Smells Like Alternative

Better Than The Original…

by acostill on February 21st, 2008

This is a post that I’ve been toying with for some time now, but have finally decided that it was time to share some of my favorite cover tunes from 90’s alternative bands.

Actually, this can be a real touchy subject if your a fan of the original artist or song, but I think my choices are pretty good, and some could even argue that they could even be better than the original.

Stone Temple Pilots - “Dancing Days”: STP contributed their version of this song for the Zeppelin tribute album Encomium, which was pretty much a lackluster album. Honestly, this is pretty gutsy to say that STP could outperform the mighty Led Zeppelin; but I think their version is a bit better, mainly cause of Scott’s vocals.

Sonic Youth - “Superstar”: The band originally contributed their version of the Carpenter’s classic to the 1994 tribute album If I Were A Carpenter. The song has new found a second life with it’s appearance in Juno. This is a great and slightly darker take on the song, which I love.

Jeff Buckley - “Hallelujah“: Played out much? Yes. But still this cover is perhaps Buckley’s most known tune and is becoming the stand out version of the Leonard Cohen classic. Jeff’s version can be found on his debut album Grace.

Cake - “I Will Survive” - Who would have funk that some guys would make a version of Gloria Gaynor’s classic anthem that actually compares to hers. I sure didn’t. But Cake’s version from their 1996 album Fashion Nugget is just as good and they added the “f” word, which always makes a song better.

Smashing Pumpkins - ”Landslide”: For once Billy’s whiny voice pays off. Their version of the Fleetwood Mac classic is simple and actually just as beautiful as the original. For a song that’s been covered numerous times, it could be safe to say that this is the best cover of “Landslide”.

Pearl Jam - “Crazy Mary”: I don’t think that Pearl Jam can do a bad cover, but leave it to the band to take an obscure song from an obscure artist and make it into one of their own. The band originally covered it for the Sweet Relief album, which was to raise cash for the original artist Victoria Williams. Although the studio version is alright, the band’s live versions are stellar and easily a fan favorite.

Foo Fighters - “Baker Street”: The Foos, like Pearl Jam, don’t do bad covers. However, this version of the Gerry Rafferty classic just rocks. Ok, some folks miss the saxophone, but come on, there’s an awesome guitar solo at the end. This version popped up as the b-side to “My Hero” in 1998, but can now be found on the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Colour and the Shape.

The Lemonheads - “Mrs. Robinson”: How could a band cover this timeless classic by Simon & Garfunkel? I have no clue, but Evan Dando and company found a way on their 1992 album It’s A Shame About Ray and it also showed up in Wayne’s World 2.

Aimee Mann - “One”: Another song that’s been covered several times, but Mann’s version from the 1999 film Magnoliatakes the lead. One of the more heart felt versions, it’s very hypnotic.

Blind Melon - “Three Is A Magic Number”: Blind Melon covered this for the Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks! tribute album and since then opened this song up to a whole new generation. In fact, their version may now be more widely know than the original.

If I forgot one of your favorite 90’s alternative cover songs, please let me know. 

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