Top Ten Terrible Cover Versions
Getting a cover version right is no easy task. For every 'Man Who Sold The World' by Nirvana or Devo's take on (Can't Get No) Satisfaction there's this bunch of duds. We've tried to pick in the main alternative and indie songs performed by mainstream artists, but couldn't resist including William (bad covers) Shatner as well. We've got a Spandau Ballet singer's take on the Kaiser Chiefs, Mandy Moore's butchering of XTC among our selection of some of the worst cover versions ever recorded or performed live. Sit back and enjoy this load of old rubbish.
1. Ronan Keating - 'Fairytale of New York'
The original version, sung by Kirsty MacColl and Shane MacGowen, with its bittersweet lyrics and Christmas feel was a thing of great beauty. Years later enter Ronan Keating in his squeaky clean Italian brogues to trample all over this classic. He claims that it is one of his favourite tunes. Why ruin it then, Ronan? For god's sake man, leave it be.
2. Tony Hadley - The Kaiser Chief's 'I Predict A Riot'
It sounds crazy; that smooth crooner from Spandau Ballet covering stadium indie rockers The Kaiser Chiefs, but the more I hear this the more I like it. Hadley has still got it after all these years. It's still pretty odd though.
3. Mandy Moore - XTC's 'Senses Working Overtime'
Covering XTC is no mean feat. A wholly original English band whose songs always lack something when covered by others. Among the best are They Might Be Giant's version of '25 O'Clock', originally by XTC as their psychedelic alter-egos Dukes of Stratosphear. But among the worst are Primus's butchering of 'Making Plans for Nigel' and this abomination by Mandy Moore.
4. Paul Young - Joy Division's 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'
Paul Young gives a masterclass in sucking the soul out of a song and vomiting it back up again. Many have covered this classic and all have failed, especially Young.
5. Celine Dion and Anastacia - ACDC's 'You Shook Me All Night Long'
In many polls this has been voted the worst cover of all time and rightly so. Dion's attempt at mimicking ACDC guitarist Angus Young is particularly cringe-worthy.
Jamaican band The Paragon's 1967 song 'The Tide Is High' was lost for many years until Blondie picked it up in 1980 and did a pretty decent job covering it. Two decades later Atomic Kitten decided to have a go. Their sugary sweet version is so poor it actually makes my ears vomit.
7. Wurzels - Oasis's 'Don't Look Back In Anger'
Look, this is just better than the original. It seemed a bit weird to put it in a best covers list, so its here mainly for being odd and quirky. These pensioners from Somerset, who had a hit in the 70s with 'Combine Harvester' and still play in barns across the west country inject some much needed oomph into Oasis.
8. Avril Lavigne - System Of A Down's 'Chop Suey'
Ever wondered what Megadeath would sound like sung by a chipmunk. Unfortunately, we will never know. But the nearest we may come to an answer is this version of American rockers System Of A Down's Chop Suey by tiny-child-Gwyneth-Paltrow-look-a-like Avril Lavigne. In her defence she admits it was a bit of a joke and didn't really know the lyrics…. yer, right.
9.Duran Duran - Public Enemy's '911 Is a Joke'
This is a joke, right? Sadly not, and what's more it's on a whole album of terrible covers, 1995's ill-received Thank You.
10. William Shatner - Elton John's 'Rocket Man'
Shatner proves that it is possible to look cool while at a Sci-fi event. Resplendent in tuxedo and a packet of Superkings ciggies, Shatner croons his way through Elton John's Rocketman. This version is so bizarre that I'm starting to wonder whether something stronger than tobacco is involved in the cloud of smoke wafting around the Star Trek and TJ Hooker star's head.
Compiled by Joe Lepper
Introducing....
Introducing…. continuing our new regular feature looking at some of the exciting acts around that you may not have heard of (yet). Our second batch of artists is The Mojo Fins and Stagecoach.
The Mojo Fins
Where are they from? Brighton, UK
Who are they? Stephen Brett - Vocals and guitar, Steve Hoile - Bass, keys, glockenspiel and vocals, Adam Luke Atkins - Guitar and vocals, Dave Russell - Drums and percussion
What do they sound like? "Elliott Smith, Tortoise and The Shins in a brown bread sandwich." is how they describe their sound, and it is a pretty good summary. They are as strong on melodies and harmonies as that description would suggest.
What have they got to say for themselves? The last couple of years have been busy. The Mojos recorded and self-produced their first album - 'The Sound That I Still Hear', and then worked on acoustic versions of many songs off the album, consequently filming a live performance (available on iTunes and viewable on YouTube). At the start of 2009, they achieved a top ten place in the Q Music Emerging Talent competition and, in the summer, played Glastonbury (what a joy!). This year will be finished in style with a headline slot at the Pavilion Theatre in Brighton on Saturday November 28th. Meanwhile, the band has been patiently working on material for album no.2, which they hope to start recording in early 2010.
What releases/tracks should I look out for? The bands debut album The Sound That I Still Here is available now along with the singles 'Always Now', 'In the Script' and 'Pinata Face'. 'Meet Me At The Pictures' will be released in January 2010. All Releases are available on Amazon and iTunes.
Where can I find out more? www.themojofins.com www.myspace.com/themojofins
Stagecoach
Where are they from? The Surrey Mountains, UK
Who are they? Luke - sings, six strings; Nick - six strings; John - four strings; Matt - drums, sings; Tom - eight strings, sings.
What do they sound like? "Grot Pop for BMX Kids" they say. Think a 90s alt-pop revival and you won't be far away. The hooks are strong and the energy is infectious. The band have already been heard by millions after featuring on the soundtrack of Skins and Party Animals (on BBC 2) and enjoyed support slots with several bands including Phoenix and The Wombats.
What have they got to say for themselves? "We're a band from various villages in the Surrey hills. We started off as a 2 piece and added a new member every year until we felt we could comfortably rock a stadium. I guess we formed the band because we're no good at sports and don't have any other hobbies apart from maybe skimming stones. We wanted to make country music but things evolved around the time we rediscovered our tape collections from 1993. The songs are about the usual stuff, hot dogs, cars and girls."
