3.31.2011

My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 33

33. "Gimme Danger" by Monster Magnet (Iggy and the Stooges cover)

I love the original song, and credit is obviously due Iggy and crew for the song itself. The reason a cover song made my list is that, besides it being an excellent and faithful version that adds a bit of punch to the original, Monster Magnet is now one of my favorite bands... and I wasn't a very big fan of them until I listened to this. Up until I listened to a compilation album called The Hard & The Heavy, all I'd heard was "Space Lord," "Look to Your Orb for the Warning" (which I dug, but an isolated good song doesn't make a great band), and "Heads Explode." The former and latter of these songs, which also had accompanying videos that got some MTV airtime, portrayed the band as everything I hated about rock music at the very end of the '90's: arrogant and stupid. I didn't realize that was part of the joke until much later. Listening to this cover, I thought, "Hey, these guys might not be so bad," and later on that year I heard "Silver Future" which sealed their fate as a band I'd have to check out. I now think they are one of the last few remaining rock bands that know what it means to just be a rock band, without any of the BS that's become associated with that title. I don't know that much about their personal lives or their personalities off-stage, they don't seem too concerned with image, unless they're purposefully trying to parody the image of rock bands, they don't do appearances as themselves on reality shows or guest-host MTV programs... they just make rock music and then they go out and perform that for their fans.

3 comments:

  1. 2 reasons I love this post:

    1.) It brought back memories of seeing them open for Manson in 1999.

    2.) I was introduced to this song via Ewan McGregor singing it in Velvet Goldmine ,then heard this version on a certain cover box set someone (you) made for me. So you and Obi Wan Kenobi finally got me into Iggy and the Stooges. That film haunts our lives G Skillet!

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  2. I know! I just recently bought it. First time I've ever actually owned it, mostly because I've been waiting for a special edition to come out. But I can be bullheaded no longer, I'll have to take my stripped down to the bare essentials version just cuz I NEED to watch it again (plus I've got a whole bunch of friends that need to be introduced to its awesomeness). But I still want a 2-disc uber-edition to be released! I mean, every other movie with a cult following has gotten a cool edition either on DVD or Bl-Ray, yet still no love Velvet Goldmine.

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  3. I would just love a Todd Haynes commentary!!! We should just drive to his house, give him a bottle of wine and beg him to just let us record one on the spot. He'd probably be pretty cool about it!

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