The Music Box [Darius Rucker]

This week in a Music Box first, we have an extra special request from one of our favourite Dino Dandies in the whole world, Krystle! Here's exactly what she wrote, word for word:

Hootie from 'Hootie and the Blowfish' is now known by his actual name: Darius Rucker! His first single, "Don't Think I Don't Think About It", made him the first African American to chart a number one on the Hot Country Songs charts since 1983!! PS: Dinosaurs and Dandelions is the best thing on the internet!! I just can't get enough!!

Thanks Krystle, I did wonder what had happened to Hootie and your support means a lot to us! As requested, this is Darius Rucker with his song, Wagon Wheel. Have a nice day!

The Music Box [AlunaGeorge]

Our last duo is from London and consists of Aluna Francis and George Reid. They call themselves AlunaGeorge [See what they did there?], and they just released their first album, Body Music, in the last week! The tune might be called Attracting Flies, but don't worry, it doesn't stink!

The Music Box [The Knife]

Our next duo consists of Swedish siblings, Olof Dreijer and Karin Dreijer Anderson, who perform under the name, The Knife. [If that sounds familiar, it might be because the José González version of their song, Heartbeats has already featured in The Music Box during last months covers theme!] From their fourth album, Shake The Habitual, this is A Tooth For An Eye.

The Music box [The Presets]

For the third edition of our duos theme we have the forth single off the third album of the first Aussie group ever featured in The Music Box. Here now, with the song Fall, are two guys dressed as The Presets falling out of a plane.

The Music Box [Purity Ring]

For duo number two we head to one of my top two favourite countries in North America - Canada! The two members, Megan James and Corin Roddick, first formed Purity Ring in 2010 while on tour as part of another band. In 2012 they signed to a record label and released their debut album, Shrines, which includes the track Belispeak.

The Music Box [MS MR]

If two's company and three's a crowd... is six, two crowds or three companies? I don't know and I don't like crowds, so just to be safe, this month in The Music Box we're all about duos!

Unsurprisingly, our first duo consists of two people - vocalist Lizzy Plapinger and producer Max Hershenow. The pair, from New York, go by the name MS MR and released their debut album, Secondhand Rapture, earlier this year. This is their first single, Hurricane.

The Music box [We Came As Romans]

Well that's it for June folks. Here is We Came As Romans covering One Direction, or whichever Brit boy band this song is by. I'm Glad You Came, my universe will never be the same, see you again next month with a brand new theme.

The Music Box [Marilyn Manson]

For the penultimate edition of our super-special double-hit cover-song extravaganza, we have a double-covered super-hit song special!

Glora Jones originally recorded the track Tainted Love in 1964, but it was Softcell's 1981, downtempo, synthpop cover that made the song famous around the world. Twenty years later, Marilyn Manson recorded this version for the Not Another Teen Movie soundtrack.

The Music Box [José González]

Just about everyone has heard this one [or atleast part of it] thanks to it's inclusion in Sony's 2005 Bravia television advertisement. You couldn't surf the internet or even chat with your grandma in Peru on one of those old things, but thanks to some colourful balls and a catchy cover song, the company probably managed to sell quite a few.

The original version of the song Heartbeats, was released in early 2003 by Swedish duo, The Knife. Later that same year, José González released this cover version on his debut album, Veneer. There is an actual music video for the song but it's pretty lame, so here's the extended cut of the advert instead. So many balls...

The Music Box [Rodrigo Y Gabriela]

For part two of our instrumental sub-theme, we have an acoustic guitar playing pair, originally from Meixco, who made a name for themselves playing in and around Dublin. After building a cult following in Ireland they went on to release their debut album in 2002 and have since had world wide success with their following three studio releases.

Their second album, which came out at the beginning of 2006, was the self-titled Rodrigo Y Gabriela. The duo, who had previously been involved together in a heavy metal band, included two covers on the album, a Metallica cover [you got to have atleast one...] and this version of Led Zepplin's, Stairway To Heaven.