What releases/tracks should I look out for? Currently promoting their first proper release, the We Got Tazers! EP, through Alcopop records. There are plans for a limited-edition Christmas release of some acoustic songs and a follow-up EP, along with a tour, early in 2010.
Where can I find out more? www.myspace.com/stagecoachuk
Introducing....
A Genuine Freakshow
Where are they from? UK
Who are they? Timothy Sutcliffe - Vocals & Guitar,Jack Bryant - Drums, Marianne Casey Canning - Violin, Melanie Dickson - Cello, John Dunstan - Trumpet, Simon Evans - Guitar and John Szmidt - Bass.
What do they sound like? There is a quirky Englishness to this seven piece's take on epic indie-pop. Among their influences are Sigur Ros and Radiohead, and it shows. There's lots of sweeping orchestral flourishes, but at its core the sound is indie-pop. For our money A Genuine Freakshow, who formed in 2007, sound most like US act Ra Ra Riot, in the way they delight in bringing instruments such as cello and violin to the fore.
What have they got to say for themselves? On their Myspace page they describe their music as "born of their broad range of influences from Elbow and Radiohead to Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky are accompanied by lush orchestral arrangements and the sincere falsetto vocals of Timothy Sutcliffe. This gives the music they create a blend of classic pop with unpredictable structures and epic climaxes reminiscent of Arcade Fire, Mew, and Sigur Ros."
What releases/tracks should I look out for? Later this year (2009) they plan to release their first album Oftentimes and have previously issued a number of self-released singles including 'We Are The Undercurrents' and 'Holding Hearts'. They are offering a free/pay what you like digital EP of some of their tracks, including 'We Are The Undercurrents' on their website.
Where can I find out more? http://www.agenuinefreakshow.com
Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love
Where are they from? UK
Who are they? Kelly Dyson, Ellis Dyson, Chris Robinson, Hugo Edwardes.
What do they sound like? Two words spring to mind when listening to the improbably titled Low, Low, Low, La, La, La, Love, Love, Love, 'folk' and 'experimental'. While at its heart their music appears soft and folk guitar based there's an edge as well. The industrial feedback at the beginning and interspersed in the track, 'Flower in the Mind', from their current album Feels, Feathers, Bog and Bees, shows that they are more than just a bunch of finger-picking folksters. There's a clear melancholy to the music, which is unsurprising given their influences include Elliot Smith and Neutral Milk Hotel.
What have they got to say for themselves? According to a recent PR release: "Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love is an every evolving UK based outfit, Over six years and through a shifting construct they've employed varied approaches to writing and recording. But amidst the changes, some constants have remained; a stark lyricism, thoughtful arrangements and complementary, harmonic vocals, which glimmer and tremble throughout."
What releases/tracks should I look out for? Former Fridge member Adem, whose recent album Takes offers some of the most sublime covers around, was the producer of the Low Low Low La La La Love Love Love's latest album Feels, Feathers, Bog and Bees. This was released earlier this autumn on Other Electricities and features the band's trademark experimental folk pop.
Where can I find out more? http://www.myspace.com/lowlalove
Top Ten Indie/Alternative Music TV Moments
TV used to be so much more important for music promotion. Sure, a good Letterman performance can still help a band get known. But we now live in an era of internet self-promotion that has left TV a far less exciting medium to catch the next big thing or see your favourite band. Here Neonfiller takes you back to an era when TV appearances could make or break an act and frequently did. For our selection we've opted for the rude, the cheeky and the downright strange. We've also included some of TV's best live performances as well as a more up to date reality TV moment. Sit back and enjoy the clips.
1. Kurt Cobain's Morrisey Impression
Nirvana has had many memorable TV moments. From the band's MTV unplugged session to Kurt Cobain declaring that Courtney Love is "the best fuck in the world" on UK TV show The Word. But here we've opted for their UK Top of the Pops appearance where Cobain decided to sing 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' in the guise of Morrissey. A band at their peak taking the piss in this way was unusual then as it is now. Opinion is divided as to why they did it. Some say a sore throat; some say it was to get at the producers as the band wanted to play another song. Maybe it was because they were cheeky chappies.
2. Jon Spencer Goes Ballistic Down Under
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion is one of the best live acts around, however their TV appearances are sadly rare. For this 1990s performance on Australian youth programme Recovery they decided to show the rest of TV land what they were missing. Check out the action half way through their set as the Explosion go nuts with a theremin.
3. Ghost Hunting With The Happy Mondays
Music TV stations such as MTV have long since descended into a reality TV cesspit where Jay-Z buying a new sofa is considered good programming. Here the Happy Mondays show how reality TV should be done, when they appeared on ghost hunting show Most Haunted. Aged Manchester musicians stay in a haunted house. What could go right?
4. Iggy Bums A Teddy
Iggy Pop pretends to bum a teddy bear on children's TV. It's an eye-catching line indeed. Back in the 1980s children's television shows were a staple way to see live bands, or rather chart acts mime to their latest single. The misguided producers of UK British kids' TV show No. 73 clearly thought nothing could go wrong when they invited Iggy pop to "boogie in their basement," and mime to his hit at the time 'Wild One'. How misguided they were.
5.Husker Du Fail To Impress Housewives
Husker Du was one of the greatest indie alternative acts of all time. Merging punk with catchy pop they were one of the main influences for a host of bands, most notably Nirvana. What they are less famous for however was being a darling of Middle America's housewife community. Here they are in 1986 bizarrely appearing on Minneapolis day time US TV show good Company in front of an audience of bewildered housewives.
6.Sabrina Finally Meets The Violent Femmes
Sabrina the Teenage Witch may have been one of the most annoying teenagers on TV, but at least she had reasonable music taste. This clip is from a 1997 episode of her series in which her efforts to see her favourite band the Violent Femmes are thwarted by her crazy witch aunts. Eventually she gets to meet them but be warned this clip contains some of the worst acting by a band ever.
7.Stone Roses Brand BBC "Amateurs"
The Stone Roses first album was a work of genius. The perfect band for the perfect 1989 moment all delivered with supreme dedication by producer John Leckie. They must have been proud. Imagine their disappointment when they appear on BBC's Late Show when a technical hitch cuts their power. The presenter trying to explain the problem away while lead singer Ian Brown shouts "amateurs" in the background will forever be a classic nugget of TV gold.
