Since cover songs have been discussed lately, I thought I'd do covers for this week's Friday's Five Musical Obscurities. Couldn't fit all the ones I wanted to spotlight, so I may have to do another set next week, and I'll save the best of the bunch for then.

I also got sick of listing past Friday's Fives at the end of each list, so I'll just post each as a related/linked tread to the previous. The prior list is at the bottom of the Russian Edition.https://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=19864392

1. The Cardigans: Iron Man (Black Sabbath)
There are a lot of metalheads on CB. And a lot of threads about superhero movies. Just for them, here's an unforgettable trip hop Black Sabbath cover. The Cardigans may seem like an unlikely band to have metal influences. Their 1996 song "Lovefool" was even more inescapable in Europe than it was in the States, where it was best known from Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet soundtrack. "My Favourite Game" also got some play on alternative radio (and on Gran Turismo 2), but this Swedish band is so much more, and when it comes to covers, "Iron Man" isn't the only Black Sabbath song they've done; they've also covered Thin Lizzy's "The Boys Are Back in Town."


2. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs: Different Drum (Linda Ronstadt and the Stone Poneys)
Hard to go against Ronstadt, but wow Susanna Hoffs. The former Bangle has teamed up with power popster Matthew Sweet for a series of "Under the Covers" albums that include gems like the Mamas & the Papas' "Monday Monday," Echo and the Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon," Kirsty McColl's "They Don't Know," Roxy Music's "More Than This," and The Who's The Kids Are Alright." And of course Susanna's Bangles put out a classic cover of "Hazy Shade of Winter."


3. Vince Clarke & Ane Brun: Fly On the Windscreen (Depeche Mode)
Vince Clarke did this cover for a book trailer. Publishing a novel would be really cool. Then If my publisher told me Vince Clarke was recording a song for it? There are no words for what I would feel. He enlisted Ane Brun on vocals, and she's well-known for putting her unique voice to cover songs, including Alphaville's "Big in Japan" (a must listen!), "Unchained Melody," Bjork's "Joga," Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors," and "Always on My Mind."


4. Oysterband: Love Vigilantes (New Order)
Oysterband plants this song's roots in English folk, where the lyrics fit naturally. They've also covered Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" with June Tabor. "Love Vigilantes" has been covered by many, including Poi Dog Pondering, Iron and Wine, Duncan Sheik, and Voxtrot, but I have to say this is one case where none can approach the original.


5. Kings of Convenience: Manhattan Skyline (a-ha)
Kings of Convenience put out gorgeous mellow guitar pop (and an awesome video that channels Napoleon Dynamite). Here they cover what may be my favorite a-ha song, providing the melancholy after their fellow Norwegians' storm.