"Make it Mine" - Jason Mraz

When I first heard this song, I could have sworn it was Death Cab for Cutie or Belle and Sebastian. I was really surprised when I found out it was by Jason Mraz. This song is reminiscent of Jamiroquai and pretty great. Although this isn't the best song to hear him croon, you can't argue that he has got soul. This is from 'We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things' in 2008

"Listen to your voice
The one that tells you to taste past the tip of your tongue
Leap and the net will appear"

"All Night" - Echo Movement

Let's think about it...as a New Yorker, I can only think of 2 good things that have come out of New Jersey. One being Six Flags Great Adventure (Rolling Thunder was my nickname in high school) and the other being Echo Movement. I know, I know, what about The Boss? There is only one boss and his name is Tony Danza. This is from "In The Ocean" released in 2009

"Our time is slowly shaking
Our world is what they're breaking
Downtown sanctuary
All night I got no worries"

"Lions" - The Features

So my sister heard this song about a week ago and could not remember who sang it. Luckily her brother is pretty awesome. This song is for her. Why? A) for introducing me to this song and band and B) This song is acting as an apology for dropping your sweatshirt in a puddle last night in a McDonald's parking lot...twice...and not telling you. If you don't like this song, you should probably go to a doctor. This is from 'Some Kind of Salvation' released in July of 2009.

"Let's stick together
Let's follow our hearts
Not even lions can tear us apart"

"We Will Fall Together" - Streetlight Manifesto

This is the guy that used to be in Catch 22. I'm going to see these guys tonight at BB Kings in NYC. This song is the reason why. This is everything I look for in a song. This is from 'Everything Goes Numb' released in 2003

"And when we fall we will fall together
No one will catch us so we'll catch ourselves
And where we roam we will roam forever
No one will understand what we meant"

"Friday I'm in Love" - Fiction Family (The Cure Cover)

I first heard of these guys this past year and I have to say they did not disappoint. Their cover of 'Friday I'm in Love' is whimsical and upbeat. Very hard to improve upon the original, but...nailed it! Plus Robert Smith scares the crap out of me. This is from 'Fiction Family' released in 2009.

"Monday you can fall apart
Tuesday Wednesday break my heart
Thursday doesn't even start
it's Friday I'm in love"

Fiction Family:



The Cure:

"Movin' Out" - The Supervillains (Billy Joel Cover)

So this is the song that spawned 'cover week'. If there's a cover song out there that is better than the original, this is it. I guess it's considered a sin to not like Billy Joel if you grew up in NY, but you can only hear songs like 'Piano Man' and 'Uptown Girl' so many times without a refresh. Kudos to BJ for being him. But more kudos to the Supervillains for keepin' it real...real awesome. From 'Massive' released in 2008.

"Sergeant O'Leary is walkin' the beat
At night he becomes a bartender
He works at Mister Cacciatores
Down on Sullivan Street
Across from the medical center
And he's tradin in his Chevy for
A Cadillac ack ack ack ack ack"

The Supervillains:


Billy Joel:

"Jolene" - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (Dolly Parton Cover)

I don't think I could have done a week of cover songs without including the Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Even though they will probably never have their own theme park like Dolly, they did take one of her big hits (no not those...) and turned it into a high energy punk song. So I guess what I am trying to say is, if country music was punk music, then I would really like it. One of my newly appointed favorite people is a huge Dolly fan, so this is for her. This is from 'Love Their Country' released in 2006.

"Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, Jolene"

Me First and the Gimme Gimmes:


Dolly Parton:

"Jaime" - Dashboard Confessional (Weezer Cover)

I know, I know...Dashboard Confessional. Get over it. I like Chris Carrabba and I don't care. Yes, I have lot's of Dashboard on my iPod. Yes, I wish I was a 15 yr old girl. Yes, I can say all of this because no one reads my blog. Weezer is great for writing this song, but there is something about Dashboard crooning this song that gets me. I apologize to my friends and family. Off of 'Rock Music - A Tribute To Weezer' released in 2002.

"You are the most, you're so rad,
You're so fresh and I'm so glad,
I am yours, you are mine,
Show me where and I will sign."

Dashboard Confessional:


Weezer:

"We Will Become Silhouettes" - The Shins (The Postal Service Cover)

This week I wanted to post all of my favorite cover songs that I think rival the original. This first one is a Postal Service cover. This song is good. They turned an already catchy tune into a more upbeat, pop song with the harmonies we have grown to love from The Shins. I would enjoy running to the original (if I ran), but find it much more enjoyable to walk to the cover (and just walk in general). This is from the "Such Great Heights' comp released in 2003

"I've got a cupboard with cans of food,
filtered water, and pictures of you
And I'm not coming out
Until this is all over"

The Shins:


The Postal Service:

"Fish in My Dish" - Sharon Jones

One word...Sexy. Thanks to my friend Chris for introducing my to her music. I may be naive, but it sounds like to me that a) she is singing about fish and b) she REALLY likes fish. Somehow, she makes fish sexy...Is that wrong? This is from 'Naturally' released in 2005

"I remember when an old man said
Fish tastes better when it's fresh off the line
But I can tell you that it tastes even better
When I know that the line was mine (line was mine)"

"Darkest Days" - Good Riddance

I remember these guys from a Fat Wreck Chords punk sampler I got in high school. It's got one heck of a hook. This has recently turned into my "get pumped up to drink some beers" song. Unfortunately I still don't know any of the words, so I sound pretty odd getting pumped up while humming. This is from 'My Republic' released in 2006

"One time, something to live for.
Somehow I've lost my way.
Those times I pissed away now
Echo in my darkest days."

