Liner Notes: Chocolate Covered

I listen to a number of Podcasts, i am addicted to them. Mostly they are just hour long conversations about nothing important that serve as mindless litening, but one is different, its a podcast of Song covers called Coverville.

Song covers are amazing things, the ability of one artist to take anothers song and make it their own, not out of greed but out of respect and tribute. A Musical way of saying "good work". Now i know there are exceptions to this and so in my mind i created the three rules which define a cover song to me:

1. Must not sound exactly like the Original
This is a given, but is very regularily overlooked. A cover needs to be an artists interpretation of the song, it needs to be every bit a part of themselves as it is of the original artist. When Joe Cocker did his cover of the Beatles "Little Help from my Friends" he didnt make it sound like the Beatles, he didnt perform it note for note. He made it his own, (in fact it is one of the only covers i can think of in which the cover version was better than the original.) The song became a Joe Cocker song in its own right while still being fathful to the original.
On the other end of the scale, Brittney Spears's Cover of "I love Rock and Roll" or Spiderbaits "Black Betty" are not covers, performing a track just like the original is not a cover, its just theft.

2. A Cover is a B-Side
If you are covering a song with the intention of making it a single, you are not making a cover, you are just greedy. I am not saying that your song cannot become famous, number 1 or whatever, but if you record it with that intent then you are not doing it for the right reasons. A song cover is a bonus, it is a short tribute to another performer. I will accept people like Michael Buble etc who only really have their voice to work with, but i wouldnt really classify them as cover either. A cover is a specially done track by the artist to display their repect and love for another artist.
Once again Brittany Spears's Cover of "I love rock and Roll" is not a cover. Spiderbait... i had  faith in you....tsk tsk..

3. Respect is Key
Whether the song is done in jest or not a certain amount of respect needs to be had, if you are playing a song because you know it will be popular, or you know you can just make a mockery of it then become a Commercial radio DJ, to perform a cover you should like the song you are performing, whether it be sentimental, nostalgic or personal to someone you know, you need to respect the song and put effort into the recording. I will just put it out there that i dont like Wierd Al Yankovich for this reason.


When a cover song is done just right it is amazing, when performed live it is something that makes you feel you are witnessing something special, a cover song is a pure form of creativity that shows of an artists talent more than anything else because it is the ability to take the essence of a song and give it new life.

And so i leave you with two Covers that i really like... eventually i will make a covers mixtape... but not now cos i cant be bothered....

The Fresh Prince of Bel Air - Kay Pettigrew
This cover is great, i love acoustic renditions especially of rap songs. This is a prime example of an artist putting their own style into the song. Enjoy.


Somewhere over the Rainbow - IZ
A lot of people would have heard this cover before, it was featured in the movie Finding Forrester and now it seems to be featured in westfield playlists.... nonetheless it is a great cover and is most definatley done with amazing passion and respect and gives the song a whole new feel.


This is a very limited list in terms of showing the scope of what a song cover can do... so wait for the next playlist where i'll try and give you a wider spectrum.

Will's Mix Tape Volume 1 - A Mixed Bag

Ok... time to deliver some music from my itunes to your ears.... enjoy.

1.  All is Love - Karen O
Catchy Song from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs singer, will have you singing along in no time.

2. You Wouldn't Like Me - Tegan and Sara
An older song from T and S's debut album, cool build up and as usual great harmonies.

3. Love of an Orchestra - Noah and the Whale.
Madly in love with this song at the moment, thinking of running to vegas with it.
Epic and uplifting with that Noah and the Whale charm.

4. Sundial - Wolfmother
Say what you want about Wolfmother but they do know how to create an awesome riff. This song is no exception and the i love the use of piano.

5. Work - Bluejuice
This i just couldnt get out of my head, great beat and piano, catchy simple lyrics... very chilled and head nod-able.

6. Ampersand - Amanda Palmer.
Moving piano pop, heavy lyrics, great vocals. Amanda Palmer is an aquired taste but if you like Ben Folds then you will at least like the piano as i am pretty sure its him.

7. Get Well Cards - Conor Oberst
I really enjoyed Conors solo work away from bright eyes, he is an amazing lyricist and this song is not exception...

8. I Just Don;t Think i'll Ever Get Over You - Colin Hay
Taken from the Garden State soundtrack this is a moving peice of music, Colin still has it and some.


9. Claudia - The View
Something about the heavy scotish accent really works for me with this band. Love the guitar solo.


10. Not worth waiting for - Zoe Gault.
This is a little plug for a friend of my brothers, she is really talented. This recording was from the performance she did at the Opera house for an HSC showcase and really shows off her skills having composed not only the song but the orchestral backing for it.

I've put into a .rar file....
Download it Here


OK... thats my first mix tape... hope you enjoy it... Lemme know what you think.

Liner Notes: Soundtracks

I have always had a bit of a soft spot for soundtracks, it seems that they are the equivalent in music as Music videos are to Feature films... the sort of creative breeding ground where artists can leave convention and try new things, cover their favorite artists, leave their genre comfort zone, anything...

And so i bring you my top 5 soundtracks as of today...
(please note, this comes off a download session the other night, so most of these soundtracks are recent listens... this is in no way a best soundtracks of all time blog, also this is in no order... i am not that picky)


1. Where the Wild Things Are - Karen O and the Kids

I have not yet seen this film (its isnt out yet) but the fact that i loved the book as a kid and this soundtrack is so awesome i will most definately be there opening night with much anticipation. There is something about soundtracks to kids films that really rev me up, so much energy, you just want to bounce around the room, and this soundtrack lives up to that and more.
Karen O as most of you would know is the lead singer for the Yeah Yeah Yeah's, and she has a very distinctive style that comes with that, loud, enegery fuelled screaming. This however is not the Karen O that we hear on this soundtrack, she has toned down, calmed down and it pays off because in doing this she brings out the innocence of a kid in herself.
Alongside her she has assembled a pretty decent band lineup with Deerhunter's Bradford Cox and the Bird and the Bee's Greg Kurstin, bandmates Brian Chase and Nick Zinner and former touring guitarist Imaad Wasif, Liars' Aaron Hemphill, The Dead Weather's Dean Fertita, and Jack Lawrence from The Raconteurs as well as a chior of Kids.

This soundtrack really blew me away, i am a big fan of Karen O but the new sound she brings to this soundtrack as well as the instrumentals has made this album sit on repeat ever since.
Sure the lyrics are aimed at Kids, but they are still well written and great for all ages.

Reccomended Tracks: All is Love, Worried Shoes, Igloo, Rumpus


2. Garden State - Various

Zach Braff has a talent in picking music, the soundtrack to this film was derived from the mix CD that he was listening to when writing the screenplay and so in terms of working alongside the film itself they are almost perfect. But as a CD on its own this is possibly one of the best compilations i have heard in a long time.

If you havn't seen the film i first suggest seeing it, but the basic premise is that its about the main charachter (played by Braff) and his dissconnection to emotion and the outside world. And this music portreys that in its own way, the music is chilled indie rock, slow beats. And this dissconection in the music does to you what the medication does to Braffs charachter in the film... it takes you away from the world, which in Music terms is a good thing.

The Artists included are impressive, The Shins (who got their break from this release), Zero 7, Coldplay, Colin Hay (you's know him from Men at Work), Nick Drake.... to name a few and a really good cover of Such Great Heights by Iron and Wine.

This CD for me has been awesome train music.. a whole journey will pass as i listen to it and i wont even notice it going. Listen to it anywhere it is an awesome mix-tape from Zach Braff to you.

Reccomended Tracks: Caring is Creepy, In the Waiting Line, Such Great Heights.


3. (500) Days of Summer - Various

This soundtrack is really fresh in my mind at the moment, i only just listened to it this morning but it is already up the top in terms of soundtracks for me... it is also a film i have not yet seen and so the music has no reference for me in terms of usage in the film itself. But that doesnt matter because this is a great collection.

It is mostly older indie songs with tracks from The Smiths and Hall and Oats, but it also features some new stuff from Regina Spektor and The Temper Trap. I was grinning wide when i saw the inclusion of Please Please Please, Let me get what i Want by The Smiths, this song has always had a place in my heart and is what got me into The Smiths to begin with... and then on the last track a cover of the same song by She and Him... awesome.

This is a different compilation to Garden State, the songs focus on the theme of Love. The Classic indie love songs included are the perfect soundtrack to any relationship and if i were to ever make a mix tape for my one true love it would probably be very similar to this album.

The one down side to listening to this is that it makes me wish i saw the film even more... and that hurts.

Reccomended Tracks: Please Please Please, Let me get what i want, Us, You Make my Dreams, Quequ'un M'a Dit


4. Finding Neverland - Jan A.P Kaczmarek

Now onto the Classical, i do like film scores but i find with most that i get bored really quickly, Not with this one though, the use of choir vocals and smooth interweaving strings gives this the magic of a burton film with the drama of something from Speilburg.
The tracks hold up on their own as if from a symphony and even without knowledge of the film itself this soundtrack plays out as a nice peice of classical music in itself.

I dont really know what else to say about this album except listen to it, if you need to relax, study, think this is a great thing to have playing, it is motivating, soothing and well... amazing.

Reccomended Tracks: Its all good


5. I am Sam - Various

The Beatles have a very strange rule... no music is to be used in Film, that is... no Original recordings to be used in Film... covers on the other hand....

This soundtrack is the work of good mathematics... take one of the greatest bands in history, add some of the greatest artists of present day.... the result. Soundtrack to the power of awesome.
Artists such as Sarah Mclaughlin, Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds, The Vines, Ben Harper etc.. doing covers of all the most popular beatles tracks in pure style... they add their own style to create something truely unique.

Originally Sean Penn wanted to put original tracks in the movie, he was declined. I somehow feel that the album is better because of it. This is not a beatles best of... its a tribute and it is done in style.

Reccomended Tracks: Golden Slumbers, Blackbird, I'm Looking Through You




Other Soundtracks that are well worth checking out:

Over the Hedge - Ben Folds
Great soundtrack, awesome cover of the Clash's "Lost in the Supermarket"... Ben folds is a legend, and it shows in this soundtrack.

