I’ve been sampling some cover songs lately, but it’s really annoying me that almost every one I can find, even if it isn’t acoustic, is veryyyyyy slooooow compared to the original. Anyone know of any cover songs that don’t make me want to fall asleep?
I got just the thing for you…Look up Luther Wright and The Wrongs (IIRC bestbuy.com lets you sample all the songs). They covered the entire album of The Wall (with Roger Waters’ blessing). Ready for the twist…It’s all done in Bluegrass/rockabilly. I listened to it many a time in college and I’m pretty sure I still have the entire album on my other computer.
Go on now, listen to it.
Okay, it’s not at BB anymore, but you can find two of the songs on myspace.
Alien ant farms cover of Smooth Criminal is slightly sped up over the original.
Here’s a short sample of The Wall Part I
Seriously though, the album is amazing.
Oooh, and here’s some more
Comfortably Numb is quite a bit faster then the original.
A Canadaian band called Great Big Sea did a really fast remake of REM’s It’s the End of the World as We Know It (and I Feel Fine).
I prefer the remake, but I love Great Big Sea.
Nazareth’s cover of Roy Orbison’s “Love Hurts” is pretty much the same tempo as the original.
Ace Frehley’s cover of ELO’s “Do Ya” (which was, itself, a cover of The Move’s version, though Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan of ELO were also in The Move) is no slower than the original, and maybe a bit harder.
Joe Cocker doing “Cry Me a River.”
Try the Dickies.
You could probably fill an auditorium with all the compilations of punk rock cover songs, which are by their very nature pretty much just sped up versions of the originals.
I like “I Never Promised you a Rose Garden” by the Suicide Machines, “Go Your Own Way” by NOFX, and “The Boots are made for Walkin’” by Operation Ivy.
‘Weird Al’ Yankovic’s parodies are generally a bit faster than the originals, if that counts.
Hayseed Dixie does a speeded-up version of War Pigs.
Shonen Knife’s version of The Carpenters’ On Top of the World.
Madonna’s take on American Pie?
Gnarls Barkley on the Violent Femmes’ “Gone Daddy Gone”
Scissor Sisters, doing Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb”
Disturbed on Tears for Fears’ “Shout” and Genesis’ “Land of Confusion”
Molly Hatchett’s version of the Allman Bros’ “Dreams I’ll Never See”.
Seether’s version of “Careless Whisper” (Wham!) isn’t slower. It’s not a lot faster, but it’s not slower. Likewise, Deepfield’s version of “Don’t Let Go(Love)” (En Vogue) isn’t slowed down either.
Everything by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (an all-star punk band that exclusively does covers) fits the OP’s requirements. Here’s one example.
I was pleasantly surprised when I got TROUBLE WALKIN’ and saw that on the track listing. Good cover, IMO.
The Ataris did a pretty kickin’ cover of Don Henley’s The Boys of Summer