8.Fugazi's First UK TV Appearance
Snub TV was a great music show from the late 1980s, featuring the first UK TV appearances of the likes of the Stone Roses and this clip from Fugazi. Filmed during their first visit to the UK, lead singer Ian Mackaye can come across a bit pious, preaching to the crowd about rape, but the sheer intensity of the performance is not in doubt. Great, great performance.
9.Sex Pistols With Bill Grundy
This is the granddaddy, the godfather, the mother of all alternative music TV moments. Today Show presenter Bill Grundy attempted to wind up the Sex Pistols. Little did he realise that beneath the snarls, rips and safety pins lurked an intelligent man in John Lydon. Lydon takes the bait and throws it straight back at the hapless Grundy, whose career was in tatters by the next day. In contrast the Sex Pistols went on to become a household name.
10. XTC On So It Goes
So It Goes, the late 1970 music show fronted by the late Tony Wilson showcased some of the best acts of the punk/new wave era. Elvis Costello, The Clash, Sex Pistols and The Buzzcocks all appeared. To mark this show we've chosen this little seen clip of XTC performing 'Neon Shuffle'. Another fantastic performance in which you'd never guess that seemingly extrovert lead singer Andy Partridge went on to develop stage fright.
Compiled by Joe Lepper
So, here we are, edging towards the end of 2009. Now seems a perfect time to take stock, sit back and mull over the best and worst music of the year so far.
We have also compiled some of our tracks of the year so far, which can be streamed via Spotify here.
Album wise it's been a pretty good year already, although as with 2008 it is the US acts which have dominated. Grizzly Bear's Veckatimist, The Dirty Projector's Bitte Orca and Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion were all career best albums and early contenders for album of the year.
Dirty Projectors also produced our song of the year so far, the David Byrne collaboration 'Knotty Pine' from the Dark Was the Night compilation. Grizzly Bear, who also feature on that compilation, come a close second with Veckatimist track 'Two Weeks'.
Stalwarts of North American indie rock and alternative music have also had a good 2009. Wilco came back fighting with a great self titled album and Bill Callahan's Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle, Middle Cyclone by Neko Case (pictured) and Bob Mould's Life and Times were also among the best of the year.
It wasn't all good news for the American acts however. Californian slacker Nathan Williams, who inexplicably continues to receive attention from Pitchfork, failed to justify the hype with the release of Wavvves, his second album as Wavves. The Lemonheads cover version album Varshons was arguably even worse, veering from the uninspired to the laughable, thanks to Kate Moss's woeful vocal duties.
In the UK it was good news for the more mature established artists. Former Hefner frontman Darren Hayman (pictured) achieved the perfect tone with Pram Town, his concept album and the first known musical tribute to Harlow, in Essex.
Belle and Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch's God Help The Girl, and Touchdown, the third album from Brighton based indie supergroup Brakes were other highlights of the year from the older guard of the UK alternative music scene.
But what about new artists? Sadly, the first half of 2009 was pretty barren. There was one ray of sunshine with Wilkommen Collective act Leisure Society releasing a fabulous debut, The Sleeper, complete with the Ivor Novello nominated single, 'Last of the Melting Snow'.
But in the most part the music industry seemed more interested in churning out identikit 80s obsessed electronic acts or promoting Luddite guitar acts like Kasabian and The Enemy - the type of bands who see Oasis's Be Here Now as being the pivotal point in music history.
One of the best pop records of the year (and as good as any I can think of for several years) came out of France, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix by Phoenix. Lead tracks 'Lisztomania' and '1901' are both strong contenders for pop song of the year.
The dominance of established acts has also been the story at the year's festivals so far. All Tomorrow's Parties and Glastonbury both went off to rave reviews, but there were very few new acts making a splash. The Breeders and Devo at ATP and Springsteen, Blur and The Specials at Glastonbury all played great sets, but they hardly point to a great wave of new music this year.
Fingers crossed that there are a few new acts waiting to break through in the next six months.
See Also:
Neonfiller's album reviews of 2009 in full
ATP Curated by The Breeders May 15-17, 2009
Now into their ninth year All Tomorrow's Parties have established themselves as organisers of some of the most interesting festivals in the world. With three festivals in the UK each year, plus several other events worldwide, they offer the best weekends around for music fans looking for something a little bit different. After a well received fans curated festival the week before expectations were high for the second weekend at Minehead with bands selected by Ohio's legendary Breeders.
Our journalist Dorian Rogers reviews the three days. For additional pictures go to our ATP Gallery.
Friday
Arriving on site in the afternoon you'd never know that a rock festival was happening. The site was still quiet, the chalets neat and tidy, and the various fast food outfits open but quiet.
Drawing the short straw as the first band on was LA's The Holloys. In a half full auditorium, with a quiet and sober crowd, they failed to make a big impact. Their sound was good, two bass players and two drummers with one solitary guitarist, but couldn't fill the vacuum.
The first band on the main stage in the late was Tucson's Giant Sand, a real scheduling mistake of the weekend. Apart from belting versions of early songs 'Wearing The Robes of the Bible Black' and 'Thin Line Man', most of the tunes came from their recent release Provisions. It is a great album but the languid, smokey sound would have been perfect at 11pm in a smaller venue. In the huge Pavilion in the afternoon the sound was lost somewhat.
Fairing much better on the same stage was The Throwing Muses. I hadn't listened to them since 1991's The Real Ramona and didn't have high expectations for the show. It didn't take long for lead Muse Kristin Hersh to win me round. With a voice and guitar style to match the loudest acts of the weekend she packed a punch, and the rhythm section were faultless throughout. A big hit with some of the older men in the audience she managed to successfully laugh off their sexual advances throughout the set.
Bon Iver seemed like an odd choice of headliner. His brilliant debut album has a big following, but is a sparse, somber and understated song cycle. The set started low key and built up to a more rocking and upbeat sound. By the time he was wildly soloing through Creature Fear he had hit his stride. Newer songs from the Blood Bank EP went down well and he proved conclusively that he can hold his own on the big stage as well as he can in the log cabin.
Considerably less interesting was The Buffalo Killers. I love hairy 70's American classic rock, but this band of retro rockers didn't cut it. I was left wishing I'd been more adventurous and gone to see Boston Rapper Mr.Lif.
