Cover Albums

[nicky]

Kiss are as bad as batshit. But Nicky, let me ask you this, have you even ever heard a Beatles song, or an Oasis song? You go on and on about all these unknown artists greatness and never take a moment to actually listen to these very good musicians. You are a fool Nicky.

lol, you are kidding me right, of course i've heard the beatles and Oasis. Whilst i like the beatles i see them as an overrated band. There seems to this impression the beatles have a superiortiy that is untouchable, it is when i'm around , i reckon i see them with a healthy objectivity.

 

[Mr Sensitive]

i like hearing covers as b-sides. I'm always interested in hearing the influences of bands i like or hearing a different take on a classic. It usually doesn't come off but it's always intriguing.

But when a crap artist like Human Nature tries to make a quick buck by selling a whole album of covers, then i get cheesed off. Do your own material I reckon....
Having said that, I am a fan of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, but they get a special dispensation since they're a side project for some notable musicians, rather than a bunch of hacks.

 

[materamagic]

John Farnhams poor effort of a couple of years ago. Guy Sebastian probably grew up on Mowtown records.

I go for the downright bizzare, that is Ozzy Osbourne covering songs such as "Sunshine of Your Love" and the Moody Blues, "Go Now".

Patti Smith even tackled Smells Like Teen Spirit on her covers album.

For me though, Paul McCartney's Run Devil Run is a fantastic listen and shows right there the most versatile vocalist of 50's rock covers crooning like Fats Domino then raving it up Little Richard style

 

[judd2carlton]

lol, you are kidding me right, of course i've heard the beatles and Oasis. Whilst i like the beatles i see them as an overrated band. There seems to this impression The Beatles have a superiortiy that is untouchable, it is when i'm around , i reckon i see them with a healthy objectivity.

Spell The Beatles name with capitals darl. Show the appropriate respect. And yes, The Beatles have precisely that.

 

[John]

i like hearing covers as b-sides. I'm always interested in hearing the influences of bands i like or hearing a different take on a classic. It usually doesn't come off but it's always intriguing.

But when a crap artist like Human Nature tries to make a quick buck by selling a whole album of covers, then i get cheesed off. Do your own material I reckon....
Having said that, I am a fan of Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, but they get a special dispensation since they're a side project for some notable musicians, rather than a bunch of hacks.

Oh I get it! It's OK for the artists that you like to do covers but not the artists that you don't like.

 

[Jabso]

I'm intrigued! Where do you get a figure of 99% from?

Also do you watch Australian Idol and if so why?



I sort of agree? I do not have an issue with individual songs being covered close to the original though it does depend as to why. I do think though that the best covers are those that head in different directions.

I didn't mean 99% of pop artists come from Australian Idol. But have a look at the charts, how many of these 'artists' actually write these songs. Even if they do it's the same old crap.

 

[mr_cellotape]

I didn't mean 99% of pop artists come from Australian Idol. But have a look at the charts, how many of these 'artists' actually write these songs. Even if they do it's the same old crap.

And as John queried before (rhetorically), how many "classic" artists/musicians/singers didn't write their own stuff? Loads of them. Probably roughly the same percentage as today's 'big' acts. So what's the difference? Other than one's personal preference and opinion, that is.

 

[Mr Sensitive]

Oh I get it! It's OK for the artists that you like to do covers but not the artists that you don't like.

haha.. i s'pose you could look at it that way... In my defense, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes are mostly taking the piss and are just too much fun. Those blokes have got the runs on the board.

 

[Jabso]

And as John queried before (rhetorically), how many "classic" artists/musicians/singers didn't write their own stuff? Loads of them. Probably roughly the same percentage as today's 'big' acts. So what's the difference? Other than one's personal preference and opinion, that is.

There is very little difference.

I think it's alright for most bands to do a cover album if it's just an experiment they wanted to do. But when single artists like Guy Sebastian, Marcia Hines, that son of Jimmy Barnes just come out and sing their 'favorites' because they're out of ideas for an original album and this will sell well, then it's a bit cheap. Bands are more varied and unique compared to just singers and their covers are usually a unique take on them, rather than just a slightly different voice.

 

[dooda]

Where was I before i was rudely red carded... Oh yeah...cover albums are a joke and always will be...

