The Midnight Lumberjack Recommends: Spring Rock

1) Pearl Jam “Love, Reign O’er Me” from the soundtrack to Reign Over Me - Vedder and the boys doing a spot-on cover of the epic 1973 Who song for the new Sandler/Cheadle movie. If anyone has earned their right to cover the loudest band on earth, it is the new pillars of rock and roll. It also deliciously coincides with the proverbial showers this fourth month brings, in its lyrical play on words. Check out the classic Roger Daltrey howl that Eddie attempts, and somehow nails, in the chorus.

2) Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins “Handle with Care” from Rabbit Fur Coat - For those of you who don’t know, Jenny Lewis was the redheaded child actress most well known for her role in The Wizard, the 1989 movie that debuted Super Mario Bros. 3 to the world. She then left acting and formed the very influential indie-rock band Rilo Kiley. Breaking out on her own, she released an alt-country album in 2006 with two twin sisters from LA, and it shook the scene apart. This track is a cover of the 1988 Traveling Wilburys song. Helping Jenny out are three other giants of the neo-indie movement; Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie and The Postal Service) covering the Roy Orbison part, Connor Oberst (Bright Eyes) and M. Ward filling in on the Tom Petty/Bob Dylan part. It’s like a scenesters dream that everyone can enjoy!

3) My Morning Jacket “It Makes No Difference” from Endless Highway: The Music of The Band - Arguably the best track on this tribute album, Jim James and company bring big bluesy guitars to a soul-gospel anthem. The Band were always the musician’s favorite; lauded by critics and cited by their peers as influential, but save for one or two singles, they were never one of the big sellers of the 60’s and 70’s. They were probably better known for their Martin Scorsese directed final concert, The Last Waltz, than their work before it. But on this album, modern bands are breathing new life, or at least renewed interest, into their catalog. And as seen here, right now no one is doing southern rock better than MMJ.

4) Warren Zevon “Genius” from My Ride’s Here - Much like The Band, Zevon was a musician’s musician. Bob Dylan, Jackson Browne, R.E.M., Bruce Springsteen and many others all count him as both a friend and influence. He tragically died in 2003 from inoperable lung cancer, and ironically, his offbeat sense of humor yet macabre outlook on life led him to give a few of his 15 albums some eerily prophetic names, like Life’ll Kill Ya, I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, and My Ride’s Here. The latter held this gem of a song, which showcased not only his witty lyricism and pop-perfect melodies, but also his years of training under Igor Stravinsky, the master Russian composer of the 20th century. With the string arrangement and his unassuming vocals, lines like “Albert Einstein was a ladies man/While he was working on his universal plan/He was making out like Charlie Sheen/He was a genius” instantly pop out and make you grin in the way he always intended you to. Some artists break down the walls between themselves and the audience with raw emotion, some with volume, some with their good looks, some with catchy harmonies, and some with their sheer musicianship. Warren Zevon always did it with a clever smirk and a quick wit.