Saturday
After a sensible early Friday finish we spent the day enjoying the delights of Butlins. Nothing is a better treatment for a mild hangover than a float down the lazy river in the swimming complex. Refreshed and nourished (the joys of the chalet's self catering facilities) we headed back to the Centre Stage to see what day-two had to offer.
The Whispertown 2000 proved to be one of many surprise successes of the weekend. Playing live they displayed a much more varied and often noisier sound than on record. They seemed a little rattled by the scale of the event but pulled off an accomplished set that included a beautiful 'Pushing Oars' from their latest album Swim.
Opening the main stage was Brighton duo Blood Red Shoes, one of several former ATP attendees turned performers at the festival. Their sound was great and songs like 'Boring By The Sea' and 'Say Something Say Anything' sounded much better than they do on record. Their only real flaw was a lack of variation of sound or pace, and after 30 minutes I was happy to take a break and go to the bar.
CSS are a near perfect festival band. They look great, with lead singer Lovefoxx dressed in a ridiculous spandex jump-suit and homemade tassels surrounded by balloons all over the stage. They sound good and clearly have an absolute blast on stage. The songs aren't quite up to the performance but it is hard to care when the band and crowd look as happy as they did.
Teenage Fanclub are almost the polar opposite of CSS. They have never been a band known for their visual appeal and, apart from the always genial lead singer Norman Blake, you'd have been hard pressed to sense much enjoyment coming from the stage. However, what they have in spades is a huge back catalogue of great songs. Apart from a few lacklustre new numbers they didn't put a foot wrong. By the time they played a finishing couplet of 'The Concept' and 'Sparky's Dream' I was transfixed. It was easy to see why they had some of the most passionate fans at the festival.
Headlining the Saturday night were curators The Breeders. I've always liked them but had dismissed them as The Pixies' less interesting sister until I heard the excellent Mountain Battles album prior to attending the festival. Like Teenage Fanclub they have a wealth of great songs and played a crowd friendly career spanning set. The Deal sisters, Kim and Kelley, were a warm stage presence and their clear struggle to get the songs 100% right was endearing and refreshing. There wasn't a duff song in the set and it is hard to argue with eternal indie disco favourite Cannonball as the clear set highlight.
Given that it was Saturday a later night was in order, and what better way to start than The Frogs, a band playing their first ever UK show after 20 years. Looking more like a set of Mighty Boosh characters than a band they certainly made an impression. Beloved by Kurt Cobain, The Smashing Pumpkins and Kelley Deal, who joined them on stage, they are a baffling experience for the uninitiated. You don't so much see the Frogs , but get violated by them. They aren't massively musically adept and their songs are offensive, but they clearly don't care. Impromptu bursts of Oasis's 'Champagne Supernova' and poor impressions of the English accent were all part of a show that was sneering, but clearly played for some, albeit nasty, laughs.
Fairly worse for wear by this point it was time to see Holy Fuck hit the stage. I was blown away by an act who exceeded my expectations. Their set went by in a boozey blur and before long I was dancing in the Crazy Horse saloon, Butlins own wild west themed bar.
Sunday
Sunday started slowly. Had I really been dancing to the Wickerman soundtrack at 5am? Surely not... After an extended lie-in it was time to get back out there and see what the final days line up had to offer.
Heartless Bastards were a non-threatening and unexceptional start. Their pleasant classic rock sound seemed at odds with their name. They were a good solid act, but failed to lift themselves to being a band you would want to see again.
The Soft Pack were a different story, and surely destined for greater popularity. Their poorly recorded debut, as the Muslims, sounded crisper and full of energy live in what was a very short set. 'Extinction' was a set highlight and I look forward to their future work. One to watch.
Deerhunter were one of the bands that I came to see with very high expectations, Microcastle being one of the best albums of last year. I wasn't disappointed as the band filled their set with a mixture of dreamy soundscapes and more poppy numbers like 'Never Stop'. Lead singer Bradford Cox also proved to be a charming and endearing presence. He invited the Deal sisters on stage and dueted with Kim on a version of a song by her other other band The Amps. As he hugged her before the song, he said, "I'm such a dork", but a hundred other dorks in the crowd were with him.
Another band I had high hopes for were Leeds political punks Gang of Four, an act whose influence on other bands exceeds their own success. The band proved to be a big disappointment. Their po-faced delivery was unappealing and singer Jon King looked ridiculous shirtless under a suit jacket. The bass and drums had a real drive to them, but it wasn't enough to keep me interested and a break for some food became a more tempting proposition.
Foals were accomplished, but perhaps too polished, churning out tracks such as 'Balloons' from their Antidotes album without any real live magic. Upstairs a much better show was in progress.
Shellac are an ATP institution, and curated the festival themselves in 2002. They were also the only band of the weekend asked to play two sets. When I saw how good they were I wished I'd been to the first one. Steve Albini is a busy man, seemingly engineering 50% of all albums released this year. So he doesn't tour much and his band have only released a handful of recordings in 15 years, with a seven year gap between the last two. They play like they do it every night, so tight are the bass and guitar with the almost jazz backing of drummer Todd Trainer. And it is a hard, abrasive buzz saw sound, matched to misanthropic lyrics and Albini's trademark snarl. The amazingly nasty 'Prayer To God' and an epic 'Wingwalker', complete with a hilarious spoken word section, were two of a set of highlights. After they finished I called it a night, keen to finish on such a high.
The festival was an undoubted success and I was left with only one regret, that I hadn't already secured myself a chalet at The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Additional material and pictures: Joe Lepper
The Willkommen collective is a group of 25 musicians working across a dozen or more projects. They initially joined forces through the band Shoreline, the first Willkommen Collective band. This then was followed by Sons of Noel and Adrian, The Miserable Rich and The Leisure Society. All the other bands have grown out of these acts.
Shoreline and Sons of Noel and Adrian's Tom Cowan tells Neon Filler that the name for the collective came about as the bands share the same cellist William Calderbank, meaning they literally have Will in common. The Miserable Rich were also touring Germany at the time and its lead vocalist James De Malplaquet thought Willkommen would be a nice linguistic tie in, says Cowan.
