Ask (Brothertiger Cover) - The Smiths
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“Ask” by Brothertiger // Originally by The Smiths
I somehow missed this when posted early last month, but allow me to rectify that with a post in the present. Brothertiger have gone and put their shimmering stamp on The Smiths’ classic “Ask. Luckily, Brothertiger hasn’t strayed far from the original, instead just doing what they do best (dreamy synths, layered vocals, glo-fi production), while adhering to the brilliant melody and hook of the original. A must listen for fans of the original or fans of Brothertiger in general. A wonderful take on the classic.
(download) “Ask” by Brothertiger (The Smiths cover) (via Bandcamp)
The Holiday Crowd - Never Speak Of It Again
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“Never Speak of it Again” by The Holiday Crowd // Over the Bluffs (2012)
There’s no getting around it, The Holiday Crowd is clearly inspired by The Smiths. I’ll leave it at that. They’ve got a knack for recreating that sound of moody-yet-dreamy love-lost while keeping the sounds upbeat and jangly and loaded with melodies. There are plenty of other bands that are much worse choices to draw heavy inspiration from, it’s just really out in front. This is an album that could have been made in 1986 and it’s actually kind of refreshing to hear it played so unabashedly tight to the time. The C86 sound has been a fairly popular touchstone in recent years with lo-fi indie bands embracing the sound wholeheartedly, but rarely has it sounded so purely from that time. Definitely worth checking out if you’re a fan of The Smiths (or Morrissey), Orange Juice, or Belle & Sebastian.
(stream) Over the Bluffs EP by The Holiday Crowd (via Soundcloud)
Frankie Rose - Know Me
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“Know Me” by Frankie Rose // Interstellar (2012)
Frankie Rose, formerly of Dum Dum Girls, Vivian Girls, and Crystal Stilts, is about to drop a new album on Slumberland Records and GorillaVsBear has the first taste of the lead off single. Of course, knowing of her previous band work you might expect something of a garage pop sound, but you’d be surprised because what you get is something closer to a lo-fi New Order sound, with a steady old school drum beat and steely, almost synth-like guitar work. It’s a dark, pretty lo-fi synth pop cut that excites me greatly to hear more from the forthcoming album, Interstellar.
(download) “Know Me” by Frankie Rose (mp3 via GorillaVsBear)
FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2007 (as chosen in 2007)
- “In Rainbows” by Radiohead
- “Sound of Silver” by LCD Soundsystem
- “Neon Bible” by Arcade Fire
- “Boxer” by The National
- (tie) “Person Pitch” by Panda Bear // “The Reminder” by Feist
* for some reason Spotify is missing most of these albums, so no playlist for 2007
These lists are getting closer to the present, so it’s getting harder to find too many faults with these lists. I would still pretty much agree with this list completely with the exception of switching the placements of Arcade Fire and The National. What can I say, “Boxer” was a grower.
Sure, if you look back through these lists you won’t be surprised in the least to see Radiohead in the top spot again, but truth be told, “In Rainbows’ is probably my favorite Radiohead album and I’m old enough to have actually bought “Pablo Honey” on cassette when it was released (my report card money wasn’t the best, sometimes I had to buy what i could afford and I distinctly remember not being able to afford the CD), so one could reasonably make the argument that “In Rainbows” is my favorite album of all time and your argument would be valid, but that’s an ever-shifting list if we’re talking “all time”, but it’s certainly a contender right next to “Strangeways, Here We Come”, “In The Aeroplane Over the Sea”, “Disintegration”, and “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain” (to name but a few). Enough talk of Radiohead.
The rest of the choices stand on their own. I was not as taken with “Person Pitch” as many of my friends were that year, but it certainly hit me in the right place. I was just mostly obsessed with LCD Soundsystem’s giant leap forward with “Sound of Silver” for most of the year (Radiohead was a late year release). The Feist choice, is wholly representative of being unable to avoid it most of the year, but also because those are some incredibly well written pop songs sung by one of my favorite female artists on in music.