"Go To Work Wasted" - NOFX

When I started this "blog", I could have easily turned it into a "NOFX song of the day", but realized I would probably be the only one that checked it on a daily basis (turns out I am still the only one that checks it anyway, but I digress.) Anywho, I make sure I listen to this song every Friday on my way to work...Why? I think you already know the answer. This is from '45 or 46 Songs That Weren't Good Enough to Go on Our Other Records' released in 2002

"Go to work wasted. Go to work bombed.
Ya gotta pull a shot before you start the job.
I wanna operate heavy machinery.
I wanna watch online pornography."

"She Moves in Her Own Way" - The Kooks

I always thought it was odd when most British bands sing, they sound American. Not these guys. It's pretty awesome because when I sing this to myself, I sing in a British accent. Thanks to my sis for introducing me to these guys. This is from "Inside In the Inside Out" released in 2006

"But uh oh, I love her because
She moves in her own way
But uh oh, she came to my show
Just to hear about my day"

"So What?" - The Living End

These punkers hail from down under. This song offers some nice country flare to it (sometimes I think I can really get into country music after listening to songs like this...not there yet.) I also think I'm the original back up singer on this song, but pretty confident that I am not...Sorry to all those that pass me on the street when this song is on. This is from 'Modern ARTillery" from 2003.

"Well I’ve been going out of my head
Since I met you
But you drive me up the wall it seems
What more can I do"

"She's Fantastic" - Sondre Lerche

I really dig his style. Probably because he's from Norway. You send this to a girl and she won't be wearing pants. Seeing him tonight at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. This is from "Phantom Punch" in 2007

"All the girls that I know suddenly seem so-so.
Suddenly no one quite can compare to her.
Why? She's fantastic"

"Megan" - Bayside

These guys are from New York (Bayside I'm guessing...) and although a punk band, released an acoustic album which I think is pretty notable. But before you can call these guys from Queens 'sensitive', remember this is originally a Smoking Popes song (I like the Bayside version better). You can't get better than "Butter on a summer day when she's around"...Man, that's good. From 'Acoustic' released in 2006

"I heard somebody call my name
I almost climbed the stairs
But Megan I had a feeling that someday you'd meet me there
So I just waited there for you"

"Palm of Your Hand" - Cake

I always seem to pop this song on when I am walking down the street on a sunny day. This song puts some quick in my step. At just under 3 minutes, i usually need to play this twice in a row to get my fix. From 'Pressure Chief' released in 2004

"How can you say forever is at your command
How can you say the future's in the palm
In the palm of your hand"

"Banana Pancakes" - Jack Johnson

Oh, Jack Johnson...You really got it goin' on. Been a fan of his for a while and this song is just one of those 'fall in love' anthems. If you know the song, then you know what I'm talking about and if you don't...WARNING: you may just find yourself swooning. From 'In Between Dreams' released in 2005

"The telephones singing ringing it's too early don't pick it up. We don't need to. We got everything we need right here and everything we need is enough. Just so easy. When the whole world fits inside of your arms do we really need to pay attention to the alarm?"

"Sweet Rose" - Matt Costa

I love Matt Costa. If I could write songs, I would want them to sound like this. I started listening to this album a couple of years ago (would have guessed it a novelty album), and still find myself coming back for more. If you like to be happy, listen to this song. This is off of 'Songs We Sing' released in 2006.

"My sweet rose. As the two of us change
I want you to know, that nothing stays the same
But you and I, we will remain
My rose, remember my rose"

"Yesterday Never Tomorrows" - The Stills

This is one of those songs that for the past couple of years, whenever it comes up on shuffle, I start listening to it non-stop on repeat (this happened yesterday...) This is off of 'Logic Will Break Your Heart' released in 2003

"Some things last forever, why can't this last forever. Nothing lasts forever, I hope this lasts forever"

"You Got Me" - The Supervillains

I just recently got into these guys when I saw them at a Reel Big Fish show. Part of the ska revival, it's hard not to get into this songs upbeat rhythm and playful lyrics. This version is off of 'Massive' released in 2008.

"Girl, when I'm with you I'm high (Like I've been smokin' sensimilla all night)
My arms get heavy and my eyes get stuck (I feel my knees shake and I know I'm hooked)
Please don't tell me it's time to go (I'm all alone and I need you so)
Tell me you'll stay the whole night through, Girl you got me jonesin' for you"