Today we’re featuring a couple of solid covers I’ve come across in the recent past. Neither are especially new, but they both struck a chord with my tympanic membranes.
I was sadly only vaguely familiar with Detroit duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. before hearing this cover over at I Guess I’m Floating. They’ve done well by the timeless Beach Boys classic, “God Only Knows;” very naturally they make the song their own while remaining true to the original in an engagingly soulful fashion. If the cover catches your fancy, do head over to the band’s site for a free mp3, the cost of which is the low low price of an email address.
Andy first wrote about Bad Books back in October when speaking of their track “You Wouldn’t Have To Ask.” In a similar retro-ish rock vein akin to the very same band they are covering here, this a very solid cover of an already excellent rock song. Andy Hull, also of Manchester Orchestra, does well to channel his inner-Martsch here vocally, and the results are fantastic.
30. Built To Spill – There Is No Enemy Andy: Unranked :: Dave: 18
I make no qualms in stating Built To Spill is involved in any conversation concerning a list of my favorite under-the-radar bands. I say under the radar because there are a surprising number of individuals completely unaware of the band’s vast talents. Just about anything they release will be enjoyable due to their remarkable consistency of excellence, and to my mind I can think of few indie guitar bands on the same level. I totally dig Doug Martsch’s lyrical witticisms and excellent guitar work. He puts a great deal of thought into his work, indeed, far more than I needed to write this quick, glowing review.
It’s hard to form an opinion of a Jay-Z album if you don’t get out in front of the unavoidable overplaying of the singles. By the time the radio finished with the 4th single (“Already Home?”), it’s bound to be well into 2010, and we’ll all be onto the next great album.
Whether or not you agree with the opinion that rap has made itself irrelevant with its constant need for affirmation through money, status, etc. (which I do, to a certain extent), it’s difficult to find someone still so adept at making the whole process seem simple. Jay no longer has to rap about guns/bitches/the projects because he’s not there anymore. It’s tiresome to be constantly reminded of how difficult a rapper’s life used to be when he now may end up being a partial owner of an NBA team. And, to some extent, Jay recognizes that. Throughout the album he references a need to move the conversation along.
The Blueprint 3 isn’t a perfect album. There are a couple of songs I skip over when I’m playing it. But as a whole, it’s a solid effort from an artist who really has nothing else to prove to anyone, but who remains as relevant to the conversation as when he started.
001: Joywave - Ridge/Traveling At The Speed Of Light 7"
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NOTE: Concerts are in Rochester unless otherwise noted.
1/5: Les Racquet
1/12: Joywave with Old Tapes, Dave & Marissa
1/13: The Dads
1/14: My Brightest Diamond
1/17: Josh Netsky Band with Cuddle Magic
1/18: Tycho (Buffalo)
1/26: Avicii
1/26: A$AP Rocky (Buffalo)
1/28: The Crystal Method (Syracuse)
2/11: Blind Pilot (Ithaca)
2/22: William Fitzsimmons
2/24: Mike Doughty
2/25: Charles Bradley (Buffalo)
2/29: Summer People
3/3: Matthew Good
3/5: Evening Man
3/23: The Men
3/30: tympanogram’s 3rd Birthday with Born Gold, Old Tapes, TBA
4/20: fun.
4/23: Cults (Buffalo)
5/6: Bear In Heaven (Ithaca)
5/7: M83 (Buffalo)
an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum, and the conduction bones by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.
Basically, it sounded like a cool name for a blog intended to be primarily about music. We’d both had other blogs previously, but over beers it was decided that more damage could be done as a joint venture. And here we are.
We share a passion for the undiscovered and under-appreciated, and hope that you’ll be able to find something you love as well.
Disclaimer
The music offered on this blog is for sampling purposes only. If you enjoy something you hear here, please go out and buy the music, see a show, or purchase some merchandise. Posted mp3s are available for a limited period of time only.
If there are any materials featured here that are your intellectual property, and you would prefer them removed, please notify us and we will be happy to oblige.
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About the Author: Dave
I like music. I can't describe how I came to like the music I do, because I don't know how or why, I just do.
Many years ago, Napoleon's brother, my great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather, came to America. He was asked his name on Ellis Island while being processed as an immigrant. Not understanding English, he was under the impression that he was being asked how he had arrived in the new land. So he turned around and pointed at the sea vessel and said, 'LaBarge.'
About the Author: Andy
I come by my music taste of my own free will. My friends listened to 2Pac, my parents to contemporary Christian and me? Sunny Day Real Estate. I can’t explain it.
“Music, true music, not just rock ’n’ roll, it chooses you. It lives in your car, or alone, listening to your headphones…” - Lester Bangs
![daleearnhardtjrjr [mp3/video] Sunday Covers](http://tympanogram.com/files/daleearnhardtjrjr.jpg "[mp3/video] Sunday Covers")
30. Built To Spill – There Is No Enemy
29. Jay-Z – The Blueprint 3