All in all, 2007 (for me), is one of the best years for music that I’ve ever experienced first hand. It was loaded with incredible albums and even more mindblowingly good stand out tracks. Let’s talk favorite songs, shall we…
* (previous year’s top fives)
Glowbug - Gagging Order (Radiohead Cover)
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“Gagging Order” by Glowbug // Originally by Radiohead
Well this is pretty nice. Glowbug have gone and turned one of my most beloved Radiohead songs into a glimmering, electro-shoegaze, robotic dream. It’s damn near impossible to best Radiohead at their own songs, so I’m not going to go that far, but this is definitely a great cover of a lesser known track (a Hail to the Thief b-side). It’s available on a new EP of covers by Glowbug, that they’re giving away for free on Bandcamp (feat. covers of Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pixies, and The Smiths). Get on it.
(download) “Covered in Lights Vol. 1” by Glowbug (via Bandcamp)
(via danceyrselfclean)
Since I haven’t been around this week to offer much in terms of posts, I will go ahead and take the cue from Danceyrselfclean’s impeccable taste and offer up her top 14 jams of the week. Give these a listen. She’s got nothing but good stuff listed for your ears, hearts, and minds. Enjoy. I’ll be back to regular posts soon.
danceyrselfclean:
Dance Yrself Clean’s Top 14 Eargasm Jams Of The Week…(9/23/11)
Really the stellar music in 2011 just doesn’t end. In a week where most television shows had their season premieres and oh they could have taken up all of our attention the music proved to be an incredible force and said “Nope that is not gonna happen hip cats.” Ergo it was impossible to keep this list at 10 or even 12. So we get 14 tracks to obsess over. That’s a problem I will gladly welcome! As always I hope you find one new jam to to keep on repeat. Click on each eargasm to stream away to a land of delightful as fuck fun times!
- Wild Beasts, Thankless Thing
- Georgiaa, Postcards And Polaroids
- Dum Dum Girls, In My Head
- Saskatchewan, Skinny Dipping
- Orca Orca, Change Of Pace
- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Idiot
- Slowdance, Spell
- pacificUV, Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (The Smiths cover)
- Wavves, Bug
- High Pop, Acid Tooth
- Tammar, Frost Meter
- bye lai mar, Wicked Games (The Weeknd cover)
- Housekeeping, Missed Connections
- Dreams, With You
So bring it on, bring on the weekend…
pacificUV - Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want
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“Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want” by pacificUV // Chrysalis (2011) // Originally by The Smiths
I’ll go ahead and say that i’m a very big fan of The Smiths. Some of their work is tattooed on my body, i discovered countless other artists through their work, “Strangeways, Here We Come” is one of my desert island discs … so yeah, I have a bit of a soft spot for the work of The Smiths. That being said, I’m not usually the biggest fan of cover versions of their songs. Not because I have issues with covers of my favorite artists, but mostly because Morrissey and Marr have such distinct sounds in their work that covers tend to mimic too closely or shift the sound completely away into an unrecognizable path. Sometimes though, a nice balance is struck. pacificUV, i feel, have struck that balance. I wasn’t sure at first, but by the time that shimmering guitar came and cut through all of the Jesus and Mary Chain like slow-motion-reverb-cool, i felt something really special. This is a pretty stellar cover. I’m definitely a fan. Big time. You can download all of “Chrysalis” for free over at Bandcamp!
(download) pacificUV - Chrysalis (via Bandcamp)
WORDS & MUSIC // PITCHFORK’S 60 FAVORITE BOOKS ABOUT MUSIC
If you like reading about music (or hell, just enjoy reading - period), Pitchfork has compiled an impressive and eclectic list that’s as good a jumping off point as any. I was surprised to find that I have read several of these, but more surprised by how many of them I had never heard of and in turn intend to seek out for future reads. Selections include books on Bob Dylan, Brian Eno, The Smiths, Factory Records, and the underground New York scene in the 70’s to name but a few.
Definitely worth a look if you have some free time.
