With Just A Hint Of Mayhem

Music reviews, gig reviews, fun trivia and extra added random stuff!

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 13 March 3, 2025

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 10:15 pm
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Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 13, featuring the iconic reggae band the Paragons with Roslyn Sweat and their take on the Beatles (Paul McCartney) song “Blackbird”. Their version is titled “Blackbird Singing” and I think it came out in 1974 on the Treasure Isle label. The band formed in Jamaica the 1960s. Many of you might not realise, but Blondie’s huge 1980 hit “The Tide Is High” was originally by the Paragons. Atomic Kitten also took the song into the charts in 2002. My favourite Paragons track is probably “Wear You To The Ball”. John Holt, who went on to massive solo success in the 70s was once the band’s lead vocalist. He also wrote “The Tide Is High”. Reggaefied covers of classic songs are often good, but I believe that this cover of “Blackbird” is stunning. What do you think?

Constant readers know that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Finally and at last there is a playlist that collects all the Under The Covers With Mayhem tracks together. Currently fifteen songs and 58 and a half minutes of music. Check it out below.

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.

Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 12 January 27, 2025

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 10:13 pm
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Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 12, featuring the wonderfully named Dutch Criminal Record an indie surf band from Chichester in the UK with their delightful take on Chappell Roan’s mega hit from 2024 “Good Luck, Babe”. They give this perfect pop song a slight rock tinge and it works very well! I am off to listen to their debut album from last year now. It is called ‘Novium’ which is apparently the Latin translation of the name of their home town Chichester.

Constant readers know that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Finally and at last there is a playlist that collects all the Under The Covers With Mayhem tracks together. Currently fourteen songs and 56 minutes of music. Check it out below.

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog. You can also follow us on Instagram, Bluesky, and Linkedin.

Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch via EMail.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 11 October 22, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 3:53 pm
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Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 11, featuring Japanese band Salon Music and their cover of the Buzzcocks classic from 1978, “Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)” is what some might describe as salon music. But don’t let that put you off, it is a chilled, strange, wondrous, and contradistinctive version of the song. Salon Music are a new wave duo consisting of Hitomi Takenaka and Zin Yoshida. They were active from 1983 to 2011 and they released twelve studio albums during that time. This cover can be found on their ‘Tiger Moth’ EP from 1996.

Constant readers know that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Finally and at last there is a playlist that collects all the Under The Covers With Mayhem tracks together. Currently thirteen songs and 53 minutes of music. Check it out below.

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 10 October 9, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 8:44 pm
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Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 10, featuring Sonic Youth. Thurston Moore’s gang gives an extremely dark take on the classic groupie song “Superstar,” written by Bonnie Bramlett and Leon Russell and made famous as a huge hit by the Carpenters. The Carpenters version reached number two on the US Billboard Chart, number three in Canada, and a lowly 18 in the UK in 1971. Sonic Youth recorded it for a compilation of Carpenters covers, ‘If I Were A Carpenter’, released in 1994. The Sonic Youth version made it to number 26 on the US alternative chart and to number 45 in the UK top 50 in 1994 when released as a single.

Constant readers know that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Finally and at last there is a playlist that collects all the Under The Covers With Mayhem tracks together. Currently twelve songs and nearly 50 minutes of music. Check it out below.

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 9 October 7, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 9:38 pm
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Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 9. This is a metal take on the Backstreet Boys huge hit “Everybody (Backstreets Back)” by sublime Finnish metal band Blind Channel, they have slightly edited the title to “Everybody (Bloodbros Back)”. This is a fabulous and banging take on what I think I have to admit was already a great pop song. Now it has been transformed into an exceptional metal track. I dare you to try not to move when you listen to this, it is hugely infectious!

The band said this about the single “Over 10 years ago we were starting our career as a group of teenagers playing energetic metal while being dressed like 2010’s Justin Biebers. People started calling us a ‘boyband trying to play metal’. We chose to embrace what was originally meant as an insult. Now it’s time to turn this absolute boyband classic from our live shows to a full-on studio version with low-tuned guitars and modern nu-metal vibes. Instead of ‘original and sexual’ we are ’emotional and miserable“.

Constant readers know that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Oh, and there will, of course, be an Under The Covers With Mayhem Playlist soon! Honestly 😉

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 8 September 29, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 9:50 am
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It is time for Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 8. This is a cover of one of my favourite songs of all time, Peter Gabriel’s “Solsbury Hill” by Scala and the Kolacny Brothers from their new album ‘Besides’. The song remains inspirational even in this angelic choral style take on it.

Constant readers know that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Oh, and there will, of course, be an Under The Covers With Mayhem Playlist soon! Honestly 😉

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 7 September 23, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 10:06 pm
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It is time for Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 7. This is a cover of the Bob Dylan classic “Blowin’ In The Wind”, by Neil Young. In many ways, it stays similar to the original but has a seriously dark undercurrent and some pretty heavy guitar lines. Young’s Crazy Horse hit the heights on this version which can be found on the magnificent live album, ‘Weld’ from 1991.

I have said before that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Oh, and there will, of course, be an Under The Covers With Mayhem Playlist soon!

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 6 August 21, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 9:54 pm
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Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 6, OK I know it is only a day since the last one, but this was too good to ignore in my opinion! It is a cover of “Guns Of Brixton”, originally by one of my favourite bands, the Clash. This one is by Les Touffes Krétiennes who describe themselves as a crazy punk brass band. While Francoise Hardy sadly passed away recently, Les Touffes Krétiennes carry the torch to show that France still has some rather excellent music!

I have said before that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Oh, and there will, of course, be an Under The Covers With Mayhem Playlist soon!

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 5 August 20, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 10:25 am
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Here comes Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 5, this one features post-punk heroes the Raincoats with their cover of the Kinks’ “Lola”. This was released as a part of their self-titled debut album in 1979. The cover was never released as a single, but the album made it to number 5 on the indie album chart. I love that it isn’t a simple copy and that the all-female band changed the gender of the song’s protagonist.

I have said before that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs that you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Oh, and there will, of course, be an Under The Covers With Mayhem Playlist soon!

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.

 

Under The Covers With Mayhem – Chapter 4 April 10, 2024

Filed under: Under The Covers With Mayhem — justwilliam1959 @ 10:50 pm
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Here is Under The Covers With Mayhem Chapter 4, this one features iconic band Sparks with their cover of the Beatles’ “I Want To Hold Your Hand”. This was originally released as a single in 1976 and sadly failed to chart. It got another lease of life as a bonus track on the reissue of the ‘Indiscreet’ album in 1994. The lush orchestration and slowed pace make it more of a soul ballad than the Moptops original from 1964.

I have said previously that my ideal cover version has a different slant from the original rather than just a facsimile-style cover. So the generic boy bands are probably never likely to feature, but you never know, right? Feel free to recommend any songs you think should be included in Under The Covers With Mayhem. I want to stay clear of the mainstream ideally, but off-the-wall covers by major artists might work too 🙂 Oh, and there will, of course, be an Under The Covers With Mayhem Playlist soon!

If you have enjoyed this article, feel free to follow the blog, or follow us on; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, EMail. Are you interested in writing and reviewing for With Just A Hint Of Mayhem? If so then please get in touch.