Aside from the Willkommen bands themselves members of the collective can be seen playing in other bands and have members in Lightspeed Champion. Willkommen members were also in the now defunct Hope of The States.
The bands have been gaining exposure over the last year, with BBC 6 Music's Marc Riley being one of many DJs showcasing their unique sound.
The Willkommen bands are having a busy 2009, with tour dates including:
- Sons of Noel and Adrian, Brighton Festival, May 2
- The Leisure Society and Shoreline, Brighton Festival, May 9
- Laish Quartet and Hamilton Yarns, Brighton Festival, May 23.
- Willkommen one-dayer featuring Sons of Noel and Adrian, Shoreline, Sweet Billy Pilgrim, The Miserable Rich, The Leisure Society, Laish and Kopek, Union Chapel, London, June 12.
- Wilkommen one dayer, featuring Alessis's Ark, The Leisure Society and Peggy Sue and the Pirates, Stamner House, Sussex, July 5.
Cowan adds: "We're trying to get like six albums out this year because they are all ace and ready to go. Man it's busy times."
http://www.willkommenrecords.co.uk/
Shoreline
Shoreline are the band where it all started and their members can be seen through most of the other Willkommen acts. They play folk music with a rich orchestral feel and in Beatrice Sanjust Di Teulada they have a vocalist of real skill and subtlety. 'Shipwrecked', from debut album Time Well Spent, is an epic that could have been recorded at any time in the last 100 years. Time Well Spent is available now on Willkommen Records.
Band members: Tom Cowan, Nick Hemming, Willam Calderbank, Beatrice Sanjust Di Teulada, Mike Siddell, Alistair Strachan, James De Malplaquet and Jacob Richardson.
Listen to them at http://www.myspace.com/shorelinemusic
Sons of Noel and Adrian
Sons of Noel and Adrian may be a difficult proposition to an audience in the age of Xenomania with their old world sound. To anyone who has been fortunate enough to see their foot stomping live show they make perfect sense. Big harmony vocals and driving percussion make songs such as 'A Wreck is not a Boat' a real listening experience. Their self-titled debut is available from Shelsmusic.
Band members: Jacob Richardson, Tom Cowan, William Calderbank, Mike Siddell, Catherine Cardin, Jo White, Alistair Strachan, Nick Hemming, Rowan Coupland, Marcus Hamblett, Daniel Green and Helen Whitaker.
Listen to them at http://www.myspace.com/sonsofnoelandadrian
Watch on YouTube
The Miserable Rich
The Miserable Rich have been described as chamber pop or, by the NME, as "orchestro-folk". Neither of these terms quite sums them up but do go some way to define the lush orchestration and hushed vocals that make up their sound. A slightly easier proposition to market than their more folky colleagues, their debut album Twelve Ways To Count has had rave reviews from a wide range of publications. Twelve Ways To Count is available now from Humblesoul.
Band members: Will Calderbank, Mike Siddell, Jim Briffett, Rhys Lovell and James de Malplaquet.
Listen to them at http://www.myspace.com/themiserablerich
Watch on YouTube
The Leisure Society
The Leisure Society are the Willkommen act most likely to break through in a big way this year. Their sound is very radio friendly, but still perfectly in line with overall feel of a Willkommen act. They also have an easy hook for journalists as songwriter Nick hemming was previously in a band with Paddy Considine and Shane Meadows. The band's debut single 'The Last Of The Melting Snow' has also been honoured with an Ivor Novello nomination for 'Best Song Musically & Lyrically', in esteemed company up against Elbow and The Last Shadow Puppets. Their debut album, The Sleeper, is available now on Willkommen Records.
Band members: Nick Hemming, Christian Hardy, Helen Whitaker, William Calderbank, Michael Siddell, Sebastian Hankins, Darren Bonehill and Beatrice Sanjust di Teulada.
Listen to them at http://www.myspace.com/theleisuresociety
Watch on YouTube
Some other acts in the collective
Laish (http://www.myspace.com/laishmusic)
Kristin McClement (http://www.myspace.com/kristinmcclement)
Hamilton Yarns (http://www.myspace.com/thehamiltonyarns)
Redwood Red (http://www.myspace.com/redwoodredwood)
Christian Silva (http://www.myspace.com/christiansilva)
Atlas Crease (http://www.myspace.com/atlascreaser)
Kopek (http://www.myspace.com/kopekmusic)
Rowan Coupland (http://www.myspace.com/rowancoupland)
The Climbers (www.myspace.com/theclimbers)
Festival Preview 2009
As spring arrives the festival season draws closer. Last year saw a record number of festivals go under, with even the mighty Glastonbury struggling to sell tickets. There are still plenty opening the tent doors to music fans this summer. Neon Filler has selected a few of the most talked about events for our 2009 festival preview.
All Tomorrow's Parties
All Tomorrow's Parties has been running holiday camp based music festivals in the UK for the last ten years, with the added twist of letting a band choose the line-ups. Over the years celebrity curators at events that now span the USA and Australia, have included Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Mudhoney and Explosions in the Sky and even Simpsons' creator Matt Groening.
This year ATP is returning to Butlins, Minehead, Somerset, for two festivals, offering among the most eclectic line-ups at any event this year. The first event, taking place on May 8 to 10, is curated by ticket holders. The Breeders are curating the second, which takes place on May 15 to 17. Around 40 acts will be at each, with those already confirmed for the Breeders' event including Foals, CSS, Teenage Fanclub, Tricky, Throwing Muses and Shellac. Those confirmed for the fans event include Devo, M83, Shearwater, Spiritualized and Beirut. Neon Filler will be attending and reviewing the Breeders' event.
ATP Fans Strike Back, Minehead, Somerset, May 8-10
ATP Breeders, Minehead, Somerset, May 15-17
http://www.atpfestival.com/Events/ATPBreeders.php
Glastonbury Festival
If music festivals had a godfather Glastonbury would be it. Set on Worthy Farm, Pilton, within chanting distance of Glastonbury Tor, the event has been running since 1970 where acts included Marc Bolan. Headliners that have appeared over the years include Radiohead, Kings of Leon and Verve.
