geek4covers, a cappella edition

I have long held a capalla music in high regard. A group of musicians, without instrumentation, providing an orchestra of sound was popular in days long ago, but the practice has waned in modern times. Luckily, many college a capella groups still exist that carry on this tradition, along with a few professional organizations as well.

It's also no secret that I'm a big fan of cover songs. Taking another artists song and reworking it, when well done, really brings a whole new level to the experience. Hearing one of my favorite songs interpreted anew is a truly joyous experience.

Here's a few favorites that are both a capella and covers, along with the original tracks. Good a cappella music isn't extremely easy to come by, in my experience; if you have any suggestions for others to listen for, feel free to comment below.

The Harvard Callbacks - Don't Change Your Plans
Easily my favorite song of the bunch. The original is great, but production on this version is outrageously good!


Reverse Osmosis - I Believe She's Lying
A great rendition of a Jon Brion classic. Don't know Jon Brion? You probably do, he's produced for tons of people the past decade, most notably Kanye West.
(This m4a file will play in iTunes and on most mp3 players. I hesitate to compress it into an mp3 as sound quality would be further compromised)


Schrödinger's Cat - When Doves Cry
Very creative sound effects make this version almost indistinguishable from the Prince original.

That One - Rainbow Connection
Probably one of my favorite songs ever, I've never heard a bad version of Rainbow Connection. This one doesn't dissapoint.


For some reason, Ben Folds songs really get the a cappella crowd going. There's lots of videos and songs out there if you'll just search YouTube. Here's one I really enjoyed, Army by the University of Rochester's Midnight Ramblers:


Folds has taken notice of these artists and is in the process of putting a few of them on a CD to benefit Save the Music. I'm pretty sure I'll have to buy this when it comes out.

Lastly, a bonus a cappella track, though not a cover, a song from one of my favorite Simpsons episodes, Homer's Barbershop Quartet. Homer and the Be Sharps performing "Baby on Board":



Recommended listening:

He Ain't Never Gonna Change

My fondness for Jason Isbell's music is great, but I must admit I might never have listened to him at all if not for a personal connection. In 1997, Jason attended the University of Memphis, majoring in English. Being a musician, he decided to play in the band to help with tuition. A trained trumpet player, Jason was placed in the mellophone section, under my leadership, and we became friends. I wasn't part of his fraternity, so I can't pretend that I was Jason's very best friend, but we had very similar tastes in music and often discussed what we were listening to. In 1998, we attended a Victor Wooten concert at Newby's and traded CDs on occasion. Jason eventually left school and I heard nothing more out of him; he moved back to Alabama.

In 2004, I happened to read a glowing review at Pitchfork about a new album from a band I'd never heard of, the Drive-By Truckers. Reading the review, I ran into the name Jason Isbell and was confused; surely this wasn't the Jason I knew. I quickly found out this was my former friend and gained interest in the band's music. Just a week later, I was moving into a new apartment and ran into and old friend, Jeremy German, one of Jason's Fiji brothers, who was in the horn section along with us. Jeremy asked me if I had heard about Jason and informed me that the Truckers were playing in Memphis that very night. Tired from moving and not having much disposable income, I passed on the concert, but vowed to see Jason again. I began diving into the Trucker's catalog and found I enjoyed their work. It turned out most of my favorite songs were written by Jason himself, a nice coincidence.

In 2007, Jason left the band hit the road as a solo artist. Signed to New West Records, he recorded Sirens of the Ditch and released it in July, 2007. As luck would have it, Jason's tour took him through Nashville on the same week I was in town, headed for Chicago on vacation. I attended his show at the Mercy Lounge, already well-versed in his work, but left blown away. The very normal, down to earth guy that I had been in marching band with was now a full-blown, American Rock Star. Jason's show was absolutely phenomenal and his backing band, the 400 unit, while relatively inexperienced, was quite capable. I happened to catch Jason after the show and he was excited to see me. I didn't spend much time with him, but it was great to see his fame hadn't changed him at all.

