Since my first post on duplicated ditties proved to be so popular, here are 15 additional interpreted archetypes. Most of the replicants on this list are reletively new; from caustic electro-clasher Peaches covering Scots Franz Ferdinand to Karen O and Trent Reznor playing around with heavy metals from The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo remake. Take cover and check out part 1 here.
Gaming has come a long way since Computer Space. The arid days of analog and Atari are long gone. In their place we have the wide world of MMORPGs and other multi-player platforms like PSN. Much like the essential staple of sugar soaked soda, the gamer's soundtrack can be equally as important as their selection of snacks. In this post, we'll listen to some choice cuts for a gamer play list, which are classified to a specific gamer genre.
Heads Up, Hearts Down by I Fight Dragons - from Cool Is Just A Number (2009)
For Role Playing Games; Especially Zelda
Hailing form the windy city, chiptune band I Fight Dragons incorporate sound effects made by Nintendo consoles into traditional guitar-based rock music. The band formed in 2008 and quickly achieved success around town by winning numerous band competitions. The Deli Chicago named the band "Best Emerging Chicago Artist of 2009." While their music is pop/geek and upbeat; vocalist Laura Trainor's head and heart may be down as the band revealed she is no longer a member as of October 2010. Their latest EP, Overcool, was released earlier this year.
Fall Behind Me by The Donnas - from Gold Medal (2004)
For Racing Games
Before The Donnas went all sludge and hair metal, with 2007's Bitchin', came their most accessible and polished album, Gold Medal. Fall Behind Me is a consummate companion to the competitive racing spirit.
Sonic Reducer by Dead Boys - from Young Loud and Snotty (1977)
For First Person Shooters, Sports
Dead Boys rose out of the ashes of Cleveland cult band Rocket From The Tomb's demise. Their popularity failed to peak in North America, however these CBGB regulars are credited with influencing a slew of modern acts including Pearl Jam. Sonic Reducer would later be sampled by Beastie Boys in An Open Letter to NYC.
Take You On by Peaches - from I Feel Cream (2009)
For Any Versus Game
The majority of Canadian electroclasher Peaches' music harmonizes competently with any gaming experience. Aggressive in nature and based in synthpop, Peaches' pulsating track Take You On matches perfectly with a classic kart game or any versus play.
Going Steady by Death From Above 1979 - from You're A Woman I'm A Machine (2004)
For Any Game
Blitzkrieg Bop by The Ramones - from Ramones (1976)
For Sports Games, Racing
A popular sports rallying cry, Blitzkrieg Bop was named "18th Best Guitar Song of All Time" by Rolling Stone and can motivate any gamer to get revved up and ready to go.
Broken Face by Pixies - from Surfer Rosa (1988)
For First Person Shooters, Survival Horror; Especially Zombie Games
Frank Black's screeching vocals and Joey Santiago's frantic guitar workon Broken Face exemplifythe Pixies punk knockout punch. Perfect forpulverising perished people in games like Dead Rising 2 or hunting down hicks in Red Dead Redemption.
A Song to Sing When I'm Lonely by John Frusciante - from Shadows Collide With People (2004)
For MMORPGs; Especially World of Warcraft
The title of this gamer playlist entry says it all.
Hot Night Crash by Sahara Hotnights - from Kiss & Tell (2004)
For Racing Games, Sports
Hot Night Crash is played in Burnout 3: Takedown and Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam. This garage rock refrain by four Swedish ladies is apt for any game in which you try not to crash and burn. The band's latest album, Sparks, is a collection of covers and includes a rendition of Foo Fighters' Big Me.
Pacman by The Hextalls - from Get Smashed (2010)
For Arcade Games; Obviously Especially Pacman
The Hextalls' album Get Smashed is essential for any gamer who adores pop-punk. Many of their songs allude to gaming, yet their effervescent tracks also speak of relationships (I Met Her At The Ropetow), hockey (I Don't Wanna Be A New York Ranger), alcoholism (I'm Not An Alcoholic!) and one appears to be about pleasuring yourself to country music (My Dad vs. Shania Twain.) This Vancouver-based band is a new incarnation of the now defunct outfit Dr. Evil and much like crashing a castle, The Hextalls may soon be a favourite of Canuck gamers everywhere.
