🎧 The Art of the Cover: What Makes a Great One?
🎤 Covers That Bend the Brain (and Genre)
In this episode, Mark dives deep into the question: What makes a good cover song? It’s a blend of familiarity, uniqueness, and that crucial element—artistic reinterpretation. As he recalls his own band’s lounge medley of Ice Ice Baby, Baby Got Back, and Fight For Your Right to Party, it’s clear: twist the familiar, and you’ll get the crowd hooked.
Here’s Mark’s criteria for a standout cover:
- ✅ Well-known source material: If your audience can’t recognize the song, the magic’s gone.
- 🎨 Unique spin: Add your band’s flavor—don’t be a jukebox.
- ⚖️ Balance popularity and originality: Familiarity + surprise = impact.
From Sympathy for the Devil to Superstitious, Mark’s bands have tried it all—some sticking close to the original, others pushing the boundaries. And let’s not forget the infamous misfires (Scissor Sisters and Comfortably Numb, anyone?).
🎶 The Cover Hall of Fame
Mark also celebrates some iconic reimaginings that arguably outshine their originals:
- 🎸 Jimi Hendrix – All Along the Watchtower (original: Bob Dylan)
- 😢 Johnny Cash – Hurt (original: Nine Inch Nails)
- 🙏 Jeff Buckley – Hallelujah (original: Leonard Cohen)
- 👑 Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares 2 U (original: Prince)
- 🎤 Nirvana – The Man Who Sold the World (original: David Bowie)
These aren’t just covers—they’re cultural resets.
And if you’re curious to do a deep dive on who sampled who or which songs are secret covers, check out WhoSampled.com.
🔥 New Tracks That Don’t Suck – July 6, 2025
🎸 Big Familiar – Stella and the Very Messed
Thick guitars, dynamic drops, and expertly-processed vocals. Reminiscent of Akron’s own Axis. A must-listen if you love tension and texture in your indie rock.
🤘 Blood God – Black Orchid Empire
Returning from Season 1, this trio brings progressive, melodic metal with a punch. Think Sleep Token without the pop glaze. It’s technical, tight, and thunderous.
🎵 What You Want is Gone – We Are Scientists
Indie pop-rock with surprising string quartet-style structure. Non-root-note bass lines and floating guitar melodies make this track hypnotic and layered.
🌀 This Ether – Live Animals
Evolved Grunge is born. Steeped in ’90s rock grit, this track is packed with syncopation, mirrored intro/outro, and that nostalgic alternative bite.
🎻 Still Fighting It – Ben Folds with the National Symphony Orchestra
Yes, it’s an older song—but this new orchestral release hits different. A poignant, beautifully layered take that celebrates Ben’s collaboration with the NSO and his stand for artistic integrity.
🎧 Wrap Up
Visit songsthatdontsuck.net for playlists, merch, concert photos, the Live Music Archive, and more. Sign up for the newsletter, join the monthly poll, and grab discounts on top-tier earplugs 🎧.
💬 Got a favorite cover? A hated one? Or a song you were shocked to find was a cover? Drop your thoughts and let’s build a playlist of covers that don’t suck.
Until next week—support these artists, play it loud, and keep listening to songs that don’t suck. 🎶
