ThaBombShelter UnderCover Day Six: Radiohead and David Bowie, Icons of Rock

Well, with seven days to post covers, sometimes you have to do a little combining. As such, tonight, we've got covers and originals from two of my favorite artists, Radiohead and David Bowie. So sit back, get some egg nog and a slice of fruitcake and enjoy the tunes!

"Creep" Radiohead
"Creep" Damien Rice

Damien Rice has some amazing pipes, and while he's not quite as phenomenal as Thom Yorke, he at least hits the notes he has to, even if he's not quite as paranoid nor as crippled by the weight of his own genius as Mr. Yorke.

"Exit Music (For A Film)" Radiohead
"Exit Music (For A Film)" Christopher O'Reilly
"Exit Music (For A Film)" Vampire Weekend

Many thanks to Stereogum for the excellently sinister Vampire Weekend track from their "OKX" Radiohead Tribute album. And to be honest, the Christopher O'Reilly stuff is much better in theory than in practice. You know, piano arrangements of Radiohead songs sounds awesome, but what we end up with is sort of a Dentist's Office version of these amazing songs.

"High and Dry" Radiohead
"High and Dry" El Lele de Los Van Van

This is probably the most interesting cover I've got. In fact, when I saw the title, I wasn't entirely certain it was the same song, it was only with my limited Spanish skills that I was able to puzzle out that this was in fact, the same song, just a different damn language.

"Knives Out" Radiohead
"Knives Out" Christopher O'Reilly
"Knives Out" The Flaming Lips

I don't think The Flaming Lips possess the ability to not be weird and awesome. In fact, I think they really are like acid on your speakers. Who need drugs if you've got Wayne Coyne and Co.?

"Motion Picture Soundtrack" Radiohead
"Motion Picture Soundtrack" Eric Metronome

I actually compared these two songs way back when. And since it's Friday and I'm lazy, you can go read about them there.

"Five Years" David Bowie
"Five Years" Seu Jorge

This is officially my new favorite David Bowie song. And while Seu Jorge is pretty great, he can't really hold a candle to Bowie, I'm sorry. I mean, when Bowie sings, "I Kiss You, You're Beautiful, I want you to walk" it doesn't get any better.

"The Man Who Sold the World" David Bowie
"The Man Who Sold the World" Nirvana
"The Man Who Sold the World" Midge Ure

I honestly was unaware that Nirvana was playing a cover when I heard this time and time again when I was in Middle School or High School. You see, while on the mp3 you can hear Kurt saying "That's a David Bowie song", they never played that part on the radio, so I spent my childhood thinking this was a Nirvana song. But then when I heard the original, I was struck by how great it was. Bowie is a fucking god.

"Rebel Rebel" David Bowie
"Rebel Rebel" Seu Jorge
"Rebel Rebel" Sigue Sigue Sputnik

This is another favorite Bowie song of mine. So much fun! (and the Sigue Sigue Sputnik cover is pretty rad too.)

"Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" David Bowie
"Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" Black Box Recorder
"Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" Seu Jorge

The fact that Black Box Recorder turns this song into a waltz is impressive. The fact that Sarah Nixey can't sing louder than a soft croon is disappointing. Especially when Bowie would be going crazy singing, "You're NOT Alone!" and she's just kind of moping around.

"Space Oddity" David Bowie
"Space Oddity" The Langley Schools Music Project

I love "Innocence and Despair", the Langley Schools Music Project album. I'm of the same opinion that it's so endearing and sincere that the supposed imperfections actually enhance the quality of the sound in my mind. This album (and this song) is truly a study in the greatness of honest folk-art recordings.