Challenge #5: Jump for Cover (Steven's Entry)

At one point, I was going to torture you with nothing but "Running Up That Hill" covers. Then I had the thought to include my seemingly vast collection of live performance covers (how'd I get so many?!) Then I had a thought to just include some truly bizarre covers. Hmmm. I don't think I really ever decided on a specific theme afterall. Just a funny little reckless mix with an absolute favorite for an ending, "Running Up That Hill"...

The artwork is kinda obvious. But it's also a farewell. Yep, this will be my last Mixed Tape Challenge. Thank you all for the exchange.

01: Slave to Love (Bryan Ferry) - Roisin Murphy

02: Here Comes Your Man (Pixies) - Relation

03: Toxic (Britney Spears) - Juliet Turner

04: Slow Emotion Replay (The The) - Brookville

05: Abagail Belle of Kilronan (Magnetic Fields) - Love Like Fire

06: Tiny Cities Made of Ashes (Modest Mouse) - Sun Kil Moon

07: I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) - Cake

08: Your Ghost (Kristin Hersh) - Damien Rice (ft. Lisa Hannig)

09: Jolene (Dolly Parton) - Lay Low

10: Sweet Dreams Are Made of These (Eurythmics) - MIKA

11: I Kissed a Boy (Katy Perry) - Cobra Starship

12: Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode) - Johnny Cash

13: Boy With The Thorn in His Side (The Smiths) - Belle and Sebastian

14: They Don't Know (Tracy Ullman / Kristy MacColl) - Ben Gibbard

15: Careless Whisper - Ben Folds & Rufus Wainwright

16: The Model (Kraftwerk) - David Byrne

17: Real Men (Joe Jackson) - Tori Amos

18: Don't Rain on My Parade (Barbra Streisand) - Japan

19: West End Girls (Pet Shop Boys) - James Talk & Ridney

20: Heart of Glass (Blondie) - The Puppini Sisters

21: Smells Like Teen Spirit (Nirvana) - Paul Anka

22: Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush) - Kiki & Herb

Jump for Cover

Challenge #5: Cover This (Jeff's Entry)

At first I thought, jeez, covers? I don't know any. As I looked around, I found out that artists are all covering each other all the time. So then I became intrigued by the 6 degrees of separation phenomenon -- how many decent songs could be linked together by seeing if A covers B and B covers C, and so on. Well, it doesn't work out perfectly (Coldplay hasn't covered anyone very well), but I endned up having fun puting these together. Hope you enjoy them too!

1. Love (Acoustic) (Robert Wyatt cover)__2:32__John Lennon
2. Instant Karma (John Lennon cover)__3:13__U2
3. Mysterious Ways (U2 cover)__4:01__Graham BLVD
4. China Girl (Iggy Pop cover) 5:33 David Bowie
5. The Man Who Sold The World (Live) (David Bowie cover)__3:48__Nirvana
6. Smells Like Teen Spirit (HM Grunge Mix) (Nirvana cover)__6:27__Desmond Williams Featuring Morel
7. Thank You (Lep Zeppelin cover)__6:36__Duran Duran
8. The Chauffeur (Duran Duran cover)__5:22__Deftones
9. The Scientist (Live) (Coldplay cover)__4:20__Aimee Mann
10. Hurt (Nine Inch Nails cover)__3:39__Johnny Cash
11. Dead Souls (Joy Division cover)__4:53__Nine Inch Nails
12. Everything Counts (Depeche Mode cover)__5:24__Meat Beat Manifesto
13. Route 66 (Beatmasters Mix) (Nat King Cole cover)__6:20__Depeche Mode

Download Cover_This

Challenge #5: I'm Covered In It (Marc's Entry)

1. Koroleva Ne Pomerla (The Smiths Cover) - The Ukrainians
2. Handbags and Gladrags (Rod Stewart Cover) - Stereophonics
3. Don't Fear The Reaper (Blue Oyster Cult Cover)-The Beautiful South
4. Seasons In the Sun/Hustle (Terry Jacks/Van McCoy Cover)-The Squirrels
5. Baker Street (Gerry Rafferty Cover)-Foo Fighters
6. Bootylicious (Destiny's Child Cover)-Keane
7. Sour Times (Portishead Cover)-Bryn Christopher
8. Your Love (The Outfield cover) -Katy Perry
9. Numb (Linkin Park Cover) -Jamelia
10. Bigmouth Strikes Again (Smiths Cover)-Placebo
11. Running Up That Hill (Kate Bush Cover)-Spleen United
12. Starman (Bowie Cover)-Culture Club
13. The Ship Song (Nick Cave Cover)-Concrete Blonde
14. Hunting High and Low (a-ha cover)-Coldplay
15. Love Vigilantes (New Order Cover)-Iron & Wine
16. Teardrop (Massive Attack Cover)-Elbow
17. Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves (Cher Cover)-Scud Mountain Boys
18. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me (Smiths Cover)-Eurythmics
19. Love Song (Cure Cover)-Bliss

Sorry, this one was a bit late. This is about the 10th version. After making about as many sub-themes (80's covers, wacky covers), the quality just wasn't there. So this is a great cross section of covers I love for various reasons. Some are hilarious, some are poiniant, and many are just better or as good as the original. And that what makes a cover a triumph vs. a defeat.

(and please don't comment on the cover. i struggle every time, being the only one in the group with zero skills, so i've just decided i'm not sweating it any more)

Download "I'm Covered In It"

Challenge #5: Covered (Colin's Entry)

I was giddy when I first heard about this challenge and slowly built up the songs. I feel it never gelled into the perfect mix but I am really happy with the individual selections. I had two songs that had to get removed because of Matt's list (No Diggity, All My Friends) -- damn you!

