I’m posting right after the Eric Garner decision came down. It’s a somber mood here in New York. Music is appropriate for all occasions, but I’ll limit comments on these fine songs tonight. You can listen to the bottom of the playlist here (except Twist and Shout) and vote by commenting below before 11:59pm on Friday.
#1 Hurt (Johnny Cash) vs. #16 You’ll Be a Woman Soon (Urge Overkill). We didn’t include Johnny last time because even Reznor calls this “a Johnny Cash song now.”
#4 Mack the Knife (Bobby Darin) vs. #13 I Fought the Law (Clash). Says it all.
#2 Twist and Shout (Beatles) vs. #15 Blitzkrieg Bop (Yo La Tengo). The Beatles were a great cover band, and this one made is onto their first album.
#8 Slippery People (Staple Singers) vs. #9 Like a Rollin’ Stone (Rolling Stones). Slippery People is a Talking Heads classic, while the Stones have fun with Dylan. Both of them got the name from Muddy Waters.
#7 Walk This Way (Run-DMC) vs. #10 Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers). A nice pair of cross-racial covers.
Living the Dream 
#1 Hurt (Johnny Cash) vs. #16 You’ll Be a Woman Soon (Urge Overkill). 6-7
#4 Mack the Knife (Bobby Darin) vs. #13 I Fought the Law (Clash). 7-7.5
#2 Twist and Shout (Beatles) vs. #15 Blitzkrieg Bop (Yo La Tengo). 8 -3
#8 Slippery People (Staple Singers) vs. #9 Like a Rollin’ Stone (Rolling Stones). 6-7.5
#7 Walk This Way (Run-DMC) vs. #10 Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers). 8-9
Hurt – 7.5
Woman – 7.0
Mack – 7.0
Law – 6.0
Twist – 7.5
Blitzkrieg – 6.0
Slippery – 6.5
Rolling Stone – 7.5
Walk This Way – 5.5
Higher Ground – 4.5
Hurt–7.5
YBAWS–4
Mack Knife–7.5
I Fought the Law–8
Twist/Shout–6.5
Blitz Bop–3
Slippery People–4
Like a Rolling Stone–7
Walk This Way–4
Higher Ground–7
Hurt – 10 (Check my stats. I don’t drop Hamiltons like Aaron Burr. Cash is god. #multiplepunz)
Woman – 8 (Fuck. This is a tough matchup. This gets some real mileage out of its association with a great scene in Pulp…)
Mack – 8 (The only real point-loss on this one is that this style has fallen somewhat out of fashion, but a stellar song. Pipes on Darrin… though not sure how much of “his” stamp he puts on this version, but I’m not super versed in the versions of this song)
Law – 9 (Jesus. Tough again. Exciting songs will (almost) always squeeze some extra enjoyment out…)
Twist – 7 (Save Ferris)
Blitzkrieg – 6 (Great cover. VERY fun… but not a winner. Reminds me of this one: http://open.spotify.com/track/5YE88bmdT6Od2cSHWG12XO – Tritons “I Can’t Get No (Satisfaction)”)
Slippery – 5.5 (Eh. Not “bad” but kinda grating for long stretches. Ultimately background listenable.)
Rolling Stone – 8 (Beyond classic. Love all versions. Mick is god… but his dancing is shit. “Moves like Jagger” my balls.)
Walk This Way – 7 (Another beyond classic. Although sometimes I gotta wonder if it was a good idea to bring Aerosmith back from the dead. I mean… “Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”? This is Run-DMC’s joint, tho)
Higher Ground – 6 (Good background. Not a real fan of it.)
Way better lineup than last one.
#1 Hurt (Johnny Cash) vs. #16 You’ll Be a Woman Soon (Urge Overkill).
Janos 8.5 : 8 Closer than I thought
Anna 8.7 7.8 Amazingly, in most cases I write my score down before Anna gives hers.
Jake: 9 : 7.5
#4 Mack the Knife (Bobby Darin) vs. #13 I Fought the Law (Clash).
Jake 8.5 : 8.2
Anna 7.6 : 8
Janos: 7.6 : 8.9
#2 Twist and Shout (Beatles) vs. #15 Blitzkrieg Bop (Yo La Tengo).
Janos: 9.3 : 7.9
Jake 9 : 7
Anna: 8: 7..5
#8 Slippery People (Staple Singers) vs. #9 Like a Rollin’ Stone (Rolling Stones).
Me 9 : 8.5
Anna 9.4 : 8.9
Jake 6 : 6.5
#7 Walk This Way (Run-DMC) vs. #10 Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Peppers).
Me 8.2 : 8.0
Anna 8.7 : 8.3
Jake 8.7 : 8.3