Like a Version Special

I thought I would do something a little different this week. I quite often listen to Triple J of a mornings on the way to work and I really love Friday Morning's with Matt and Alex when they do Like a Version. Like a Version for those of you who don't know is where guest acts come in and cover a song, any song, live in the studio. It has been running for over 10 years now. Guests also do an acoustic version of one of their own songs. This has been one of my favourite segments of any radio show ever for years. 

In the past the segment has featured musicians such as: Tim Minchin, Angus & Julia Stone, Chance Waters, Sticky Fingers, Hermitude, Missy Higgins, Hilltop Hoods, John Butler, The Living End, You Am I and many more. 

Covering bands like: Weezer, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Peter Gabriel, Dr Dre, Blink 182, Kylie Minogue, Frank Ocean, Pharrell, Tina Turner, Gotye, Kanye West, Beastie Boys, Talking Heads, Willie Nelso and many more. 

This year the Like a Version catalogue has consisted of:

• Milky Chance cover Taylor Swift- 'Shake It Off'
• DZ Deathrays cover Josh Abrahm- 'Totally Addicted to Bass'
• Catfish & Bottlemen cover The Killers- 'Read My Mind'
• Mansionair cover Future Islands- 'Seasons (Waiting on you)'
• Royal Blood cover Cold War Kids- 'Hang Me Out To Dry'
• Little May cover Icehouse- Great Southern Land
• Hiatus Kaiyote cover Gorillaz- 'Dare'
• The Bennies cover of TISM- 'Ol' Man River'
• Sticky Fingers cover DMA- 'Delete'
• I Know Leopard cover TLC- 'Waterfalls'
• Gang of Youths cover LCD Sound System- 'All My Friends'
• #1 Dads cover FKA Twigs- 'Two Weeks'
• Harts cover Daniels Johns- 'Aerial Love'
• One Day cover Scribe- 'Not Many'
• Jesse Davidson cover Childish Gambino- 'Sober'
• Carmada cover Charli XCX- 'Lean On'
• SAFIA cover Alt-J- 'Left Hand Free'
• Asta cover Whitney Housten- 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'
• Tired Lion cover Violent Soho- 'Saramona Said'
• Dorsal Fins cover Kate Cebrano- 'Pash'
• Kilter cover Ngaiire- 'Ice Cream'
• Jebadiah cover Chemical Brothers- 'Go'
• Oscar Key Sung cover Jamie xx- 'Loud Places'

Tomorrow their guests will be Melbourne band Clowns.

 I have picked a few fantastic Like A Version's from the last few years to have a listen to. 

Illy covers Silverchair, Hilltop Hoods, Paul Kelly & Flume

This would have to be my most favourite Like A Version of all time. Illy does the most amazing job of mashing up so many artists in this tribute to Australian Music. Tell me, can you pick out other artists or songs he throws in here? There are quite a few more. 

Glass Animals covers Kanye West 'Love Lockdown'

I am fairly certain I have not actually heard the original song but I am blown away by this cover. Not being a big fan of Kanye I am really impressed by the lyrics of this song.

Kasabian covers Sesame Street/Beach Boys 'Good Vibrations'

Something a little different. This song is so seamlessly melded together you would almost think it was the way it always should have been.

Chet Faker covers Sonia Dada 'Lover'

There is nothing particularly unique about this cover, but it really is so very beautiful. The back up vocals really help Chet carry this to a higher level.

Artic Monkeys cover Tame Impala 'Feels Like We're Only Going Backwards'

So again Alex and the boys haven't done anything particularly outstanding in this version other than break it down a little but I love it. Alex's vocals really seem to be the perfect contrast to the original track. 

Do you have any Like A Version's that stand out for you? 

Seth Sentry- Strange New Past 2015

I am not a huge fan of Hip Hop, I am more at the Heavy Metal smash things end in the spectrum of music, but there is something about Aussie Hip Hop that I just can’t get enough of. Seth Sentry is no exception. I first heard his quick witted, fast paced and cheeky rhymes listening to Triple J. It was Hilltop Hoods and Bliss n’ Esso that really paved the way for Aussie Hip Hop into our everyday music culture. Seth Sentry has quickly risen to the level of these popular groups and rightly so, he is really talented, which he proves by posting videos of his freestyle raps online for fans based off Tweets they sent him or even just what he has done in that day. I caught him the other day on the tail end of Spicks and Specks (Australia’s answer to Never Mind the Buzzcocks) as I was channel surfing and I was impressed.

There is also this Like a Version cover of Frenzal Rhomb’s Punch in my Face, I love it when artist’s come onto this segment and really change up the original track. Seth does an amazing job with this one.

But we are here to talk about his latest album Strange New Past and if you are familiar with Seth then you may realise that there is a big difference with this album and that is he has lost a bit of his cheeky lyrics and replaced them with a more self reflective and nostalgic flavour.

The first track he released was Hell Boy and it is ridiculously catchy. I have only listened to three tracks off the album and it has given me high hopes for the rest, in fact I think I am going to go down town this afternoon and purchase a copy for myself. Let me know if you would like a listen.

What do you think of Aussie Hip Hop? D o you think Seth Sentry deserves to be up there with the likes of Hilltop Hoods and Bliss n’ Esso? 

Muse- Drones 2015

Spotify: Muse- Drones

Website: Muse

Muse have just released their latest album Drones and I love it.

Right off the bat with the first song Dead Inside I knew that I was going to be very happy with the whole album. It has the older Muse vibe, back with loud, hypnotic riffs from Matthew Bellamy’s Kaoss Pad and fantastically harmonic vocals. It reminds me of my favourite Muse album ever, Black Holes and Revelations.

I missed out on Muse last time they were in Australia because I was pregnant and unable to travel to Sydney. I have seen them live three times now and this album has just cemented me in for attending when they inevitably tour this album around the globe. They are without a doubt one of the greatest stage acts out there, they most definitely know how to put on a show. With this album they seemed to have captured some of the energy they emit on stage.

Muse’s lyrics are generally filled with political statements and commentary relative to our world today. They want their audience to be aware of what is going on and they aren’t afraid to use their heavy music and strong vocals to make their point. I have never been big on the lyrics of Muse, their message at times seem to be forcing it just a bit too much for my liking and I think this is the reason I really didn’t enjoy Revolution or HAARP (I mean come on they named their album after one of the worlds biggest conspiracy theory driving government programs).

But that aside I am here for the music, the guitar riffs blasted from the kaoss pad, the build up of the drums and other instruments they throw in. The fast paced song to the slow ones there is no doubt that I love the music that Muse creates and I will until the day I leave this earthly plane.

Are you a fan of Muse? What do you think of this latest addition to their ever growing discography?