1000 SONGS - DAY 307 SONG # 338

DAY 307: Two Great Cover Versions by Galaxie 500

Galaxie 500 were a US-American alternative rock band active in the late 80ies or so it seems. They are often said to have been largely influenced by Velvet Underground, and in fact there are some songs on the three albums they have released that very much sound like VU, but there are others too,  that sound, like, e.g., the Feelies. They have also done two beautiful cover versions (as far as I know; there might be more). Here are those, the first one of George Harrison's Isn't it a Pity. This is a simply great version (I do not comment on the many other more or less fine cover versions of that tune to be found). Although - as Galaxie 500 (and others) have shown - this is a really marvellous tune, I could not and cannot listen to the original recording done by George due to too much SCHMALTZ and very strange arrangements. But Galaxie 500 have done a version that brings out all the (more or less) hidden beauty in that song. This is the first song rendered here. Afterwards, I will go on with Galaxie 500's version of Joy Divison's "Ceremony". "Ceremony" was the first single by New Order after the death of Ian Curtis, with vocals done by Bernard Summer. I feature one of the three versions recorded by Joy Divison (in contradistinction to GH's failed attempt to make his point), the one from the STILL album - what a broken performance and so great (you will never get the lyrics from that one)

1000 SONGS - DAY 306 SONG # 337

Day 306: Just another great band from Hungary

Quimby from Hungary are listed als "Alternative Rock" - as I have written in my last posting, "alternative" means something like "good" to me, irrespective of the genre. As I have some inclination towards Hungarian, and I also do think that it fits well with music (in contradistinction to some friends who have the opposite, clearly ungrounded theory), I do like that song that sounds like a mix of Calexico, Element of Crime and Marcy Playground to me. "Neki megadom magam" seems to mean something like "I will let him have it myself", if I understand it correctly.

1000 SONGS - DAY 305 Song # 336

DAY 305: A Good One Gig in Amsterdam

Fred Eaglesmith, a Canadian guy, is one of the great persons acting in what is called "alternative country". Alternative Country simply is good music as compared to non-alternative anything. "Alternative" (with some very rare exceptions) has become a label for "good" in the music scene, irrespectively of the genre. I have never seen a live performance by him, but sure as hell, I will do everything to see Fred in person and on stage before I leave this dull form of existence. If you want to understand what I mean, look at and listen to the second link featured here. As this is a full show of something like 80 minutes duration, I have put on one clip of that show first, 4 minutes of York Street. Show was done in Paradiso, Amsterdam.