 

[Suspense]

What are you on about when it comes to money. Gene Simmonds from Kiss, one of the biggest bands in the history of music admits that everything is the big dollar. Take The Beta Band for example. They announced that they had split after 3 IMO very good albums because of a complete lack of commercial success. That means lack of dollars. Get it!!! Back to the hundrum world of being a worker. Bet they wish they had the looks etc to sing and dance like the boy bands. Think of the money and the fact that they would never have to stand on a production line.

The Beta Band were offered huge dollars by several companies such as Budweiser for use of their songs, their last album and subsequent tour was considered by far their most lucrative in terms of financial success and Maclean has even stated that, whilst they were in significant debt, money wasn't an issue. It was more to do with Mason's depression and other such circumstances within the band.

Nonetheless, even if we were to accept that it was this lack of commercial success that cost the members of the Beta Band their respective musical careers (which it hasn't, as they continue to make great music these days be it through The Aliens or Black Affair), in the end they managed to maintain their artistic integrity, and in the eyes of many music fans, this is worth more then any sum of money or material notion of success.

Using an such preeminent underground, alternative rock band to prove a point in favour of musical commercialism. Tsk, tsk...

 

[Tigger Please!]

whilst i don't have a problem with a cover album per se, human nature, a musical group with very limited artistic integrity (imo), releasing an album of motown covers right before christmas reeks of a wanton cash-grab.
i haven't heard any of the songs, so i can't comment on whether i think they do the originals justice.
probably the best covers album i've heard is Renegades by Rage Against the Machine. it's a nod to some of their musical and ideological influences whilst still putting their own flavor on the songs.

 

[Mofra]

Personally there are some songs I'd prefer left alone, classics that were influential to modern artists, however covers definately have thier place.
I've heard covers that are re-styled in a way that is part tribute & part demonstration on how different artists would interpret a song.

On the other hand, you have shameless cash-grabs that end up on Nova and Fox that are sold to tweenies who don't really listen to music, rather just want some bland pop in the background with a beat they can stomp their orangy fake-tanned feet to.

 

[krusden]

Foo fighters do a great cover. The trick with them is that they change the song slightly and twist it into their own sound. So you still have the sound of the original.
Johnny cash's final albums were fantatstic cover albums.
So, IMO you have excellent covers or terrible covers. Unfortunately there's no middle ground. People either love them or hate them.

 

[John]

The Beta Band were offered huge dollars by several companies such as Budweiser for use of their songs, their last album and subsequent tour was considered by far their most lucrative in terms of financial success and Maclean has even stated that, whilst they were in significant debt, money wasn't an issue. It was more to do with Mason's depression and other such circumstances within the band.

Nonetheless, even if we were to accept that it was this lack of commercial success that cost the members of the Beta Band their respective musical careers (which it hasn't, as they continue to make great music these days be it through The Aliens or Black Affair), in the end they managed to maintain their artistic integrity, and in the eyes of many music fans, this is worth more then any sum of money or material notion of success.

Using an such preeminent underground, alternative rock band to prove a point in favour of musical commercialism. Tsk, tsk...

Nice read. I don't tend to delve into the lives of actors, musicians etc, cult of personalty reading is not my style and I could only quote on a snippet that I read in an album review.
But..........In favour of musical commercialism? Where do you get that from! Why don't you go back and re-read the points I made. I supported music of all genres right to be made and listened to and the right of the individual to listen with out fear as to what they like with out F/wits like the OP thinking that "it",(it can not be male or female, has to be some form of amoeba and that is tough on amoeba's,) is superior to Human Nature fans when "it" is not.
What an amazing act of stupidity to bump this thread though by the semi literate meathead. I initially thought "it" was an imbecile and I have still no reason to think otherwise. Dinkles post was originally cleaned up by a mod to make the prose, and I use that word advisedly, readable. There are 5 years olds that have more literacy skills than this moron. And then to completely prove that "it" is living proof for abortion "it" raises its imbecilic ideas again.

Still the quality of this as a place to discuss music on a meaningful level is rather poor at the best of times and **** wits like doodle are sadly rife.

 

[Jizza9]

probably the best covers album i've heard is Renegades by Rage Against the Machine. it's a nod to some of their musical and ideological influences whilst still putting their own flavor on the songs.

Word.

I think another reason it worked was because most people weren't familiar with most of the songs, so it wasn't just ripping off a bunch of classics that people already like, they had to actually win over people with their take on those songs.