Tuesday, September 05, 2023

Annals of the Normally Occurring

From 2023, and their drolly titled EP Decriminalized, please enjoy Jay Allen and the Archcriminals and their kick-ass garage punk remake of Sir Tom Jones' classic "It's Not Unusual."

These guys are highly regarded in their home base of Boston, where they're considered, rightly, to be on a stylistic continuum between the Nerves and the Replacements, and on the basis of the above I can see why; Allen has an endearingly snot-nosed wiseguy voice and the band as a whole takes no prisoners. I'm not 100-percent convinced by their adaptation of this particular song, which takes a smidge more liberties with the original chord changes and melody than I would have done personally but, as they used to say in Philadelphia, the overall results have a good beat and you can dance to it, so let's not carp about minor details.

In any case, you can -- and should -- download or stream the EP in question over at the Bandcamp site of their label Rum Bar Records HERE.

Coming tomorrow: One of the coolest Beach Boys covers ever heard by sentient mammalian ears.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Makes you appreciate that Welsh coal miners son.even more - regardless of your take,next to Paul Rodgers he vies for strongest singer ever
rob

Anonymous said...

Rob:

I've always liked Tom Jones. Used to go see him with my mom and he never disappointed. Anyone that considers him a joke obviously has hardened their heart against him. But they're ignorant. The albums he's been doing in the last decade or so are some very fine works, beginning with "Praise and Blame."

I don't think Paul Rodgers holds a candle to Tom Jones in range, texture, emotiveness, soul or power. I bet Tom's a lot better than Paul at keeping Wendell in the groove too. Check this pair of rockers out for proof:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIO8z4yOA8w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX4nIP8zWOk

Oh my! Right? You know that guy can still get it up.

Steve:

Regarding tomorrow's Beach Boys cover, I'm betting on what you'll pick. I know what I wish you would pick, but I'm picking three most likely from your perspective. One to place, one to show and another to win. I'll let you know tomorrow if I was even in the ballpark.

"It's Not Unusual" has been covered a gazillion times but I don't think any of the covers have topped Tom's. I kinda like this one though (enormo-link below):



https://www.google.com/search?q=most+unusual+cover+of+tom+jones+its+not+unusual&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS1037US1037&oq=most+unusual+cover+of+tom+jones+its+not+unusual&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQABiiBDIHCAIQABiiBNIBCTI0OTEwajFqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:2f16cc0a,vid:xgteRwUL

VR

Anonymous said...

I forgot this Tom Jones link. If you're not hung up about him, give it a listen -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSKfG9DmOes

VR - homemade chili size tonight sans buns. with homemade cornbread, three cheese quesadillas and tater tots. and modestly electric homemade sangria.

Anonymous said...

alternate link for It's Not Unusual cover

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgteRwULKIc

VR