Covers 6: Beck and his gang, Arcade Fire, Decemberists, Spoon, My Morning Jacket

Following up on the covers we threw you last week, here's the next two instalments of Beck's Record Club, more INXS from the Australian band's Kick.

Record Club: INXS "Devil Inside" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

Record Club: INXS "New Sensation" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

On to other covers, You Ain't No Picasso has continued to share some interesting artists doing other artists, recently unveiling an Arcade Fire collection including their covers of Springsteen, Pixies, Violent Femmes, The Clash, Lennon, and so on. Check out YANP's covers archive for more collections for Spoon, Decemberists, and of Montreal. Some of them are live and the sound quality is not for audiophile purists, but there's definitely some cool and unusual song choices. Hearing The Decemberists and/or Colin Meloy solo doing Robyn Hitchcock, Heart, Bjork, Cheap Trick, Squeeze, The Soft Boys and more makes me appreciate The D's even more. And I love Spoon, so anything's appreciated, but Guided by Voices, The Kinks, Wire, Julian Cope covers, among others? No wonder Spoon turned out so durned good. And included in the My Morning Jacket collection? INXS's Never Tear Us Apart. Is INXS cool these days?

Blitzen Trapper - Video for Black River Killer

I don't go looking for music videos because I'd simply rather listen. But once in a while one sucks me in because I really like the artist, like this one I found at You Ain't No Picasso.

The Name Game: Crocodiles vs. Alligators

Photo by bobster 855 from here.

Has every possible band name based on the English language been used already? Probably not yet, but the tipping point may be coming soon. This series of posts is being created to ensure you can tell the which from the what.



Crocodiles are a much-buzzed-about band from San Diego who put out a little album called Summer of Hate. Flaunting influences like Jesus & Mary Chain and Echo & the Bunnymen on their sleeves instead of hearts, the band sounds like fuzzy joy that all the cool kids can like. Free mp3s for ya here courtesy Stereogum.

I Wanna Kill - Crocodiles



Alligators is a Seattle band coming at things from a much more smooth, dreamy hyper-melodic pop angle - sounds a bit like the pop genius of Nada Surf. Free mp3s here courtesy of Largehearted Boy. Unfortunately, there's another band called The Alligators that has received some attention. The band from Provo, Utah includes a female frontperson and is a little more herky-jerky indie pop than my Seattle pals. You grab some free mp3s here or here courtesy of You Ain't No Picasso and Skatterbrain.

Where Does It Hide - Alligators


As a bonus, here's some reference points for both Crocodiles and Alligators.

I Like What You Say - Nada Surf

Just Like Honey - The Jesus And Mary Chain