 

The Music Box [Apocalyptica]

Our Music Box cover songs frenzy continues, and this week we're goin instrumental. Todays group was originally formed in Helsinki, by four classically trained cellists, solely as a Metallica tribute group. They have gone on to release seven albums which in recent years have included moslty original content and featured a range of famous guest vocalists.

Off their 1998 album, Inquisition Symphony, this is Apocalyptica, performing Nothing Else Matters, originally from Metallica's eponymous fifth studio album.

The Music Box [Patti Smith]

Last time we heard Nirvana covering a 70's music icon, so to follow that up, today we have a 70's music icon, covering Nirvana.

Known as the "Godmother of Punk", Patti Smith is a singer-songwriter and poet, who greatly influenced the New York punk rock scene with her debut studio album, Horses. In 2007 she released her eleventh studio album, Twelve, a collection of cover songs which included this excellent version of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

The Music Box [Nirvana]

David Bowie's 1970 album, The Man Who Sold The World, was ranked 45th by Nirvana front man, Kurt Cobain, in a list of his 50 favourite albums. In 1993, the band performed their version of the title track on an MTV Unplugged appearance, which was then released as a live album. Sing along if you know this one.

The Music Box [James Blake]

So, it turns out Matthew never got the note I left on his desk asking him to fill in for me last month... Unfortunately, this resulted in no puppy-related music videos being posted in The Music Box, and as the allocated time period has now passed, you're shit out of luck! Thanks for voting though, maybe we'll have another theme poll later in the year!

Now back to this months theme, and to make up for the lack of tunes last month, June will now feature twice the number of videos, for the same low, low price! Todays song, Limit To Your Love, was originally recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter, Feist, and appears on her 2007 album, The Reminder. This however is James Blake, doing it his way.

The Music box [Devo]

I took a few weeks off in May and left Matthew to fill in for me. I trust he supplied you with all the puppy related music videos you could handle and by now you'll be ready for our June theme! This month, The Music Box has got it covered. That's right, we're bringing you all the best cover songs money can buy, and you don't even have to pay us for them!* [*you don't have to... but you can!]

First up, we're heading back to 1977 when American, new wave band, Devo covered The Rolling Stones hit, [I Can't Get No] Satisfaction. Mick Jagger himself has said he liked the bands version, and music reviewer Steve Huey described it as "...a spastic freak-out that's nearly unrecognisable" [That's a good thing, probably].

May 2013: Celebrating New Zealand Music Month

Run by the NZ Music Commission, New Zealand Music Month has been running since 2000. Find out more at nzmusicmonth.co.nz.


Men At Work-Land Down Under by adiis

The Music Box [Shorty Cat]

I have personally just finished counting the votes, and we have a clear winner for the Music Box theme for May poll that we've been running over on our facebook page. With an overwhelming three of the five public votes, the theme for May will be Puppies.

Now though, to finish up this months theme, here is With The Punk, from South Korean all-girl four-piece, Shorty Cat.

 

The Music Box [Primus]

As promised, the Music Box is continuing its cat theme this week and not only is this song about cats, it is sung from the perspective of a cat. And if that's not enough cat relatedness for you, Les Claypool also plays bass like a mountain lion!

As with any good Primus song, this one makes all kinds of no sense. From their 1991 album, Sailing the Seas of Cheese, this is Tommy The Cat.

The Music Box [Stray Cats]

Since Matthew's been good, I let him pick the music this week, and I was so inspired by his choice that for the rest of April[or until I forget] we're going cat crazy in The Music Box and only playing cat related tunes! Me-ow!

As for these Stray Cats, I've never heard of them before, so if you want to know more try Wikipedia or asking your Mom. Here they are with, Stray Cats Strut and yes, that is a young Brian Setzer!

The Music Box [Depeche Mode]

Speaking of Depeche Mode, this is Heaven, the first single off their recently released thirteenth studio album.