ThaBombShelter UnderCover Day Five: Just a Modern Rock Song

So what happens when a contemporary artist covers another contemporary artist? I call it magic. I mean, come on, Iron & Wine covering The Postal Service? Matt Pond covering Neutral Milk Hotel? Nick Cave covering Pulp? All awesome, all happening tonight.

"Cubs In Five" The Mountain Goats
"Cubs In Five" Eric Metronome

This one goes out to my best friend, Pat, purveyor of Before There Was... and longtime Cubs apologist. Just messin'. He hails from Chicago and bleeds Cubby Blue (his license plate says, "CUBZZ"). I think this song is right up his alley, and you never know, 2008 could be the year, after all, it's only been 99 years so far!

"Disco 2000" Pulp
"Disco 2000" Nick Cave

It's honestly the only Pulp cover song I have. If any of you wonderful folks have others, feel free to send them my way, thabombshelter at gmail dot com. Nick Cave takes most of the life out of this iconic tune, and I can't say I like it, not even a little bit. But, like I said, it's the only Pulp cover I have, so I felt obligated to share it with all of you.

"I Would Walk 500 Miles" The Proclaimers
"I Would Walk 500 Miles" Down By Law

There's this part in the Down By Law version that perfectly describes why I love punk covers so much. It's the part where he says, "And when I haver/whatever the fuck that means/I'm gonna be the man who havers next to YOU!" And then they all go batshit crazy, and somehow, somehow, they manage some harmonies. How much better does it get? The answer: none. It gets none better.

"Lover, You Should've Come Over" Jeff Buckley
"Lover, You Should've Come Over" Jamie Cullum

I'm not really sure who Jamie Cullum is, but he completely borks this amazing tune. He strips the life out of it, and all that ache and tenderness and sincerity that Jeff Buckley poured into this tune, it's all gone. Thanks alot, Jamie...douche.

"Maps" Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Maps" This Is My Suitcase

These kids have done it again. I will honestly never cease to be amazed by this band. Joe Camerlengo, you sir, are a genius. He managed to turn the dreary mope-fest of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and make it into a piano pop number Ben Folds would be proud of.

"Such Great Heights" The Postal Service
"Such Great Heights" Iron & Wine

Sam Beam is literally whispering in this song. You can barely hear him, but he's still there, complete with acoustic guitar and all. Who needs Ben Gibbard and artificial beats? Sam Beam and his Beard certainly don't.

"To Be Alone With You" Sufjan Stevens
"To Be Alone With You" Eric Metronome

This is one of my favorite Eric Metronome covers. He does the song justice and adds his own Ukelele-soaked flavor to this already beautiful tune.

"Wonderwall (Acoustic)" Oasis
"Wonderwall" Paul Anka

Have you ever heard of Richard Cheese? Well, imagine if he had any artistic credibility, add a dash of pop-song royalty and senior-citizen charm. If he had that, he might be able pull off something half as awesome as Paul Anka's absolutely spectacular, kitsch-y cover of Oasis' mega-hit.

Oh also, head over to Day Four to pick up that French cover of Nancy Sinatra's "The Boots Are Made For Walkin", courtesy of Bradley, longtime reader and personal hero of ThaBombShelter.

photo: The man, the myth, the legend, the one and only, Pat Hartnett oh, and the fat guy is SilverGalactus' college roommate.