(click through or LINK)
Death Of A Disco Dancer [Demo]
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“Death of a Disco Dancer (Demo)” by The Smiths // from the collection, Unreleased Demos & Instrumentals (Vinyl Bootleg)
Speaking of Strangeways, Here We Come - Why not keep up the old jams by posting one of the tracks from that brilliant album (in demo form)? For a very long time, Strangeways was my favorite album to break out during long car rides. Road trips just felt better with these songs pouring out of the speakers. Odd how the sounds made by four guys from Manchester can make driving through the deserts of the American southwest sound somehow more sparse and intimate. It works. At any rate, I’m still in that older jam vibe and hope to stay here for a while. Hope you don’t mind me taking the weekend off of the new.
THE SMITHS // COVERED
Here, you will find a collection of new and old covers spanning the last couple of decades. I was compelled to put this together as a challenge mostly because I have found it so difficult over the years to find covers of Smiths songs that held up to a mediocre at best standard. That being said, I’ve pieced together a 20 track compilation. It could have been slightly more, but I did my best to limit myself to zero duplicate songs (I caved on “Last Night I Dreamt…” and used two, sue me - the original is my favorite song of all time). Are there some covers that I missed - sure. Most of those were instances of choosing who I felt covered a particular track the best.
So without further ado, here are classic songs by The Smiths as re-interpreted by artists over the years.
Playlist (click the band name for more info on the band):
- stars - THIS CHARMING MAN
- spoon - PANIC
- the morning benders - I WON’T SHARE YOU
- doug martsch (of Built to Spill) - BIG MOUTH STRIKES AGAIN
- vanilla swingers - HAND IN GLOVE
- j. mascis - THE BOY WITH THE THORN IN HIS SIDE
- sharon van etten - LAST NIGHT I DREAMT THAT SOMEBODY LOVED ME
- cursive - FRANKLY, MR. SHANKLY
- supergrass - SOME GIRLS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS
- love spit love - HOW SOON IS NOW
- owen - GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA
- radiohead - THE HEADMASTER RITUAL
- dum dum girls - THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT
- at the drive-in - THE NIGHT HAS OPENED MY EYES
- colin meloy (of The Decemberists) - ASK
- the twilight sad - HALF A PERSON
- she & him - PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME GET WHAT I WANT
- low - LAST NIGHT I DREAMT THAT SOMEBODY LOVED ME
- jeff buckley - I KNOW IT’S OVER
- xiu xiu - ASLEEP
(download) The Smiths // Covered ( MF | MU )
(stream) Entire Mix @ 8tracks
(follow PerfectMidnightWorld for more musicrelated posts like this)
Please support the artists that you find and enjoy. Buy their music, merchandise and tickets to see their shows. Supporting them is the only purpose in doing this blog. Contrary to the opinions of some, music blogs are a great way to discover new music, but there will only be so much new music to go around if these artists can’t afford to support themselves through their art and commerce. Only use these mixtapes as a guide to find something to throw your (financial and emotional) support behind.
(via atd-i)
Emily Browning - Asleep
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emily browning - ASLEEP (Originally by The Smiths)
One of my favorite songs in the whole wide world is in Zack Snyder’s “Sucker Punch” and it’s being covered by the film’s lovely lead actress, Emily Browning. It’s not going to blow walls down or anything, but it’s a nice little version with some big cinematic, orchestral flourishes, so naturally I’m gonna post it.
PS. First person to mention that fucking “Perks of Being a Wallflower” book gets kicked in the chops… okay, if you must, go ahead and mention it but seriously, it was ours before it was in that damn book.
*note: this is being reblogged from last week as Tumblr no longer shows it in my posts, but only on my page. trying to correct the missing mixtape issue in my tags.
THE AFTERGLOW : EPISODE 34
Lots of great, new material this week, including two covers of classic Smiths’ songs. Special high marks for the tracks by Dead Gaze, Kurt Vile, Yuck, Tearjerker, and Julianna Barwick. I tried to keep it all a bit more dreamy this week and in turn I think this is one of my favorite Afterglows in a while.
