1: Marissa Nadler – Jealous Guy (John Lennon cover) ~ Tincanman
Marissa Nadler writes her own songs, but her claim to fame is coming to be her uncanny elucidation of mumblers (Young, Cohen. Dylan, Petty et al). She gives her covers away on her channel to subscribers. (Did I get that right?)
2: Shivaree – Lost In A Dream ~ Zalamanda
A fantastical mix of angels, rainbows, and ugly things that come out at night (some of which bite) – topped off with jazzy horns and the laidback vocals of one Ambrosia Parsley. Really. That is her name.
3: Warrior Soul – The Drug ~ Beth Noir
Acid punk is one description, I find this song, which I first bought as a single in 1994 utterly addictive in a sneery metal way. So much energy, I’ll have what he’s having.
4: Susannah Hoffs – November Sun ~ Abahachi
Yes, it’s very retro – a 2012 record that sounds like it was recorded nearly half a century ago – but not that many people are reviving the glories of 60s pop, and very few of them can do it as well as the former Bangles singer.
5: June Tabor And The Oysterband ~ Lullaby Of London ~ Treefrogdemon
Rather too jaunty for a lullaby, I’ve always thought, but the inspired Tabor/Oyster collaboration weaves its magic spell as ever.
6> Katsuko Kanei – Tanin No Kankei (Like Strangers) ~ HoshinoSakura
I found this CD by 1960 decade pop singer Katsuko Kanai in a bargain bin in a record store and it has this really nice Bossa Nova style number on it which feels somehow sweet and sexy and sad all at the same time and it has a great rhythm ! ! ! It really captures how I imagine Tokyo in the 1960 decade was, cool and swinging ! ! ! I have been humming the song ever since I bought it ! ! !
A big Thank You to everyone who contributed worms to this playlist or has sent them in to the wormbank. Please send your juiciest worms plus a line or two per song on how you got hooked to either earworm@tincanland.com or a wormhole near you. Thank you.
Hi SR ! ! !
I really enjoyed this week’s playlist. It had a really nice variety and I liked all the tracks very much ! ! !
Marissa Nadler – Jealous Guy
I think this is such a difficult track to cover. It is a very simple song in structure and so the emotion and tone is everything. And I think she captures it really very well. She has a really great tone to her voice in this track. I really enjoyed it ! ! !
Shivaree – Lost in a Dream
This is a really interesting track ! ! ! I like the late night Jazz feel to the track and her voice has a innocent tone which really contrasts the sophisticated arrangement and themes. The arrangement seemed almost ironic at times. It is complex track and I need to listen to it some more, but I liked it a lot ! ! !
Warrior Soul- The Drug
The opening few seconds really reminded me of a Black Sabbath riff actually. I really liked this track actually and it has such a great beat and just makes me want to jump around ! ! ! Really great ! ! !
Susannah Hoffs – November Sun
This is almost like a J-pop track. I can almost hear the unicorns playing with the bunnies ! ! ! I really enjoyed this and it was a nice contrast to the heavy sound of Warrior Soul. I loved the arrangement. It is really great with strings and trumpets and even a harpsichord at one point. I loved It ! ! !
June Tabor And The Oysterband – Lullaby Of London
I really enjoy this track and I love the little accordion parts. It has a great rhythm and you cannot stop tapping your feet to it ! ! ! A really cheerful track that enjoyed very much indeed ! ! !
Katsuko Kanei – Tanin No Kankei (Like Strangers)
The translation is really “Other People’s Relationships” but there seems to be an official translation as “Like Strangers”, so I wonder if maybe this is track had a western release also, but I can not find any information about this so far. I love her voice and I hope some of you like the track ! ! !
Thank you SR it was a great playlist and really enjoyed it.
Glad you liked the Warrior Soul track, it’s not new, but it’s fun.
Clickin’ the button here – back later…
Loved that lot on a first listen. Will have another run through them this evening and dispense pearls of wisdom innit.
Marissa Nadler – Well I like both the song and this rendition of it. Very low key and low fi. Quite ethereal. And can I add my support for the right of gals to be guys and vice versa of it takes their fancy?
Shivaree – Loved the olde style musical backing and the voice stayed just to the right side of Ricky Lee Jones so I didn’t get too put off by any little girlishness.
Warrior Soul – Somewhere between Motorhead and The Wasps. Liked this a lot.
Susannah Hoffs – Oh she’s the Bangles singer. I thought I recognised the voice. Lovely lush arrangement. Very filmic.