The sheer size of the event means there is something for everyone, including those with children, fans of the likes of Lily Allen as well as hardened music fans looking for the next big thing. The event was rocked in recent years by criticism, from among others the NME, for being more a home to dinosaur rock acts than cutting edge new music. The reality is that it has always had a bit of both. So far this year those confirmed include Bruce Springsteen, Blur, Lily Allen and Doves.
Glastonbury Festival, Pilton, Somerset June 24 - 28.
Latitude
Located outside of Southwold in Suffolk, and featuring a literary arena and punting, Latitude is far from the most rock and roll festival on the circuit.
At the time of writing no details of this years festival line-up were available (tickets go on sale on March 23rd) but if last year is anything to go by it could be one of the best. Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros and Interpol headlined with strong support from the likes of Julian Cope, Elbow, Foals, Blondie, Okkervil River, The Coral and Seasick Steve. It also had one of the best comedy stages with acts such as Stewart Lee, Bill Bailey and Frankie Boyle on the bill. It could just be the perfect weekend for the well-read music fan with a penchant for dressing up.
Latitude, Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk, 16th-19th July.
http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/
End of the Road Festival
For indie-folk fans the End of the Road Festival is a must.
Set in the picturesque Larmer Tree gardens in Dorset each September this year's line up includes Alela Diane, Archie Bronson Outfit, Bob Log III, Charlie Parr, Efterklang, Howlin Rain, Joe Gideon and the Shark, Lay Low, The Low Anthem, Motel Motel, Peter Broderick, Sam Baker, Sparrow and the Workshop, Steve Earle, The Tallest Man On Earth, This Frontier Needs Heroes, Whispertown 2000 and William Elliott Whitmore. Those that have previously played include Darren Hayman, Mountain Goats and Conor Oberst. This is the type of festival that is likely to appeal to those that have been to Wales' folk orientated Green Man festival as it markets itself at folk fanatic singletons and families alike.
http://www.endoftheroadfestival.com/
Bestival
Fancy listening to thousands of braying yummy mummies prattling on about school admissions policies as they sip sauvignon blanc from a John Lewis hamper tucked away in the boot of their 4X4? If so then Bestival, which pretentiously labels itself as a 'boutique' festival is the place for you.
This is exactly the kind of gentrified festival that Adam and Joe so brilliantly ridiculed on their BBC 6 radio show, where the affluent festival goers take three days out from their unspecified 'consultancy' job to stand around pretending to look cool while their Boden clad children play on bouncy castles. Having said that this year's line up has some pretty good acts, such as MGMT, Fleet Foxes, Kraftwork and Frightened Rabbit in amongst a whole bunch of dross. If you are a yummy mummy this is ideal, if not best avoided, unless you take some top grade earplugs to block out the camp-side banter.
Bestival, Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, Sept 11 -13.
http://www.besbantival.net
Beachdown
Quite the new kid on the block Beachdown held its inaugural festival last year. It was a mixed bag over the four days, but it definitely did enough to justify a second go.
On the South Downs near Brighton, with views down to the sea, it is one of the most attractive festival sites. This is also one of the chief downsides as the exposed hillside can be pretty unbearable (and look very desolate) in bad weather, as last years campers found out. The line is very eclectic, aiming to cater for all tastes, making this festival a bit of a Jack of all trades. With acts including Grace Jones, The Fall, Super Furry Animals, Saint Etienne, Grandmaster Flash, The Blockheads and The James Taylor Quartet already confirmed it is shaping up to be a pretty good party. If the sun shines that is.
Beachdown, The South Downs, Nr. Brighton, Aug 28 -31
http://www.beachdownfestival.com/
In amongst the dross of X-Factor and American Idol the great art of the cover version is being lost.
Almost every note of 'Flying Without Wings' and high-pitched squawk of 'I Will Always Love You' by the show's vacuous contestants is another nail in the coffin of the once noble cover version.
That ends right here, right now, as Neon Filler honours those in the indie, alternative music world who've not only delivered a great version of a classic but have made it there own.
There are some surprises on our list, which we have produced to spark a debate about the art of the cover version. This top ten is a mere provisional list and we want you to send us your opinions of what makes a good cover version and your top cover versions. By the end of the year we'll mash up your ideas and use them to spew out the perfect, absolutely definitive top ten covers by indie and alternative artists of all time list.
Should Fatima Mansions' versions of REM's 'Shiny Happy People' be there? Have we ignored the sure audacity of attempts to cover entire albums,as Camper Van Beethoven did with Fleetwood Mac's Tusk. What about Primal Scream's excellent take on the 13th Floor Elevators 'Slip Inside This House'?
To make your opinions known go to the blog and post your comments.
Meanwhile sit back and enjoy our first attempt to create a top ten list of the best covers by indie and alternative artists.
1. Devo - Satisfaction
In many ways the perfect cover, a radically different version of a legendary song that is a classic in its own right. All jerky rhythms and fuzzed up guitar it takes the swagger of the Rolling Stones original and transfers that to an edgy, nervous and anxious look at the song. Frantic, frenetic and awkward, this is a definitive new-wave assault on a 60s classic.
Available on Q. Are We Not Men? A. We are Devo
2. Ben Folds - Bitches Ain't Shit
Fans of swearing would be hard pressed not love Ben Folds version of Dr Dre's 'Bitches Ain't Shit'. With tongue firmly in his white, middle class cheek he offers an irrepressible take on this hip-hop classic. This is Folds at his sarcastic best paying tribute to the song and mocking its offensive, sexist, gangster loving bravado all at the same time.
Available on Supersunnyspeedgraphic.
3. The Gourds - Gin and Juice
Taking on Snoop Dogg's 'Gin And Juice' in a full on bluegrass style could well have been a disaster. There is nothing less satisfying than a novelty record, particularly the 2nd or 3rd time you hear it. The Gourds avoid this trap with aplomb. They take the song straight, and play it well. It is funny sure, but never wacky, and it becomes something pretty unique. And it is a stormer, the style of music fits the song better than could be expected. The best bluegrass gangsta rap interpretation on record.
Available on Shinebox.
4. First Aid Kit - Tiger Mountain Peasant Song
Deep in the hidden recesses of Youtube, in amongst the clips of guitar wielding indie kids attempting to play their favourite track is this treat featuring Swedish duo First Aid Kit's take of Fleet Foxes' 'Tiger Mountain Peasant Song'. After more than 384,000 YouTube visitors tuned in it was soon added to the reissue of the band's debut ep Drunken Trees. The youth of the plaid shirt wearing First Aid Kit, who were born in 1990 and 1993, the passion they put into this version and the clip's location in a Swedish forest all merge to make this a true great among covers.