This cover of "Between the Bars" is one of my all time favorite songs.

1 Something Over the Rainbow Trash Can Sinatras
2 If You Leave Nada Surf
3 Where The Streets Have No Name (I Can't Take My Eyes Off You) Pet Shop Boys
4 Love Cure
5 Feeling Good Muse
6 Running Up That Hill Placebo
7 Personal Jesus Marilyn Manson
8 The Chauffeur (Duran Duran Cover) Deftones
9 White Horses Trash Can Sinatras
10 Mad World Gary Jules
11 High and Dry Jamie Cullum
12 Can't Help Falling in Love U2
13 Between the Bars Madeleine Peyroux
14 The Last Beat of My Heart Devotchka

Download "Covered"

Challenge #5: I'm Covered In It

I know we all talked about our busy schedules and how hard it can be to sit down right now and work on this stuff so we've done 2 things. Pushed back the monthly timeline a bit, so this one will be due Thursday, September 17th. Also, I've kepts it pretty light in the theme department.

Covers: Come up with your most interesting cover versions you have. That's it. If you want to give it more of a theme, have at it.

Have a great rest of the summer!

Challenge #4: Little Pinches & Pokes (Steven's Mix)

It's supposed to be a challenge, right? I knew I wanted to mix a few tracks that I have been listening to over and over this summer, Thunderheist, The Cocknbullkid, Little Boots and Royksopp's Girl and the Robot (should this song be banned from future mixes?!) alongside music from rainy Portland, Oregon. While there were some obvious PDX music choices(I spared you Nu Shooz and Quarterflash), the real challenge for me ended up being, just how about do I go and pair these songs together in a logical manner. I've futzed around with this to become "Little Pinches & Pokes". From synthy electro to the lush, drama-filled sound of Pink Martini, all of these things represent Portland to me. I hope you enjoy this little romp through my home.

The Artwork:

I think the artwork's all pretty obvious. Portland is full of bridges, and St. John's (just west of the downtown area) is one of my favorites. And I think of Portland as a place that shines brightest after the sun sets...

Little Pinches & Pokes

(I've noted all of the Portland bands with a "PDX" below)

1. The Love That I Crave (Strategy's Strata Club Remix) - The Blow PDX
2. Vanished - Crystal Castles PDX
3. The Girl and The Robot (Chateau Marmont Remix) - Röyksopp
4. I'm Not Sorry (Stuart Ramsay Remix) - The Cocknbullkid
5. Nothing 2 Step 2 (Sammy Bananas Remix) - Thunderheist
6. New In Town (Fred Falke Radio Edit) - Little Boots
7. Wilderness - Strength PDX
8. Violence, Diamonds - Panther PDX
9. Toys (Richard Sen Remix) - Hedford Vachal PDX
10. Jealousy (Club Mix) - Martin Solveig
11. Florida - Starfucker PDX
12. Iceage Babeland - Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
13. Lisztomania (Classixx Version) - Phoenix
14. She Comes in the Fall - Inspiral Carpets
15. Crest of the Hill - The Minders PDX
16. E. Its Stable - Menomena PDX
17. Miss Haze - Reclinerland PDX
18. Spirited - Laura Gibson PDX
19. Sweet California - Chris Stills (A bit random, I know, but there's a Portland connection for me here, as well as an irrational crush on Chris)
20. Let's Never Stop Falling in Love - Pink Martini PDX

Grab your umbrella, and listen to Little Pinches & Pokes

Challenge #4 - This Midwestern Ocean (Marc's Mix)

I have to say, this challenger was a head-scratcher at first, combining summer jams with local flavor. But as I mulled it over, I realized it made sense. Part of summer is getting out there and enjoy the sounds of it at street fairs, festivals and local dives, discovering new talent, making new friends, and logging in great memories based around music.

I originally thought of going the logical direction of Chicago House Music, but realized as much as I love it, there's no real connection since I moved to Chicago after the house music peak. So, I contact my friend Geoff Kessell who I've been friends with since the early 90's for suggestions and maybe a song. He sent me a demo of his from years back that has since made it onto one of his albums, Songs for a Caustic Guitar. After listening, the ideas rolled in naturally. Geoff has been one of my biggest influences in music tastes. He, along with my best pal Kelly, really showed me how pleasurable simple guitar pop can be. And over many summers, the 3 of us built memories around many of these fun, jangly tracks.

So, this summer mix, with local flair, is really an homage to Geoff and the summers of my twenties. As I age into my 40's, these songs still see ageless.

1. Music To Watch Girls By - Andy Williams (best summer song ever)
2. Rise And Shine - The Cardigans
3. It's A Miracle - Trashcan Sinatras
4. The Life Of Riley - The Lightning Seeds
5. Girl's Bike - The Aluminum Group (local Chicago)
6. I Never Though I Could Feel This Way For A Boy - The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir (local Chicago)
7. He's On The Beach - Kirsty MacColl
8. Against The Sun - Eggstone
9. La La Love You - Pixies
10. Perfect - Jinx Titanic (local Chicago)
11. Life In These Little Boats - Deas Vail
12. The Girl Who Waves At Trains - The Lilac Time
13. Like Lovers Do (Stephen Street Mix) - Lloyd Cole
14. I've Been Waiting - Matthew Sweet
15. Pretty the World - Matt Nathanson (not local, but good friend so seems local)
16. She's so High - Tal Bachman
17. If It's Love - Squeeze
18. Town Called Malice - McFly
19. Baby's Coming Back - Jellyfish
20. Sweet Sunshine - David Mead (localish)
21. Screen Door - Uncle Tupelo (local St Louis)
22. Unwind - Erik Voeks (local St. Louis)
23. Land-Locked (Demo) - Geoff Kessell (local St. Louis)

Download This Midwestern Ocean