Since that time, I've caught Jason twice more and am headed to Birmingham, AL next week to see him at WorkPlay, just days before the release of his newest CD, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. He's scheduled to stop by Memphis in March, another show I'll be attending.

The past few weeks, several tracks from the new CD have become available online. From the sound of it, this album promises to be just as strong as his first. Look below for links to the first available tracks from the CD as well as a few select live tracks that I really dig.

Jason Isbell - Seven Mile Island
...courtesy of Spin, who gave the album four out of five stars.

Jason Isbell - Good
...courtesy of Stereogum, who posted his upcoming tour dates.

Jason Isbell - Soldiers Get Strange
...courtesy of Rollo & Grady, who posted a few related tracks.


Live @ Grimey's In Nashville 8.24.2007

Jason Isbell - Dress Blues (Acoustic)

Live @ The Mercy Lounge, Nashville, TN, 8.24.2007

Jason Isbell - Chicago Promenade (Live)
Jason Isbell - Psycho Killer (Live)
Jason Isbell - Never Gonna Change (Live)
Jason Isbell - Danko/Manuel (Live)

Live @ The Cannery Ballroom Nashville, TN, 3.01.2008

Jason Isbell - Grown (Live)
Jason Isbell - Goddamn Lonely Love (Live)

Reccomended Listening:

"Your World Is Nothing More Than All The Tiny Things You've Left Behind"

When I say jazz, what's the first name that comes to mind? Miles Davis. John Coltrane. Maybe Ella Fitzgerald. Most people who don't follow the modern jazz scene very closely don't likely recognize Clint Eastwood's importance to the genre.

An accomplished musician in his own right, Eastwood has made it a personal goal to educate the public at large about the importance of jazz both historically and in today's world. He directed and produced Bird, a biopic about jazz great Charlie "Bird" Parker and helped produce a Tony Bennett PBS special as well as a documentary about the world renowned Monterey Jazz Festival.

For his latest film, Gran Torino, Clint worked with up-and-coming jazz musician Jamie Cullum, as well as his own son, Kyle, an accomplished musician in his own right, to record a stunning title track that was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Gran Torino (feat. Clint Eastwood as Walt Kowalski) - Jamie Cullum and Clint Eastwood



Jamie has been a favorite artist of mine since the 2004 release of Twentysomething. While I must admit I never bought the follow-up, Catching Tales, he's been regularly on my playlist ever since. Apparently he's been in the studio working on a new record and I can't wait to hear what he has cooked up.

From a live performance at Portland, Oregon's own KinkFM, here is Jamie performing one from his sophmore work, a song from his debut and a jazz standard. The recording seems to be no longer available, but I've made the entire thing available as well, if you really want to hear the witty banter and talk show host intros.

Jamie Cullum - Live @ KinkFM, Portland, OR, October 19, 2006

Jamie Cullum - Photograph (Live)
Jamie Cullum - All At Sea (Live)
Jamie Cullum - Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? (Live)


Download the full performance

Bonus: Here's Jamie covering Radiohead, so you know it has to be good.



Double Bonus: Diana Krall singing a song co-composed by Clint Eastwood

Why Should I Care - Diana Krall

Reccomended Listening:

"The Day the Music Died"

American Pie - Don McLean

"On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, United States killed three American rock and roll musicians: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson." read more...

Of the three, the artist most well-regarded was without a doubt the great Buddy Holly. Holly inspired a generation of young people with his music, being cited as a major influence for artists like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, James Taylor and countless others. NPR has a great story up today about Holly and his classic song, Peggy Sue.

Peggy Sue - Buddy Holly

I can't watch that video without thinking of Elvis Costello. Elvis cited Holly as an early influence, playing up the visual similarities between the two on the cover to his debut album, My Aim Is True:



Here's just a tiny taste of a fantastic Elvis Costello live recording I found from 1978, thanks to Ryan's Smashing Life:

Elvis Costello & The Attractions - Blame It On Cain (Live)

Get the rest right here from Ryan.

Recommended listening: