Colin Meloy: I Know Very Well How I Got My Name
ok ok ONE LAST COVER, ok? It's time for another tribute to The Smiths/Morrissey tonight, and besides, it's Colin Meloy...
The album Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey was The Decemberists' lead singer's first solo effort, released in 2005 and limited to 100 copies sold only on the accompanying tour, so we'll forgive you if you haven't heard of it.
The fact that Meloy finds Morrissey inspiring should be a surprise to no one at all. So much as a cursory listen to both singers' respective bands speaks for itself. But Meloy is far more than a cover artist, and The Decemberists are far more talented than to be tossed off as yet another indie-rock throwback to The Smiths. Though the storytelling lyrical style might be familiar, The Decemberists reach for a more folksy, Americana tone than their British predecessors, and this is where they shine. Meloy's covers are no different, but stripped down and backed merely by an acoustic guitar. Applied here to "I Know Very Well How I Got My Name", it challenges Morrissey's lyrics to stand on their own.
Posted: August 26th, 2010
at 3:00pm by qbot
Tagged with 2005, american, british, colin meloy, covers, decemberists, folk, i know very well how i got my name, indie rock, morrissey, the smiths, tribute
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Panic! 4 year anniversary / Aztec Camera: Good Morning Britain + The Smiths: Panic
. I don't even remember how Kamar and I met Pogo and Arturo, but it's no surprise that the new wave djs with the Blondie-named night and the Britpop djs with the Smiths-named night were fast friends. I don't think Debbie Harry and Morrissey ever hooked up, but if Atomic was a girl, Panic would be our quirky British boyfriend. We're there almost every month -sometimes in the booth- and Arturo is one of our favorite regulars and guest djs at Neo. In either case, it's always a good time, and we're glad to help them celebrate their fourth anniversary.
In honor of Panic, I've chosen the oft-overlooked Aztec Camera single "Good Morning Britain", featuring vocals from Mick Jones of The Clash, from their 1990 release Stray. And of course this post wouldn't be complete without "Panic" by The Smiths. See you tonight!
Posted: April 24th, 2010
at 5:17pm by qbot
Tagged with 1986, 1990, andy rourke, arturo, atomic, blondie, british, craig gannon, darkroom, debbie harry, johnny marr, kamar, mick jones, mike joyce, morrissey, neo, panic, pogo, qbot, roddy frame, stray, the clash, the smiths
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The Handsome Devilz: Girlfriend In A Coma
What I love about the Handsome Devilz is that they are the least pretentious musicians I have ever met. They know they’re talented and have had success in other bands playing their own music, but they absolutely love The Smiths and Morrissey and dedicate a night a month covering their heroes at the Abbey Pub. Lisa and I are big fans of their night “The Queen Is Dead” and look forward to hosting their after show party on the last Thursday of every month. If you go to the show this week, remember that Atomic is free with a wristband or ticket stub from the Abbey and you’ll get to hear Guest DJ Arturo spin a Smiths/Morrissey set!
Posted: February 23rd, 2010
at 3:41pm by Uncategorized
Tagged with abbey pub, afterparty, american, arturo, atomic, british, covers, morrissey, the handsome devilz, the smiths
Comments: 1 comment
Placebo: Bigmouth Strikes Again
Somewhere back in the '90s, I drug a handful of friends to a Placebo show in St. Louis. Having only ever heard their solitary US hit "Pure Morning", they were skeptical, and I can hardly blame them. I don't much care for that song; to me it is to Placebo what "Vaseline" is to Flaming Lips fans: an annoyance that requires so many "no but really, their other stuff is so much more than that" explanations.
I'm proud to say that my friends left the show that night as Placebo fans, and henceforth trusted my judgement about these sorts of things.
Despite the little airplay they get here in the States, thankfully they've attracted enough of a cult following to tour here every few years. I always go see them, and -I can't say this about too many bands- they've always gotten better. One of the things one comes to expect from their encores is a cover of someone who has influenced them; I'm quite fond of what they've done to The Pixies and Kate Bush. But since this week we are providing the afterparty for The Queen Is Dead (details to your right), it seemed more fitting to post their rocked-out version of The Smiths' classic "Bigmouth Strikes Again" from their collection of covers Sleeping With Ghosts. Though not necessarily as good or true to the original, their take on it is worth noting.
Posted: February 23rd, 2010
at 11:53am by qbot
Tagged with 2003, bigmouth strikes again, brian molko, british, britpop, covers, flaming lips, kate bush, pixies, placebo, queen is dead, sleeping with ghosts, stefan olsdal, steve forrest, the smiths, vaseline
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Electronic: Getting Away With It
In honor of the this week at Atomic, I present Electronic. Electronic served as a side-project of New Order lead singer Bernard Sumner. Joining forces with him was ex-Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr, both sharing a mutual love for both electronic (obviously) and house music.
This likely combo also dragged along Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys for the ride on their 1989 debut single "Getting Away with It." Rumor has it that the lyrics of the song were a parody on Morrissey's lyrics and public interviews, including the chorus: "However I look / It's clear to see / I love you more than you love me."
The first Electronic album of the same name is ranked highly among my favorite work of Sumner and is definitely worth pursuit if you are new to the band.
Hear this song and other New Order related tracks this week on Thursday, February 4th for Atomic at Neo... See you in the dark.
Posted: February 2nd, 2010
at 12:38pm by Peroxide
Tagged with 1989, atomic, bernard sumner, british, electronic, factory, house, johnny marr, neil tennant, new order, new wave, pet shop boys, synthpop, the smiths
Comments: 1 comment
