Minor Threat Covers “1 2 X U” by Wire
Minor Threat‘s cover of Wire‘s “1 2 X U” is an example of taking something that is very good and making it great. The song originally appeared on Wire’s groundbreaking art-punk album, 1977’s Pink Flag, which spawned other classics such as “Mannequin” and “Three Girl Rhumba.” Only five years later, Minor Threat would include their version of the song on the 1982 Dischord Records compilation Flex Your Head, the title of which is taken from the improvised phrase Ian MacKaye shouts during his performance.
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Click here to listen to the original version by Wire
Minutemen Cover “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” by Van Halen
The Minutemen had a sizable repertoire of covers they frequently performed, including tracks by groups such as Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Meat Puppets, The Urinals, Blue Oyster Cult, and even Steely Dan (and arguably, “Dr. Wu” belongs on this list as much as or even more than “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love”).
It’s easy to sound good covering CCR, as the Minutemen often did. But it’s another thing to take a track by an obnoxious group of rock stars who represent the opposite of everything your band stands for and distill it into something incredible. However, D. Boon, Mike Watt, and George Hurley did just that, taking four minutes of musical masturbation and compressing it into a wicked 40-second jam.
No David Lee Roth, and none of that obnoxious chorus. Just the Minutemen jamming econo, which they did incredibly well.
Click here to listen to the original version by Van Halen
Sebadoh Covers “Cold as Ice” by Foreigner
As we all know, the 1970s and ’80s produced more than its fair share of terrible music, culminating in the unfortunate hair metal phenomenon. However, beyond the realm of Poison, Tuff, Winger, and Tigertailz, Foreigner reign supreme as the era’s ultimate rock douches.
If you ever want a prime example of melodramatic lyrical tripe, look no further than the work of front man Lou Gramm. Does any song exist that serves as a better example of safe, hackneyed pop rock horseshit than “I Want to Know What Love Is“? Well, maybe “Cold As Ice,” a track that is still guaranteed to be sandwiched on any rock station’s midday rotation between Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” and Steve Miller’s “Take the Money and Run”, a mighty trinity that serves as a testament to the longevity of those who play to the lowest common denominator.
Amazingly, Lou Barlow took this overwhelmingly weak song and made it into something…good. His acoustic interpretation somehow transcends the fact that it’s the product of a band that should have been sent on a rocket to the sun before they ever stepped foot in a recording studio.
Click here to listen to the original version by Foreigner
Cat Power Covers “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones
The Covers Record features Cat Power performing 11 covers, in addition to a new version of her own track “In This Hole.” Though Chan Marshall is an excellent songwriter, this 2000 album is arguably among her finest achievements, if not her very best. While perhaps initially intended as a stopgap to satisfy fans between full-length albums of original compositions, Marshall’s mournful solo recordings of classic tunes garnered rave reviews, and undoubtedly gained her many new fans.
The best example of the powerful performances contained on The Covers Record is the first track, a rendition of “Satisfaction.” Marshall entirely strips the song of the Rolling Stones‘ dick-swinging swagger and tempo (as well as its titular chorus), somehow transposing it into a tune that is at once captivating and heartbreaking.
Click here for the original version by the Rolling Stones
Nirvana Covers “Oh Me” by the Meat Puppets
I love the Meat Puppets. For more than 30 years, the Kirkwoods have cranked out impressive albums, with 1985’s Up On The Sun remaining my favorite. Nirvana, too, is one of my all-time favorites, and I think young fans who tuned into their 1993 MTV Unplugged concert owe Kurt Cobain a debt of gratitude for introducing the band to virgin ears.
I’d love to say that the Meat Puppets songs Nirvana performed during that show — “Plateau,” “Lake of Fire,” and “Oh Me” — are equal in quality to the original versions, all appearing on the Meat Puppets second album, 1984’s II. However, I cannot.
Because II is the low point of the Meat Puppets’ output.
I realize that many fans are going to hate my assessment of that record. And I will agree that the songwriting is top-notch on that album — certainly a step up from their self-titled hardcore punk debut. But why, for that album alone, did Curt Kirkwood decide to sing in an awful, off-key caterwaul throughout the duration? His voice is one of the smoothest in all of rock — check out this, or this, or this for proof — but for some reason, he decided in ’84 to record an entire album sounding like a stoned cat in heat.
Thankfully, Cobain gave their songs proper treatment — even inciting the band to re-record their own acoustic version of “Lake of Fire” — and brought out the understated beauty of II‘s best song, “Oh Me,” for all to enjoy.
Click here for the original version by the Meat Puppets
Disagree? Have any covers you’d add to the list? Let us know!