Joan T Bender and her Toy Tubas – I would probably love anything that June Tabor sung and The Oysters are always good. This isn’t the best thing I’ve ever heard by them but a toe-tapper and I did love the accordion. Rather liked that basic drum sound too, since you ask.
Katsuko Kanei – Now this I loved, Another one that should be in an old film. Probably featuring a Japanese James Bond or Modesty Blaise. Great voice too.
Yes, enjoyed that set immensely.
.
Marissa Nadler: My problem is that I just don’t like this song. Fine version though!
Shivaree: I’m afraid it suffers from two things I’m not overly keen on: jazziness and little-girl vocals.
Warrior Soul: First one that really made me prick up my ears. Bit Cult-y instrumentally to these ears. Fun.
Susannah Hoffs: I dunno, I say I don’t like little-girl vocals… but I have always loved Susannah’s voice. Huh. Not up with her best perhaps (Manic Monday, My Side of the Bed, etc), but a well-crafted song.
June and the Oysters: I’m with you, tfd – this wouldn’t help me off to sleep at all! Lovely jaunty track though.
Katsuko Kanei: This sort of bossa nova exotica always makes me a bit antsy, I’m afraid. I prefer it when the lead vocalist is singing, rather than the generic “bah bah bah/doo doo doo” bits – she’s got a lovely tone. And there’s a great tune going on there too. But not really my cup of tea – sorry!
hadn’t thought of Warrior Soul as being Culty, that only makes me like it more, clichéd as it might be.
Marissa Nadler – I love her ethereal voice, and liked this – in mood and melody, it reminded me of Lana Del Rey’s “Video Games”. Add Thom Yorke to the list of mumblers she’s elucidated: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnkvljZsNTQ
Shivaree – I love and return often to their first album, I Oughta Give You A Shot In The Head For Making Me Live In This Dump, which leans more towards alt-country than jazz. For some reason, I haven’t listened to anything else – will rectify this.
Warrior Soul – Can appreciate the energy, but this isn’t doing much for me.
Susannah Hoffs – Nice poppy stuff, particularly liked the descending strings in the chorus, which reminded me of something, but I can’t think what.
June/Oysterband – They’re a great live band, and her voice suits it well, but – it just sounds like an alcohol-free, diet version of The Pogues’ original. And I’ll leave Chris to comment on the drumming…
Katsuko Kanei – I’m a bit of a sucker for “bossa nova exotica” – liking this.
tx for that. I didn’t have that one.
It’s adding to my Radiohead has no clothes theory though. Lyrics are all over the place. Second half of song is very powerful. First bit, about his job and the government, is just rambling.
No! Didn’t you know, only clever people can see the clothes?
To be fair, I think Radiohead lyrics aren’t really meant to be a coherent, linear whole – they’re usually disjointed fragments. Obviously this reflects the dysfunctional atomised existences of the post-millennial late-capitalist experience.
I think it has been etablished that it was your RRnom of “Goodnight Moon” that turned me on to Shivaree in the first place, Barbryn…
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As ever, an interesting set.
Marissa Nadler – Sorry. Don’t like the song – by anybody.
Shivaree – Donds to what Bish said.
Warrior Soul – Enjoyed the energy here.
Susannah Hoffs – Pleasant sound.
June Tabor – My favourite this week. Like the cajun accordion on it.
Katsuko Kanei – Reminded me of the music played on ads in the 60s for PanAm or TWA. Good to hear.
Ta SR.
1. Marissa Nadler: reminds me of Hope Sandoval. Nice lassitude but she is not a jealous guy, so why cover it without changing the word?
2. Shivaree: I’m quite tolerant of little-girl voices. Love the louche quality – particularly the bass and the brass – but it could lose the cheesy organ.
3. Warrior Soul: rock cliché numbers 4 (fuzz guitar), 5 (backbeat snare) and 7 (Ozzy vocals). No thanks.
4. Susannah Hoffs: her voice reminds me of someone from long ago; Melanie? Very Summer Of Love/TOTP Orchestra/floaty dress/Pan’s People.
5. June Tabor And The Oysterband: OK but why do the drums have to be so awful?! With some subtlety in the rhythm, this could have been so much more interesting.
6. Katsuko Kanei: Back to the sixties and not, for someone like me with a James Last/Bert Kaempfert allergy, in a good way.
Shivaree is probably my favourite but none of them bowl me over.
[Should I keep opinions like this to myself? I do appreciate the thought and effort that goes into Earworms and don't want to put anyone's picks down; should I keep quiet?]
OK but why do the drums have to be so awful?!
Ha! I knew it.