5. Ryan Adams - Wonderwall
Ryan Adams is another prolific coverer. His cover of the whole of The Strokes Is This It? remains unreleased. On his Love Is Hell record he covered the Oasis standard 'Wonderwall'. His version is far superior to the original, a fact acknowledged by none other than Noel Gallagher. He has stated his disappointment that his brother's limited skills mean they can't do the song justice, and he plays the Adam's version in his live shows. Adam's is a clever musician and you can never tell for sure whether he means what he sings, but he sounds like he does. When Liam Gallagher sings the song you doubt that he even knows what the song is supposed to mean.
Available on Love Is Hell.
6. Iron and Wine - Such Great Heights
Such Great Heights is an immediate classic, a great, heartfelt, tender love song. It's been well covered but one of the best is by Iron and Wine, who strips the original by electro-indie popsters Postal Service down to its bare, acoustic bones. Iron and Wine's interpretation is so good that many of those on website forums believe it is the original, surely the greatest accolade that can be bestowed on a cover version.
Available on Around the Well, release date May 19.
7. Dinosaur Jr - Just Like Heaven
This cover of the Cure's 'Just Like Heaven' is pure Dinosaur Jr - full on and with plenty of guitar. Where the original has a dainty pop chorus this cover adds a death metal roar and in genius slacker style Dinosaur Jr's lead singer J. Mascis couldn't be bothered to learn all the lyrics, or even make them up. So the song just stops three quarters of the way through. Brilliant.
Available on Ear-Bleeding Country: The Best of Dinosaur Jr.
8. Adem- Starla
Among the treats on Fridge bassist Adem's 2007 acoustic covers album Takes is his version of the Smashing Pumpkin's B-side Starla. It starts with just voice and acoustic guitar, drawing out the emotion of the song and building up to a climatic string-section finish that knocks
several shades of the brown stuff out of the original. Adem even manages to merge in part of another Smashing Pumpkins track, Window Paine, at the end. It is sheer emotional, acoustic brilliance.
Available on Takes.
9. Futureheads - Hounds Of Love
This cover manages to straddle the gap between being immediately identifiable and yet hugely different better than almost any other. There is no mistaking the song, but hear them side by side and they are so different. The Sunderland band take Kate Bush's plaintive original and inject their propulsive blend of XTC and Gang of Four into the mix. The backing vocals work brilliantly and are as much a part of the music as the guitars. And despite playing it very straight they somehow magnify the ridiculousness of the lyrics. "Take my shoes off and throw them in the lake", indeed.
Available on The Futureheads.
10. Lemonheads- Different Drum
A top ten of indie, alternative covers seems somehow incomplete without the Lemonheads take on the Mike Nesmith penned Different Drum, which was first recorded by Linda Rodstadt's band The Stone Poney's in 1967. Everything about this romantic break-up track fits with Evan Dando's quirky attractiveness perfectly. The Lemonheads were serial coverers, of hits by the likes of Gram Parsons, Suzanne Vega and Simon & Garfunkel, but it is with the lyrics of ex-Monkee Nesmith where their true cover credentials come to the fore. No one can sing, "you and I travel to the beat of a different drum, oh, can't you tell by the way I run, every time you make eyes at me," like Dando.
From Favorite Spanish Dishes (currently unavailable).
Compiled by Dorian Rogers and Joe Lepper
Neonfiller's round up of the best ten alternative and indie albums of 2008 is dominated by US acts, with the UK's so-called next big things failing to live up to expectations.
Of those that made our top ten, seven are from the US, one from Canada and just two from the UK. Shamefully poor releases by the likes of Pigeon Detectives, Razorlight and Keane ensured that a Brit pop revival is unlikely in the near future.
Although the most interesting music of the year came from the US, the nation of the free shouldn't get too above itself. There was no Is This It, no Nevermind, nothing to make a thousand teenage bands drop what there doing in their droves and embrace a new way of playing music.
Those that narrowly missed out include Fleet Foxes, Okkervil River, Amadou and Mariam and MGMT.
1. Walkmen - You & Me
From the reverbed guitar on opening tack Donde Esta la Playa to the end of last track, the ballad 'If Only It Were True', it is obvious You & Me is among the best releases of the year. Not only has it that increasingly rare quality of being consistently good throughout, it signals a dramatic shift in The Walkmen's creative output. Gone is the emotionless pounding of previous singles such as The Rat and in comes a slower, emotionally charged 60s garage sound. The album, the band's fourth, also marks a milestone for lead singer Hamilton Leithauser. His emotion is there for all to hear, perhaps for the first time in the Walkman's back catalogue, especially on 'Red Moon'. Standout track is undoubtedly In the New Year, an organ drenched epic.
9/10
http://www.myspace.com/thewalkmen
2. Boston Spacehips - Brown Submarine
After a disappointing set of 2007 releases it looked like things were going to get worse in 2008 with the release of the below par Superman Was a Rocker album. But Robert Pollard rallied well with the excellent Robert Pollard Is Off To Business and seemed to be showing signs of his old self. And with the release of Brown Submarine, the first release from his new band Boston Spaceships he really got into his stride.
'Ready to Pop' and 'Psych Threat' burst with energy as well as horn and string flourishes. 'Soggy Beavers' could be an outtake from the classic Alien Lanes LP. 'You Satisfy Me' is an album high-point and 'Two Girl Area' would stand up favourably against any Pollard song.
Being in a proper band again has clearly revitalised Bob and this could be the best album he has released since he broke up Guided by Voices.
9/10
http://www.bostonspaceships.com/
3. Shearwater- Rook
Created by Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff Shearwater have in the past been regarded as a mere folk off-shoot of their band Okkervil River. The beautiful but patchy Palo Santo (2006) began to change that and 2008's Rook cemented Shearwater as a powerful musical entity in its own right. Minus Sheff and with Meiburg full time, after quitting Okkervil River to concentrate on Shearwater, Rook is packed full of sweeping, impressive tracks, steeped in natural imagery.
