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THE LIST(151 -> 175)
Rank Band - Album (Song)

151 Tal Bachman - Tal Bachman (Looks Like Rain)
152 The Sun Sawed In 1/2 - Fizzy Lift (Mary Celeste)
153 Jack Lee - Jack Lee (Why Am I So Lonely)
154 Bronco Bullfrog - Oak Apple Day (I Don't Need The Sunshine)
155 Beagle - Sound On Sound  (A Different Sunday)
156 Jensen Bell - Modern Dating Tips (Kitsch Lorraine)
157 Kenny Howes - Second Album (Thought You'd Never Go)
158 The Searchers - The Sire Sessions 79-80 (It's Too Late)
159 The Dons - Dawn Of The Dons (It's Over Now)
160 The Pleasers - Thamesbeat (Troublemaker)
161 Teen Machine - After School Special (Sugarland)
162 Hawks - Hawks (It's All Right, It's O.K)
163 DL Byron - This Day And Age (Get With It)
164 Tommy Hoehn - Losing You To Sleep (Hey Polarity!)
165 Dodgy - Freel Peace Sweet (Jack The Lad)
166 E.I.E.I.O. - That Love Thang (Sea Of Light)
167 Enuff Z'Nuff - 1985 (I'll B The 1 2 Luv U)
168 Einstein's Sister - Learning Curves  (Together We're Alone)
169 The Roswells - The Roswells (Foul Weather Friend)
170 The Sneetches - Blow Out The Sun (What I Know)
171 The Nines - Wonderworld Of Colourful (Jennifer Smiles)
172 Matt Bruno - Punch & Beauty (Dancing)
173 Soul Engines - Closer Still (Tomorrow's Girl) 
174 Thurman - Lux (Strung Out)
175 The Masticators - Masticate (He's Coming Out)

VOLUME  8

And now the ultimate part of the Ultimate Power Pop Guide. Three albums (Ian North, Beat Rodeo and Richard Barone) are not available in CD format. A few other ones (The Semantics, Red Letter Day, The Yum Yums, Loveless ) are more or less tricky-to-find items (try ebay). The Buster's album has just been reissued in CD format by Airmail Recordings in Japan.

Special Note: i'd like to thank everybody for all the nice comments posted about this "huge" series...which could have some kind of a sequel...

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THE LIST(176 -> 200)                                                  

Rank Band - Album (Song)

176 Ian North - Neo (She Kills Me)
177 Lisa Mychols - Lost Winter's Dream Lost Winter's Dream)
178 The Wannadies - Aquanautic (Lucky You)
179 The Yum Yums - Singles 'n' Stuff (Be With Me)
180 The Brotherhood Of Lizards - Lizardland (The Happening Guy)
181 The Semantics - Powerbill (Coming Up Roses)
182 Loveless - A Tale Of Gin... (Sex, Drugs & Rock'n'Roll Are Dead)
183 Farrah - Me Too (He Gives An Inch)
184 The Bloody Chicletts - Presenting (Kaos)
185 Blue Ash - Around Again (Around Again)
186 Tremblers - Twice Nightly (She Was Something Else)
187 The Candyskins - Fun (Tired Of Being Happy)
188 Red Letter Day - Red Letter Day (She´s Varispeed)
189 E - A Man Called (E) (Nowheresville)
190 Beat Rodeo - Staying Out Late With (Just Friends)
191 The Carpet Frogs - Frog Curry (Lisa's New Dress)
192 Brainpool - Stay Free  (Here's A Boy)
193 Liquor Giants - Something For The Kids (Don't Ever Leave Me)
194 Richard Barone - Nuts & Bolts (Lost Like Me)
195 Pendletones - Nothing Happened, You Just... (Work It Out)
196 The Winnerys - And...The Winnerys (That Magical Wonder)
197 Buster - Buster (We Love Girls)
198 Barry Holdship Four - The Jesse Garon Project (Words Of Wisdom)
199 Chewy Marble - Bowl Of Surreal (Tiny World)
200 The Waking Hours - The Good Way (Jade)


VOLUME  9

Tributes or not tributes, you may like them or not. One way or another, powerpop has its roots in the past, and tributes albums will always be enjoyable in their own way. This is the 9th volume of the Ultimate Power Pop Guide, the one devoted to the tributes. Most of them are easy to purchase, only two are really tricky-to-find: Bobby Fuller (Our Favorite Texan) & The Left Banke (Shadows Breaking Over Our Heads). Both of them are out-of-print. Now for your info, The "Bobby Fuller Tribute" was only released in Japan, so try ebay...or powerpop criminals sooner or later.

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THE LIST(Tributes)
Rank Tribute - Band (Song)

The top 10 tributes (there are two Sir Paul tributes)
1 Right To Chews - Linus Of Hollywood (I Enjoy Being A Boy...)
2 Melody Fair - Material Issue (Run To Me)
3 Sing Hollies In Reverse - Tommy Keene (Carrie Anne)
4 Shoe Fetish - Jeffrey Foskett  Your Very Eyes)
5 Come And Get It - Paranoid Lovesick (Icicles)
6 Lowe Profile - Bryan Shaddix (Couldnt Love You (Anymore Than I Do)
7 Coming Up - The Shazam (Helen Wheels)
8 Listen To What The Man Said - Sloan (Waterfalls)
9 Our Favorite Texan - Richard Barone (Nancy Jean)
10 Shadows Breaking Over Our Heads - Phenomenal Cats (I've Got...)
11 Substitution Mass Confusion - Johnny Monaco (Dangerous Type)

 Ten excellent tracks from tributes that didn't make the top 10
12 It Was 40 Years Ago - The Lackloves (Hey Bulldog)
13 What A Concept - Walter Clevenger & The Dairy Kings (About You)
14 The Stiff Generation - Bill Lloyd  (Whole Wide World)
15 Everyday Is A Holly Day - Shoes (Words Of Love)
16 He's A Rebel - Gail George (Mr Moon, Mr Cupid and I)
17 He Was Fab - Sparkle*Jets UK (Devil's Radio)
18 Preserved - The Rubinoos (Cruisin' Music)
19 What The World Needs Now - Splitsville (I'll Never Fall In Love Again)
20 Left Of The Dial - The Masticators (Bastards Of Young)
21 Bonograph - Skeletons (It's The Little Things)