Horse Power by The Chemical Brothers - from Further (2010)
ForRacing Games
Realistically any electronic music acts as an adequate addition to the gamer's experience. However some techno songs that feature vocals can distract the player. Horse Power is not only the title of the track but those two words are the only words spoken through out the song, keeping it simple. Further is the first Chemical Brothers album not to feature vocal collaborations. Furthering its pitch perfectness as an addition to a gamer play list.
Phantomby Justice - from Cross (2007)
ForAny Game
Hugely popular French house duo Justice's music has been featured in games such as Grand Theft Auto IV and DJ Hero. Honestly any track from Cross fits well with gaming. My pick, Phantom, has the electronic pair doing their best distorted Daft Punk impersonation.
L.A.'s Brian LeBarton enjoys incorporating odd instruments into his music. Skilled at manipulating the children's toy Speak & Spell, LeBarton was recruited by Beck to be his keyboardist/musical director in 2004. LeBarton also contributed this track for the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World Soundtrack, which is so retro you may be reduced to a pile of tokens.
Without making allusions to Woodstock or that awful (albeit awfully infectious) song from Grease- the words "summer" and "love" are frequently paired together. So what better way to celebrate the sweaty sentiments of summer than to revisit some of the most memorable musical match ups? Some are sugar-coated while others sting slightly sour; here are fifteen great duets for your auditory (and some visual, when I could find the official video) pleasure.
Jenny & Johnny - Scissor Runner - from I'm Having Fun Now (2010)
Jenny Lewis, queen of the '60s melody, has collaborated and shared the microphone with a long list of talent; Elvis Costello, M. Ward, Conor Oberst and Rilo Kiley cohort Blake Sennett. Here, Lewis and her boyfriend Jonathan Rice (who produced Lewis' Acid Tongue) have crafted an upbeat tune that proves she made the right decision when she switched from acting to music. Don't hold your breath for Troop Beverly Hills 2. Lewis will also be collaborating with Killers wailer, and owner of the most repugnant jacket ever, Brandon Flowers on his upcoming album Flamingo. In addition you can listen to Jenny and Johnny's next single Big Wave by clicking on the text within the video and download Scissor Runner on their site.
Deer Tick featuring Liz Isenberg - Friday XIII - from Born on Flag Day (2009)
Deer Tick front man John McCauley has been credited with making alt-country cool once more. It's easy to see why with two great albums under his belt, Born on Flag Day and 07's War Elephant, as well as their most recent release The Black Dirt Sessions. Friday XIII pits McCauley's gruff mutter against Liz Isenberg's soft as spider webs vocals. This ultimately makes for a dynamite duet about, in true country form, a doomed relationship.
Raveonettes - Love in a Trashcan - from Pretty in Black (2005)
Masterfully adept at mashing together pop harmonies with slick guitar work, Danes Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo sound best when singing together. The Raveonettes throwback to seemingly opposing music like that of the Raspberries and the Jesus and Mary Chain; whose musical styles are as opposite as love and trash.
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes - Home - from Up From Below (2009)
Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes are kind of like the Polyphonic Spree- but high on weed instead of Jesus. That's not to say Alex Ebert doesn't have a messiah complex. Ebert conceived the character of Edward Sharpe as a figure who "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind, but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." Ebert and Jade Castrino's song of love is one part jam band opus and two parts tooth-melting sweetness.
PJ Harvey featuring Thom Yorke - This Mess We're In - from Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000)
If I didn't know any better I would think this song was about the tragic events of 9/11. With such ominous lyrics Harvey may have foreseen something the rest of us failed to. Radiohead's Thom Yorke provides a haunting caterwaul that is the perfect addition to Harvey's Mercury Prize winning album.
Gorillaz featuring Bashy & Kano - White Flag - from Plastic Beach (2010)
Grime stars Bashy and Kano were seriously ill with the flu on the day White Flag was recorded. Yet you would never know that fact as the agility of their rhymes and the quality of the track they laid down are impeccable. Kano said of the recording: "We weren't feeling great; the music was out of our comfort zone, it could have been a complete disaster." Rap? Flutes? Strings? Yes. Disaster? Far from it.
