The Cover Album Game

New game.  In game, rather than a grown man with $62 in his checking account after paying last month's rent, I am in fact the owner of a very respected and influential rock venue where I can invite any act I want to perform according to my standards.  And being a wealthy eccentric, I require that rather than playing their own latest tunes, they perform a set consisting solely of a start-to-finish cover of another artist's album. 

I shall name the next band, and your job is to help me choose the perfect album for them to cover.  Until such time as I tire of your nonsense and simply tell you the correct answer.

Performing this Friday:  Nine Inch Nails

Not a bad suggestion, but a bit on the nose.  For some bands I wouldn't mind pitching it down the middle, but for NiN I prefer to hear them bring more edge to ostensibly lighter fare.  WRONG!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Mansleeve 

Fleetwood Mac, Tusk

Definitely warmer.   But I'm holding Fleetwood for a later act.  WRONG!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by JGButler 

Neko Case's "Middle Cyclone"

I like the out-there-ness of this choice, and luuuuuuuuuuuuurve the album itself, but vocals are not Trent's strong suit.  But I want to give him something with a little more musical complexity to tackle.  WRONG!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Decade 

NIN performs David Bowie's "Low" or "Heroes"

 

or

 

NIN performs The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds"

All great choices.  I'm actually considering switching over to Pet Sounds now.  SLIGHTLY WRONG!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Mansleeve 

Paul's Boutique.

That's kind of brilliant.  I'm just going to come out with it because we're in danger of coming up with a more correct answer than the correct one.

Nine Inch Nails performed The Beatles Revolver. 

Reznor opened up with an aggressive, growling version of "Tax Man" before dialing it back for more down tempo but dread-laced takes of the tracks starting with "Eleanor Rigby", culminating in a fuzzy, disturbing rendition of "Yellow Submarine" that sounded closer to Aphex Twin than the Fab Four.   The biggest surprise was probably the surprisingly straightforward, upbeat version of "Good Day, Sunshine", but the highlight was bravura, 10-minute techno-jam on the closer, "Tomorrow Never Knows".   

The encore performance of "God Only Knows" was also great, but I overheard some mumblings that he could have reached deeper into the catalogue if he was going to the Beach Boys well. 

All in all, an auspicious beginning for the project.  Have high hopes for next week's performer:  Radiohead
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by fuzzy dunlop 

Get Radiohead to do some Talking Heads.  Specifically 'Remain in Light'.  Mainly because I want to hear Jonny Greenwood dive into those Adrian Belew guitar riffs.

A man after my own heart.  Radiohead is a difficult choice,  because they're so versatile it's hard to imagine what they wouldn't do something interesting with.  They could definitely pull off the NiN trick of ominous-ing up something innocuous, but they can also rock out with a fervor that hasn't been as evident in recent years.  Then they can do Thom's electronica thing, and even that album of Jay-Z mash-ups worked surprisingly well.

But I like the idea of giving them something 80s-ish, as the overproduction of the time will give Thom plenty of room to mess around, but there should still be some solid riffs for Johnny to dig into.  But Talking Heads are such a direct influence that I'm more inclined to lean in the direction of "Purple Rain".

But I have decided to be less autocratic about this, so I will bow to popular opinion, should it go against me.  Provided it's not, you know, just stupid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dirk Mansleeve 

I was thinking perhaps Radiohead tackling Genesis' Abacab.

Fits with the 80s vibe, but I still think Yorke's falsetto is a better match for Prince's than Phil Collins.   Maybe I could be convinced otherwise, but I dunno.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raspberry Leper 

Seven & The Ragged Tiger

I don't know Duran Duran well.  Convince me.