Once again, thank you for all the support, likes, and reblogs. Thank you. As always, these Afterglow mixes are best heard at night. Make out, drive, study, sleep, or fuck to it. Do whatever you like, but please enjoy it.
PLAYLIST: (individual tracks have links, full mixtape link at bottom)
- alex winston - LOCOMOTIVE
- dead gaze - EMANUEL CAN’T COME CLOSE ENOUGH
- when saints go machine - LET ME LOVE YOU FOR TONIGHT (Kariya Cover)
- banjo or freakout - BLACK SCRATCHES
- kurt vile - SOCIETY IS MY FRIEND
- dirty beaches - THE SINGER (Johnny Cash/Nick Cave Cover)
- yuck - ROSE GIVES A LILLY
- danielson - HOSANNA IN THE FOREST
- owen - GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA (The Smiths Cover)
- peaking lights - ALL THE SUN THAT SHINES
- giant claw - I KNOW I’M LIKE A GHOST
- tearjerker - NICE CLOTHES
- who are you - SLEEPWALKERS
- gray things - FORTUNE TELLER
- nicolas jaar - KEEP ME THERE
- sara lov - THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT (The Smiths Cover)
- seven saturdays - AU REVOIR (Memoryhouse Remix)
- julianna barwick - VOW
(download) The Afterglow : Episode 34
You can always revisit the other 33 Afterglows HERE. Thanks for listening. And don’t be afraid to seek out the bands that you like and support their art.
THE AFTERGLOW : A VALENTINE’S DAY MIXTAPE
I’m not going to play the bitter lonely card because there’s no one in my life this year for the first Valentine’s Day in over a decade. I’ve never been a big celebrator in the first place. But I certainly find myself thankful that I’ve felt that kind of love and perhaps still do, deep down. This is for those that asked and for those that might just stumble upon it.
It’s a collection of songs about finding, losing, wanting, and or needing that special someone. It’s vibe certainly could fit in the usual Afterglow Mixtapes but instead of new material, here you’ll just find a lot of old favorites that have made their way onto mixtapes in the past.
Enjoy. Happy Valentine’s Day. I very much hope that all of you love and or feeling loved. I’ve included full sized art, in case you’d like to print and burn and share.
Don’t be afraid to Reblog and share with others.
PLAYLIST: (individual tracks have links, full mixtape link at bottom)
- my bloody valentine - WHEN YOU SLEEP
- cocteau twins - ICEBLINK LUCK
- department of eagles - NO ONE DOES IT LIKE YOU
- tom vek - C-C (YOU SET THE FIRE IN ME)
- the spinto band - OH MANDY
- slow runner - TRYING TO PUT YOUR HEART BACK TOGETHER
- death cab for cutie - LOVE SONG (The Cure Cover)
- the gaslight anthem - I’M ON FIRE (Bruce Springsteen cover)
- the lemonheads - IF I COULD TALK I’D TELL YOU
- the cure - THE PERFECT GIRL
- phantom planet - OUR HOUSE (Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young cover)
- elbow - FUGITIVE MOTEL
- bob dylan - GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY
- the smiths - I WON’T SHARE YOU
- stars - ELEVATOR LOVE LETTER
- rogue wave - MAPS (Yeah Yeah Yeahs cover)
- the rentals - THE LOVE I’M SEARCHING FOR (Acoustic)
- stars of track and field - WITH YOU
- siouxsie and the banshees - THE LAST BEAT OF MY HEART
- the good life - DON’T MAKE LOVE SO HARD
(download) The Afterglow Valentine’s Day Mixtape
Dum Dum Girls - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
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dum dum girls - THERE IS A LIGHT THAT NEVER GOES OUT (The Smiths Cover)
It’s Dum Dum Girls covering one of the more popular songs by one of the best bands in history, The Smiths. It’s fucking excellent. It’s amped up the dark urgency and lost a bit of playfulness, but it’s a beast unto itself. I’m not going to say its better than the original because that would be fucking absurd, but it’s absolutely 110% worth your time. Press play.
(band site)