Queen featuring David Bowie - Under Pressure - from Hot Space (1982)
Perhaps the most widely known duet on this list, Under Pressure marked Bowie's first released collaboration and soared to #1 on charts around the world. John Deacon's bouncy bass line would later be sullied and sampled by the less talented Vanilla Ice on Ice Ice Baby.
Peaches featuring Iggy Pop - Kick It - from Fatherfucker (2003)
From two of the most avant-garde performers of our time, Kick It is as much fun as any electro-punk aficionado can handle. With a razor sharp hook and lyrics like "Some people don't like my crotch, because its' got fuzzy spots, but if you blame Moses and need burning bush baby, and that is just what I've got," the only thing that would make this better is if Iggy was bleeding all over the place. Or zombies... oh wait... see zombified "Georgia Y Romero" directed video below.
The xx - Islands - from xx (2009)
Brits the xx are the breakout stars of the year. In a short while they went from recording their album in a garage under moonlight to having the intro from that album used as the theme song for NBC's broadcast of the Olympics. Their sleepy, moody debut is chock full of silky duets. My pick, Islands, finds Romy Madley and Jamie Smith trading barbs while navigating through the darkness of a rocky relationship. The accompanying video shows black-clad dancers in purgatory and is trippier than a stilted clown on peyote.
The Breeders - Pinnacle Hollow - from Fate to Fatal EP (2009)
This one takes a while to get rolling, but if you love lo-fi DIY recordings then this Kim and Kelley Deal duet is for you. Pinnacle Hollow is perfect for lazy Sundays or downtrodden times. In addition to self-recording and self-releasing, the Pixies bassist and her twin even screened the LP sleeves themselves. You can read Pitchfork's interview with the Deals where they talk about Fate to Fatal and self-sufficiency here.
No Doubt featuring Sublime - Total Hate '95 - from The Beacon Street Collection (1995)
Before Gwen Stefani was just a girl and Bradley Nowell died of a heroin overdose at 28, No Doubt and Sublime joined forces to bring this pitch perfect ska song to the maladjusted masses.
Joan Jett & Paul Westerberg - Let's Do It - from Tank Girl Soundtrack (1995)
This cover of Cole Porter's cheesy 1928 classic is Jett at her rock grrl best. Interestingly, the track was originally recorded with Bad Religion's Greg Gaffin vocalizing the male half of this duet. Atlantic Records objected to Gaffin's work on the track and recorded Westerberg in his place. The original version can be found on the 2000 compilation Laguna Tunes, released on Jett's own Blackheart Records. The Gaffin/Jett version is strong, but I (and the Heathers at Westerberg High) prefer this take.
The Kills - Love is a Deserter - from No Wow (2005)
Allison "VV" Mosshart's and Jamie "Hotel" Hince's vocals separately are surreal in their own right. The combination of their voices comes off as grating and unsettling- in the best possible way. Love is a Deserter combines aspects of blues and punk, which is the Kills at their best. The morphology in the video fits the song perfectly. An odd video from a superbly odd band.
M.I.A. featuring Timbaland - Come Around - from Kala (2007)
Many critics have said that Timbaland's guest spot on Come Around is weaker than Lindsay Lohan's will power. I disagree and think Come Around is the best track on Kala. Sorry Paper Planes lovers (which I do love but mostly for the Clash sample.) As the story goes, Timbaland had planned to produce a large portion of Kala; however M.I.A. couldn't obtain a US visa due to her family's alleged ties to the Tamil Tigers. So Come Around remains Timbaland's sole contribution. Aside from the controversy that seems to always follow this Sri Lankan siren, the fact is M.I.A. is an innovative and original artist as Come Around and her latest single XXXO demonstrate.
Snow Patrol featuring Martha Wainwright - Set Fire to the Third Bar - from Eyes Open (2006)
Angelic and unmitigated, Set Fire to the Third Bar is the stuff great duets are made of. Written with Martha Wainwright in mind, Gary Lightbody claims he wrote the song in twenty minutes, the fastest he's ever written a song. The title comes from childhood memories of his aunt's electric heater. "If we were good and it was very cold, she'd let us put all three bars on," Lightbody said. He went on to say that the heater represents "a beacon of warmth within a song about distance." I feel all warm and happy inside already.
