“The Weight” Travis (The Band)

The Band has been on my internal playlist a lot this week. Here’s Travis doing a great cover of  “The Weight.”

“Go Your Own Way” The Cranberries (Fleetwood Mac)

For my wife, who is not feeling well today. I hope you dig it, Lil Bit.

“Crazy In Love” Switchfoot (Beyonce)

This almost doesn’t work. But then somehow it does. Credit to Switchfoot for figuring out a way to do this.

“A Forest” Toadies (The Cure)

After Kids Incorporated on Friday and the kid with a ukelele on Monday, it had to come to this….

The Cure’s “A Forest” covered by Texas rockers Toadies. The original and the cover both arrive at such an ominous sound, albeit via different instrumentation. I dig it. As I look out my office window, I can see the edge of gray trees. If I ever do get lost out there, I will invariably hear this song and try to think of rainbows and puppies instead.

“We are the Champions” Green Day (Queen)

Hopefully I’ll be posting this again on January 8th, 2010. RTR.

Green Day is one of those bands that I was intrigued by immediately. But I thought they’d be a 15-minute of fame band. More than a one hit wonder, but not a band that we would get to watch grow artistically. Was I ever wrong.

How many punk bands can pull off a cover of Queen? I know, I know….somehow since they are commercially successful, the aren’t punk anymore. To that I say “BOLLOCKS!”

Billie Joe has always struggled with a pitchy voice. But I think Freddie Mercury would approve of this tribute.

“Don’t Bring Me Down” New Pornographers (E.L.O.)

Who doesn’t love singing “Ooh-woo-hoo!” in falsetto? This is the best audio I could find of a live performance.

“I Believe in a Thing Called Love” Lemar (The Darkness)

Be careful if you go check out the original version of this song by The Darkness. Because it will become stuck in your head for 5-7 days if you do. It’s just that catchy. I dig this slow R&B treatment even if it still leaves something to be desired. Not bad, Lemar.

“Long Way to the Top” Billy Corgan (AC/DC)

Here’s Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins fame being awesome by performing on the street for some Italian fans. Even better, he’s doing an AC/DC song. Music begins in earnest around 1 m 25 s mark.

“Rock the Casbah” Rachid Taha (The Clash)

When I think of Algerian rock, one name comes to mind: Rachid Taha. Some say that Rachid Taha IS Algerian rock. I wouldn’t go that far because there is just so much great music coming out of Tangiers these days. But here’s Rach bringin’ it on his cover of “Rock the Casbah” by the Clash.

“My Sweet Lord” Billy Preston & Friends (George Harrison)

What a beautiful tribute to their departed friend George Harrison. Here’s Billy Preston, the fifth Beatle (yep, look it up) with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Tom Petty and George Harrison’s son. Billy Preston died probably not too long after this was performed.