Alternative Title: Stay Woke.
There are a few covers this week, and another I discovered as a result of a cover. So yeah, disCovery, get it? If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, it will come as no surprise a ska cover is included this week. Sure, ska gets the blanket “everything is just a cover” complaint, but this one is just great.
Skatune Network “Redbone”
Covering: Childish Gambino
I hadn’t heard much Childish Gambino after that first album. I know Adam has long been a proponent of his work in all different media realms. I didn’t follow closely, but definitely recall the critical praise and accolades This is America received.
Skatune Network / JER do this song all the justice it deserves, and more. The skill at which the arrangement and instrumentation is executed is amazing. The Ska Guy photoshopped into the This is America album art is a nice touch too.
The Lillingtons “72 Hours”
Covering: Enemy You
This song comes from the recent album Can Anybody Hear Me? (A Tribute To Enemy You). It is, as the name implies, a tribute to the band Enemy You. The bands play with a similar melodic punk energy and the lead singers actually started as pen pals with each other.
Tragically, David Jones, the lead singer of Enemy You took his own life in 2015. The album serves as both a tribute to the fallen songwriter, but also as a vehicle to raise money for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
I was introduced to the Lillingtons by my friend, Philip. He is the reason for these blogs — the “friday and whatnot” used to be his signature fb posts on Friday mornings before work. It took great courage, but Philip was vocal about his past suicide attempts and mental health struggles. I wish he were here today to rock out to these new Wyo Pop-punk songs and drop some of that unique knowledge about the band, genre, or anything else related.
Jawbreaker “Accident Prone”
Covering: No one
Why: The Ataris covered Jawbreaker’s “Boxcar”. I assumed that is what Jawbreaker sounds like. It isn’t.
Well, don’t expect a stripped down simple punk song. Apparently the second album, Dear You, from Jawbreaker was not well received by fans. Presumably they wanted more of that same “Boxcar” energy. I think the lyricism and song writing were much improved, but what do I know?
In looking back, I’m certainly a bigger fan of the bands Kris Roe named dropped on those songs vs the Ataris themselves. Jawbreaker, Built to Spill, The Descendents, etc.