Hancock: John Powell
John powell is one of the top when it comes to action scores, not at Zimmer level yet but great nonetheless...
This score is top notch, great fast paced action scores alongside heartfelt emotional tunes.

Wall-E: Thomas Newman
Pixar know emotion... and they also know who to get when they need that emotion expressed through music. Thomas Newman is a great composer and he shines in this soundtrack. The inclusion of songs from Lois Armstrong, Peter Gabriel and Michael Crawford from his Hello Dolly Days makes this a treasure part of my collection and a reminder of a great film.

Big Day Out 2010 Artists: Ladyhawke

It is Impossible for me to write a Music Blog without seeming pretentious, and so in a bid to lessen this i have decided to take a new approach... and so i present to you now the second of the Big Day Out 2010 artists... Ladyhawke...

hmmmm.... maybe i should avoid poetry...

In all seriousness i do advise people to go see ladyhawke, she has a cool 80's vibe to her music and it should make for some good dancing!


Reccomended Tracks:
Paris is Burning , My Delirium , Back of the Van

Website: www.myspace.com/ladyhawkerock

Liner Notes - Don't Start a Band... Dream about Starting a Band

For a long time i have wanted to be in a band...

The Fans, the songs, the gigs... the thrill of being able to perform for people and for them to repect you back... Heaven.

But what irks me is the sheer logistics of this dream. First i would have to learn an instrument, my choice at the moment is Bass, my fingers are a bit too big for guitar and i cant work out how i could learn drums without being murdered in a bloody household massacre.
So i go buy a bass... starter kit is 600 bucks... not too bad... looks reasonable, comes with an amp and bag and training stuffs, sweet... the one next to it is 4 grand... its shiny, its new...its magnificent. Suddenly my training bass looks like it will get me nowhere... how am i meant to achieve stardom with cheapness?

Ok so now i'm broke, but i've got an awesome axe! Ok... sit down and learn... get the first notes out... sounds good... hmmm... how long do i need to train for? Most big name artists start playing at around the age of 12-16... seeing as most of them reach their peak at the age i am now it will take me till the age of almost 40 to be any good.... 40.... i will have a wife and kids at 40... i will have a career and no time for music... let alone the fact that rock might no be so popular in 12 years time... i will be out of date...
Noone will want to hire a 40 year old newcomer... i'll be playing RSL cover shows, watching old retirees dance along to powderfinger... the young people laughing in disgust as they listen to their nu-techno...

Back in the present i think again about going to the store, buying a guitar and joining a band... it still seems kinda cool... in theory.
Who wants to be in my band?

Big Day Out 2010 Artists: Calvin Harris

It turns out that the 70's are dead.. in fact it seems they died over 30 years ago... people have mourned, they have said their goodbyes and moved on.

But the 70's havn't fully departed, parts of it have hidden away, lay dormant, waiting, changing, adapting...

Disco is not dead.

Gone are the mirror balls, the platform shoes, the Travolta, Disco or Nu-Disco as it likes to be called is a totally different beast, its punchier, more electronic and most of the time you don't even know you're listening to it.

Disco has hidden itself in the world of Dance, it is disguised as being Electro, Trance, House...etc. But it is Disco my friend, and it is awesome.

Jamiroquai, Daft Punk, Armand Van Heldon, Bob Sinclair, Lady Ga Ga, Datarock, Justice...etc. all these artists are disco... and in amongst this re-emergence is Cavin Harris.

Hailing from Scotalnd Calvin Harris is a producer as well as a recording artist, he has produced two albums, I Created Disco and Ready for the Weekend. He has recorded alongside Kylie Minogue and Dizzee Rascal and has only been in the industry for 3 years.

Anyone who has any interest in Dance music probably already knows all they need to know about Cavin and in turn they have already decided if the like him or not... but if you are new to the scene and for some reason that i cannot think of, havn't heard of calvin harris then i really reccomend you check him out. He is very easy to listen to, and even easier to dance to, and he is popular enough to make his stuff easy to find and try out.

When you listen to his music (mostly the stuff not on the radio) you can definatly hear the Disco elements, the beat, the synths... Calvin is definatly making disco.

Get out your shoes with fish in them, that rhinestone gun and the plain white flares and burn them, because disco is back but not the way you know it.

Now lets work on getting over the 80's...


Reccomended Tracks: Acceptible in the 80's, Merrymaking at My Place, I'm Not Alone

Website: http://www.myspace.com/calvinharristv

Also check out this remix of I'm Not Alone by my mates Three Fingers, awesome!

http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=a747b5158e2d538f1bee9a6e9edd9c7685aa1592b5cbabe3a9a26c4ed87536eb

Song Intro: A Guide to the Big Day Out

Hey guys just a quick update... i have decided to write up a guide to this years Big Day Out..

I'll be doing a bio page for each of the artists in the First Release so that people can get a better grasp of who to see... (like i'm some sort of expert)... i've decided not to write reviews like i have been doing, i read these back and cringe with the wank that i am seeing... so its gonna be in a more encyclopedic style with some personal opinons and stories.. and as always a illustration from yours truely.

Hope someone finds this helpful.... First post soon.