COVER UP: In the interests of keeping this blog a completely random record of my thoughts and obsessions… it’s been a while since I wrote about music. So here I’m going to list my nominations for covers that equal or surpass the original. (And yes, I realize that “cover” is a category much more emphasized in the rock/pop world than in other styles, where it’s more natural for several singers to record the same song.) Because hey, it’s my blog….

Equal: The Avengers, “Paint It Black.” Listening to this right now, which is what made me think of making a list. This just kicks. Ferocious, less angst but more anger than the Stones’ version. I’ll always love the original, but sometimes you’ve gotta hear Penelope.

Siouxsie and the Banshees, “The Passenger.” Antisocial fun-fun-fun.

Honorable Mention: Hole, “Credit in the Straight World.” OK, not quite as good as the Young Marble Giants’ abstracted original, but fiercer and worth a listen.

Surpass: The Raincoats, “Lola.” That dark brown, shattered voice (Ana da Silva?) adds everything this gender-bending weird-osity was missing.

I Don’t Know and I Don’t Care: Cat Power, “Bathysphere.” Have never heard the original, but can’t imagine anyone but Chan Marshall singing this dissociated, loss-heavy song. Also, “Still in Love with You” and “Moonshiner.”

Nirvana, “The Man Who Sold the World.” Grimth unplugged.

PJ Harvey, “Is That All There Is?” Not sure if this really counts as a “cover,” as it’s from a Lieber & Stoller song rather than a pop/rock song, but it’s terrific.

Rolling Stones, “I Don’t Know Why I Love You.” Best. Stones. Ever. Even better than “Under My Thumb.”