Cover me! Smells Like Teen Spirit

I know, I know, it's as generic as you can get as far as Nirvana's catalogue goes. Doesn't change the fact that it ranks in the top five of my list of their songs. "Teen Spirit" is a song that will eternally get me pumped, but for the times when head banging just isn't the thang, how about a ghostly rendition by Tori Amos, from her 1992 EP Crucify. And for those of you who never could grasp what the hell Kobain was ranting about (I'm with ya), The Bad Plus let you fill in the blanks of thier jazz version.

Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit from Crucify EP
The Bad Plus - Smells Like Teen Spirit from These Are The Vistas
Photo by Bob Kurt

no need for words

Don't get me wrong, i love good lyrics as much as the next guy, but to me a song can only be good, but never great, without some serious instrumentation. However, a song can be great without lyrics. which leads me to my point: i have no need for words.

Every monday, i will feature some instrumental, whether it be jazz, electronic, or just good ol' guitar solo driven rock.

This week's selection.

The New Tony Williams Lifetime - Red Alert from Believe It

Written by bassist and keyboard player Tony Newton, "Red Alert" is jazz rock fusion at its finest, with chromatic runs on the keys, a head-spinning guitar solo by the great Allan Holdsworth, and of course the fine drumming of Tony Williams. Aptly titled, the song thematic riff sounds a bit like a siren going off. Every one clear the building, this is not a drill.

Call me JB

Hello internet. I don't expect that a whole lot of people are going to run across my blog for the inaugural post, but for those who have, my name is John and I hope I can introduce one or two folks to some music that I think is worth not missing. I doubt I'll be the first to post any of the bands I plan on putting up here, but hopefully I can steadily put up material someone will appreciate. Enough talky. Here's a couple of songs to give you an idea of the types of music I like.

Gov't Mule - Brand New Angel from High and Mighty
Dead Heart Bloom - New York City Heat from Chelsea Diaries
Frank Zappa - Eat that Question from The Grand Wazoo