The Cars vs. Weezer

Eventually, Weezer had to cover a Cars song. 

Why? Because Ric Ocasek produced Weezer's first album. Finding that out changed the way I hear the Blue album, too, because I found myself listening for The Cars in it. And there are some cues in there that either Ocasek was drawing on previous experience or Weezer was looking to The Cars (or both) when they produced the blue album. 

http://weezerpedia.com/wiki/index.php?title=Ric_Ocasek

http://weezerpedia.com/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Weezer_songs_produced_by_Ric_Ocasek

The Cars' version is still way better, but it's kind of a cool tribute. Unfortunately, Rivers hasn't been able to sound like he's trying hard for a very long time. Which isn't to say he hasn't made any cool songs. They're just not cool, sincere-sounding songs.

Feist - How Come You Never Go There (Beck Remix)

http://www.beck.com/index.php/beck-remixes-feist

How Come You Never Go There (Beck Remix) by Feist

(he's 41 now)

The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

I thought this was Blondie for the longest time. Dig the brass.

"But then

All is fair,

All is fair in love"

Sonic Youth - Superstar

Oh the irony.

Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

Songs for Casey Lewis

Zoo Kid/King Krule - Out Getting Ribs

Cool song named after this (JM) Basquiat piece, which, I'm not much of a fan of Basquiat's stuff, but I realize he's really influential (or famous or whatever).

King Krule (if what I read is right) is the new stage name of Zoo Kid, whose real name is Archy Marshall. He's English.

Arthur Russell - A Little Lost

I've had people say they don't really like Arthur Russell's voice that much on this song. Jens Lekman has a pretty similar voice to Russell, but he's a better singer (less nasal, more control). I wish someone would do a version of "A Little Lost" that was somewhere between the these two-Russell's cello and instrumentation with a voice that people like (though Lekman's arrangement is quite good). And it bothers me how Lekman adjusted Russell's phrasing, changing "thinkin' 'bout" to a drawn out "thinking about." It seems like it shouldn't make a difference, but it does. In fact I think that whole line was phrased exactly right in Russell's version and Lekman drew it out way too long, but props to him for covering such a great song anyway.

Russell's vocals grew on me after a bit, so give it a chance.

Big Country - In A Big Country

Big Country-In A Big Country

I'm not being ironic. It's really good.