Chris, I think we all appreciate hearing your reactions, because even though they’re frequently negative, it’s always knowledgeable, reasoned criticism, and I for one find that interesting. I do sometimes feel a bit sorry for you though – you’d find much more to enjoy if your critical faculties were less well honed
Chris and barbryn – I was reading your comments and I remembered this song.
Awful drumming? You ain’t heard nuthin’ til you’ve heard Tall Dwarfs:
SR – that’s almost charmingly inept. It’s like they got the work experience kid to do it. OK, it’s actually making me laugh now. It’s such an energetic, rhythmic song, it’s just crying out for some good drumming.
Ha, you’re killing me.
It would be a great candidate for a Pimp My Track, Part Zwei.
A slightly-miffed earworm-suggester points out: These here are supposed to be earworms. They are not supposed to be examples of unparalleled musicianship. I sent Lullaby Of London in because it often gets stuck in my head.
Got it?
I’ve listened to Lullaby of London a couple more times now, TFD, and I can’t for the life of me tell what is so terribly wrong with the drumming on the song. Is it lodged in my auditory canal? Yes! Job done.
Sorry tfd – no buking intended, and no denying it’s an earworm – I’ve had it in my head all week.
I think maybe the new Spill game has encouraged us to be a little more critical than we’d usually be. As I say, I like the Oysterband and June Tabor (I have a 15-year-old Oysterband long-sleeve T-shirt that I still wear in bed) – but just wasn’t very taken by this version of a song I love:
Not a problem in the ordinary way, barbryn – it’s just that you and Chris did seem to be going on about it a bit imo.
Should I keep opinions like this to myself?
Not at all! (Except about mine of course
)
Seriously though, I prefer considered honesty to silence. We’re here to share music and ideas about it after all.
Or, like, what he said
Nah, even oversensitive types like me have come to appreciate your take on why our tastes in music are rubbish. (Joke, etc.) Your feedback does encourage me to listen in a slightly more discerning manner. Probably doesn’t change my view of what I like but good to be challenged to think about why (despite musical ‘flaws’).
why cover it without changing the word?
Preserving it’s integrity maybe? I think sometimes singing a song in the opposite gender helps us see things differently. But in this case, you are right; I’ve re-listened substituted gal for guy in my mind and it gets very emotional.
But doesn’t it need to be ‘guy’ to rhyme with ‘cry’?
Rhyming ‘eyes’ and ‘hide’ (one of the four actual rhymes in the song) does set the standard high, doesn’t it?
hurl/girl?
itch/bitch?
Or:
I didn’t mean to hurt you.
I’m sorry that I bruised your world
Oh no, I didn’t mean to hurt you.
I’m just a jealous girl.
you’d find much more to enjoy if your critical faculties were less well honed
A thought I have had on many an occasion, barbryn. I won’t allow myself to get drunk either, although that may assist enjoyment of so many more things in life. (btw, I didn’t see your drumming comment before posting! Am I so predictable or am I starting to modify your listening?)
Just as long as people don’t take my frequently negative comments personally, even those of you with rubbish taste…..
I too am glad to hear your opinions, please do continue to share. I hadn’t detected an Ozzy-like vocal on Warrior Soul, but hands up to the other two, the track doesn’t have an original bone in its body.
Chris – the 4/4 drumming thing has long been a pet peeve of mine, so your comments tend to resonate. We also share a loathing of 80s production. Otherwise, I’m pretty easy-going.
Nah, Chris, keep it coming. I agree with everything posted as replies. You certainly make me revisit stuff with new ears on occasion; definitely a good thing. We do need a Waldorf to go with your Statler, mind!
On this week’s evidence (at least), severin seems to be providing the chalk to my cheese (Jack Sprat to my Mrs Sprat?, yin to my yang? (it’s strangely difficult to find a pair of antonyms without implication)), though.
Ooh, the old gender switch question. Personally, I quite like the frission that you get when a song is sung by the wrong gender, and it can seem a bit like a cop out when a singer opts to change the words just because they are the wrong sex.
I can’t help but be reminded of a certain folk song…
She moved through the fair for Anne Briggs, Sandy Denny and Julianne Regan. And Hazel O’Connor, whose version may be lesser known but is seriously very good. He, however, traversed the showground for Sinead O’Connor (whose version was disappointing) and Nana Mouskouri.
Or House Of The Rising Sun
I remember the first time I heard the Dylan version of House of the Rising Sun, I really liked that he kept the gender the same, it felt more authentic.
@Zala did you see Sinead on Later with Jools Holland last night? It was a bit disappointing too (but she didn’t do SMTTF).
Oh yes. Good one, TFD.
I do quite like the Bryan Ferry version of Jealous Gut, but not the original, this is okay, but rather easy on the ear for my taste.
