Cover Thursday: Baby, You Don't Know What It's Like

Ray LaMontagne is playing Merriweather Post Pavilion tonight, and I'm currently kicking myself for not getting tickets.  I've already seen him a handful of times and he and his band do an amazing job.  I also think Ray's voice is as close and we can get to Otis Redding in today's music.  Oh well.  As they say times are tough, and I'll have to catch Ray LaMontagne on his next trip through.

Just in case you're feeling the same way I am about missing the show, here's something to hold you over.  A few years back Ray LaMontagne and Damien Rice sang a cover of the Bee Gees "To Love Somebody."  It's a pretty stellar version!  Enjoy it!



Cover Thursdays- Her Beauty And The Moonlight Overthrew You

Leonard Cohen is one of the most covered artists in all of music.  According to leonardcohenfiles.com there have been over 2000 Leonard Cohen covers (that doesn't count amateur youtube posts).  I'd imagine he knows a thing or two about writing music.  Probably the song most often covered from Cohen's library, is "Hallelujah".  In my opinion, and I likely have a bit of company, it's one of the most beautiful songs ever written. 

So many artists have covered "Hallelujah" that picking one version doesn't seem right.  That being said, one artist's performance of the song is far and away the best.  It's so good, many people think he actually wrote the song.  Here's Jeff Buckley, with a blow you away type of performance, of Leonard Cohen's masterpiece "Hallelujah."

Told you picking just one can't do justice to the song.  Here's Damien Rice's version, performed to pay tribute to Cohen at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.



Ireland Week- Damien Rice/Lisa Hannigan: I Remember December

Will Damien Rice please release a new album soon???  It's been nearly 5 years since his last release, entitled 9.  His two studio releases, O and the previously mentioned 9 are absolutely amazing.  Most people would recognize Damien Rice from his mellower songs like "Blower's Daugter" and "Cannonball", which are fantastic in their own right.  However, if you've seen Damien Rice live, you know there is a completely seperate element to his music.  The man can rock, and rock hard.  After the tremendously successful release of O, it was reported the Damien Rice was actually displeased with the album because he felt it was too one sided.

This song is a great depiction of both sides of Damien Rice's music.  I love every second of it.  From the beautiful simplicity of Lisa Hannigan's voice in the whimsical first half, to the sudden explosion of sharp-tongued lyrics in the second, to the layers of loops and distortion to end it.  Here's Damien Rice featuring Lisa Hannigan performing "I Remember".

News from Damien Rice has been sparse for the better part of four years.  There have been recording sessions in Iceland, and a few releases of stray tracks on benefit albums.  I for one will anxiously be awaiting a new album.  To keep up with anything that may come our way from Damien Rice visit his website.

I couldn't possibly end this post without further extending my love of Lisa Hannigan.  While browsing my way through Lisa Hannigan videos last night, I determined she's the girl of my dreams.  Hope you're ok with that Lisa!

Here's a little bonus track... Lisa Hannigan performing the not yet released, "Passenger".