The Old Apartment (Barenaked Ladies)

Stunt by the Barenaked Ladies was the first album I ever owned. I loved the song "One Week" when I heard it on the radio, so I asked for the album for my 13th birthday. I got it. I loved it. I bought the rest of BNL's albums.

"The Old Apartment" became and remains my favorite song from the band. For more information regarding my nostalgia for my old apartment (which I am moving out of on Tuesday), see the forthcoming Bad Mutha Booboisie film Our Final Days in the Dupe when it becomes available. For now, here's my countrified BNL.

Download free mp3.

Dirrty (Christina Aguilera)

This song is not particularly meaningful to me. I heard it recently and thought it would be a fun song to cover since it is composed of several non-country genres.

I was right. It was a blast.

Here's a sillyish countrry verrsion of Dirrty.

Download mp3.

Everlong (Foo Fighters) with Ronald Hubble

I learned the name of the Foo Fighters when I saw the "Learn to Fly" video featuring Tenacious D. Then I found out that it was the same band that did "My Hero" and "Big Me", which both happen to be incredible songs (and the "Big Me" video might be my all-time favorite music video). I quickly became a huge fan - I've bought all of their albums, most of them on their release date after There is Nothing Left to Lose.

I always though that "Everlong" would be an awesome duet, so I enlisted Ronald Hubble of the Hubble Family Singers to sing with me on my country version of Foo Fighters' "Everlong."

mp3 download.

Hoosier Hijack - Whenever, Wherever (Shakira)

I'm sure that Shakira dancing around in this video is what caught my attention in the first place. However, the unique and interesting music is what kept me listening. And buying all of her records. And really becoming a fan of her music. There's a lot more to Shakira than a pretty face.

Here's what it sounds like when I try to play Shakira's "Whenever, Wherever" as a latin-country jam.

mp3 download.

Hoosier Hijack - Wishlist (Pearl Jam)

Once I learned how to play chords on my guitar, I only played chords for a while. One day Mr. Gator was playing "Wishlist" by Pearl Jam on his bass and decided to look up guitar tabs. He quickly concluded that he could handle the chords but not the shredding. In a furious whim, I returned to single-string attacks for a roommates-only cover rendition of the classic Pearl Jam spiritual "Wishlist."

Here's my slowed-down countrified version of Pearl Jam's "Wishlist."

Download mp3.

Hoosier Hijack - Bled For Days (Static-X)

I first heard of Static-X (Wikipedia) (last.fm) when I saw the Push It (Wikipedia) (last.fm) video on The Rock Show with Scott Ian (Wikipedia) (last.fm) on VH1 (Wikipedia). I bought the cd the next day, and Static-X quickly became one of my favorite bands. Bled for Days (Wikipedia) (last.fm) is the track I chose to cover for Stealin' Indiana for two simple reasons: it is a personal favorite, and I had a fun idea for how to countrify the guitar riff. See what you think of Hoosier Hijack's "Bled for Days" (last.fm).

Download mp3.

Hoosier Hijack - An Important Rap Song (Crack Stuntman)

I know this song because I watch love Homestar Runner (website) (Wikipedia) (HRWiki) and watch at least one episode (usually a new one) each week. The Brothers Chaps (Wikipedia) (HRWiki) (last.fm), who write, direct, animate, and act in the series also do the music, with occasional help from artists like They Might Be Giants (Wikipedia) (HRWiki) (last.fm), Y O U (Wikipedia) (HRWiki) (last.fm), Butch Walker (Wikipedia) (HRWiki) (last.fm), and DaVinci's Notebook (Wikipedia) (HRWiki) (last.fm).

This song comes from a cartoon by the same name, An Important Rap Song. I think the song is hilarious and I had a fun time covering it. I stole the chord progression for the country version from Trace Adkins (Wikipedia) (last.fm).

The character rapping in the original version of the song (HRWiki) (last.fm) is Crack Stuntman (HRWiki) (last.fm), the voice of Gunhaver (HRWiki) (last.fm) on the Cheat Commandos (HRWiki) (last.fm).

Here is my country/Americana version of An Important Rap Song.

Download mp3.