Shivaree, well Ambrosia reminds me of Cerys in singing style who I like, but the music isn’t delighting me, I’m afraid.
I chose Warrior Soul so you already know what I think of it
Susannah Hoffs sounds as lovely as ever, I like a bit of retro and it’s summery and pretty, a hit with me.
June Tabor never quite appeals as much as I expect her to, it is lilting and pleasing overall and I like a little bit of accordian too.
Katsuko, hmm, if I was in a clothes shop, it would make me feel quite mellow and like browsing for a bit longer, so I guess that’s good.
What’s with the new avatar beth ? Liking it in a strange “Batman Baddie” sort of way. Hmmmmmmmmm.
thanks for noticing, bluepeter, it was my Hallowe’en outfit this year, got bored of the old one.
Katsuko, hmm, if I was in a clothes shop, it would make me feel quite mellow and like browsing for a bit longer, so I guess that’s good.
____
Beth – I believe you have nailed the perfect song for Sakura to listen to when she goes shopping for her beloved Paco Rabanne metal mini wedding dress!
I have not given up ! ! !
You can buy a craft kit to make a copy which has tools and the metal disks and all the things you need to make it . . . .but it not the same . . .
But maybe I will make one as a craft project . . . .next year. It might be fun ! ! !
Can you make two?
I think I might look a tad ridiculous in mine though!
Marissa Nadler – as covers go, it’s good. I like the alt country vibe. I could imagine hearing this in Gruene Dance Hall on a sweaty Saturday night.
Shivaree – I love the jazziness crossed with the indie girlie vocals. The double bass has a threatening quality and the church organ is just downright weird in a Jess Yates on acid kind of a way. The drums and brass are more trad.The vocals are sort of 50s showtune crossed with Elvis Costello. It’s totally bonkers. And I think Ambrosia is a great name. (I love their rice pudding.)
Warrior Soul. Yes! Love that guitar riff and those licks. I don’t care if it’s Sabbathy and has shades of Bon Jovi. Headbanger central here I come.
Susannah Hoffs it’s still inherently got that 80s Bangles sound for me, but there’s something nice, and the violins are nice. Sweet and gentle.
June and The O’s. I L-O-V-E this. June Tabor’s voice is wonderful, and as pure as Jo Stafford’s was. The accordion is integral. It’s a jig. It’s perhaps a lullaby because London (like New York) never sleeps?
Katsuko Kinei. I loved this too. So swinging 60s with the sweeping strings and xylophone and as someone mentioned the ba-ba-ba’s and do-do-do’s. Rushing off to buy a nylon nighty and negligee set and fluffy slippers right now!
For the first time in a while I’ve had time to listen to ‘Earworms’ on a Monday night.
1) Marissa Nadlaer. Don’t think that this adds, complements or changes anything of the original. Sounds as if she is just ‘going through the motion’ of recording a track without enough thought to the feeling of what the song is trying to say.
2) Shivaree. Like the dreamy style and laid back presentation. One to give a few more listens to.
3) Warrior Soul. Yes, love this. Energy in bundles and one for a high octane playlist. Best of the bunch.
4) Susannah Hoffs. I can’t get away from the Bangles influence in this one. Perhaps that is no bad thing because she does have a very good voice.
5) June Tabor Sorry, just not for me.
6) Katsuko Kanei. Almost a 60′s Brazilian feel to this. Like it a lot.
Without knowing it was a Japanese band, I would swear they were from South America. Very good.
Marissa Nadler – What Bish said! I really, really, really dislike the song. Marissa isn’t new to me, but even she ain’t gonna make me change my mind about the song.
Shivaree – This sounds almost like an outtake from Rickie Lee Jones’ Girl At Her Volcano mini-LP. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Warrior Soul – I had an album of theirs back in the early 90s on cassette. Can’t remember which one, and when it got nicked out of my car, I didn’t bother replacing it. S’alright, but I was never a fan. Still, good to hear after all this time. I do wonder what it’s doing in this company, though.
Susannah Hoffs – My God, that voice is still so INSTANTLY recognisable, isn’t it? I haven’t knowingly listened to anything from her since The Bangles ruled the charts. Warm ‘n’ fuzzy.
June Tabor & The Oysterband – Yeah, a lullaby it ain’t. I can’t get up any great enthusiasm for it. Nor for Katsuko Kanei either, I’m afraid. I’m very sorry, ladies.
Shivaree & Susannah this week’s DsD Earworms double date.
Oops. I now see severin beat me to the RLJ comparison with Shivaree. Donds then, mate.