Meiburg's distinctive baritone on songs such as 'Snow Leopard' and 'Leviathan Bound' have earned the band comparisons with TalkTalk for good reason. Stand out tracks include 'Rook' and 'Hunter's Star', on an album that takes the sound of Palo Santo to another level and announces Shearwater's emergence from Okkervil River's shadow.
9/10
http://www.myspace.com/shearwater
4. Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago
The story of Bon Iver is a compelling one. Justin Vernon splits from his band and retreats to a cabin in the woods for four months. He creates the nom de plume Bon Iver and records the songs that would become For Emma Forever Ago. The songs on the album are as remote and haunting as their origins would suggest.There are overdubs, guitar, drums, vocals and, on the title track, even horns. But these are in keeping with the haunting sound of the record and never smother it.
There are no weak tracks on the album, and several outstanding ones. 'Skinny Love' showcases Vernon's vocals, and 'Creature Fear' has a great chorus amid the drama. It is album closer 'Re:Stacks' that best captures the sound of isolation, and ends the album beautifully. For Emma Forever Ago' is the most accomplished debut of the year and showcases a real new talent.
8.5/10
5. Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
After three albums of autobiographical introspection the Mountain Goats John Darnielle arrived in 2008 with one of the band's best albums yet. While Darnielle's past subjects have included his own shocking childhood experiences of abuse on Heretic Pride, which is produced by John Vanderslice and Scott Solter, there is no such thread, just a collection of immediate and powerful songs. Gone is the autobiographic to be replaced by grand yet homely images of teenage love, religion, motels and middle America.
The opening half is particular powerful from 'Sax Rohmer #1' through to 'Autoclave'. True, some may find Darnielle's voice jarring but particularly on the album's standout track 'San Bernadino' this album shows a far greater vocal range. Darnielle says on the album's title track, "they come and pull me from my house, and they drag my body through the streets," perhaps a passing reference to his confessional previous albums. With Heretic Pride this public ordeal has ended and the Mountain Goats emerge the better for it.
8/10
http://www.mountain-goats.com/
6. TV On The Radio - Dear Science
TV On The Radio really are cooler than cool. They're based in Brooklyn, Bowie records backing vocals for them and in their spare time they are actors, producers, painters and make music videos for other hyper-cool bands.
Their 3rd album, Dear Science, is their most satisfying yet. It mixes Talking Heads (circa Remain In Light) with a contemporary sonic experimental streak, and comes out as something pretty unique.
'Halfway Home' is an excellent choice of opener, propulsive, hypnotic and featuring some great falsetto vocal flourishes. 'Dancing Choose' is a frenetic chant built around a great pop chorus. 'Golden Age' sits at the centre of the album and is brilliantly funky, like Midnite Vulture's era beck with the jokey irony.
8/10
7. Dodos - Visitor
In the Dodos' world of indie-folk, drums, acoustic guitar, good melodies and just a hint of Africa are all you need. This third album by the California based Dodos is their most accomplished to date, marrying classic folk and African rhythms with a rock edge through frenetic finger picking and off-kilter percussion. What is most immediate about Visitor is that at its heart it is just two people bashing away at drums and guitars, a back to basics approach that gives the album a unique warmth. Stand out tracks include 'Red and Purple' and 'Jodi'. 'Fools' is another track worth mentioning, a firm favourite at live shows. Its Matt Amato directed video also garnered heavy interest pre-album release via the likes of YouTube, creating a justifiable buzz around the band.
8/10
http://www.myspace.com/thedodos
8. The Week That Was - The Week That Was
The decision to put Field Music on an indefinite hiatus was bad news for anyone who had heard their brilliant 2007 release Tones of Town. The good news was that this meant two albums from the Field Music camp, David Brewis' School of Language and Peter Brewis with the Week that was.
The self titled album owes a lot to the sounds of the 70s, particularly XTC. Listening to stomping opener 'Learn to Learn' it is hard to believe that Brewis wasn't taking production notes at the Drums and Wires recording sessions. The string laden 'The Story Waits for No One' could have been an outtake from XTC's career high Apple Venus. 'The Airport line' could well be the best new wave chamber pop song ever recorded.
The album is more complex in arrangement than Field Music, with strings and pianos playing an equal part to the guitars and drums on many tracks. But it is still a compact pop album weighing in at 8 tracks and just over 30 minutes.
So any disappointment at the demise of Field Music is soon forgotten. Maybe we'll be treated to four new bands in 2009?
8/10
http://www.myspace.com/theweekthatwas
9. Neon Neon - Stainless Style
The Super Furry Animals were one of the most interesting and enjoyable bands to come out of the UK 1990s scene. But since 2001's Rings Around The World album they seem to have been in something of a rut. The albums aren't bad, they just sound like a band repeating itself to an ever smaller audience.
Singer Gruff Rhys clearly just needed something new to energise him as his collaboration with producer Boom Bip, as Neon Neon, is something of a triumph. Stainless Style is a concept album about John Delorean, the Back To The Future car designer and drug trafficker. This unlikely backdrop produces a set of sparkling songs that, in the most part, could have been recorded in 1982. Songs featuring guests Yo Majesty, Spank Rock and Fat Lip have a more modern Hip Hop feel, but it is those with the 80s sheen that work best.
'Dream Cars' and 'I Told Her on Alderan' are as good as it gets and are probably top 10 hits in an alternate reality where the DeLorean dream lives on.
8/10
10. Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning - Something For All Of Us
While it may seem like half Canada's musicians are in the Broken Social Scene collective, from Jason Collett to Leslie Feist, at its core it is guitarist and lead vocalist Kevin Drew and bassist Brendan Canning. The first in the Broken social Scene Presents series, Spirit If (2007), showcased the work of Drew and last year Canning had his chance to shine with Something For All Of Us. It is a challenge he more than meets, bettering Drew's album in terms of pure pop and creating some of Broken Social Scene's best and most melodic tracks.
Standout songs include the singles 'Church Under the Stairs' and 'Hit the Wall'. The album has its fillers, such as 'Been At It So Long' and even one duffer, the misjudged reggae influenced track 'Love Is New', but these are minor criticisms of an otherwise excellent addition to the BSS catalogue.
8/10