The Ten Most Awesome Smiths Covers of All Time

January 6, 2014

Song: I Won’t Share You

Smiths Album: Strangeways Here We Come

Taken From: The Morning Covers

Before changing their name to Pop ETC in 2012, Brooklyn-by-way-of-Berkley indie band dropped the EP The Morning Covers, featuring this piano driven, rather haunting version of “I Won’t Share You”. While obviously not the same, vocalist Chris Chu does nail Morrissey’s aching melancholy.

Song: This Night Has Opened My Eyes

Smiths Album: Hatful Of Hollow

Taken From: This Station Is Non-Operational

On most occasions I can’t stand At The Drive In, I must give the band full respect for this cover. Stripping away their bulldozer-meets-garage-rock sound, they give a soulful tinge to this jam. Even vocalist Cedric Bixler lays off the screaming, and layers on ironic sweetness.

Song: There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Smiths Album: The Queen Is Dead

Taken From: Live Performance

In between writing for Oasis, and fighting with his brother Liam, Noel Gallagher has always been a solid Smiths supporter. I wanted to hate this live, acoustic version of one of my favorite Smiths songs, but I love it. Gallagher pays the song its due respect, but also adds some of that Gallagher brothers swagger.

Song: Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

Smiths Album: Hatful Of Hollow

Taken From: Live Performance

Take a wonderfully talented ukulele orchestra, add lush Spanish voice, mix well and serve. What you get is a gorgeous and unique take one of the most depressing songs ever written. You can’t deny when all the players start singing. Awesome.

Iann Robinson started his career early writing for Sound Views magazine and spreading all the way to Japan Warp. In 1996 he created the wildly popular cable access show Monkey Butt Sex. In the four years it was on Robinson interviewed dozens of bands ranging from Sick Of It All to The Melvins as well as cementing his name in the underground music world. From Monkey Butt Sex, Robinson began MBS Productions, directing small budget videos for Hedpe, H20, Napalm Death, Sick Of It All, Warzone, and others. This led to the next big phase of Robinson’s career, MTV. In 2000 Iann Robinson became an on air news reporter and quickly attracted both bands and fans with his honest and often brutal opinions. After MTV Robinson began writing for Crave Online as well as starting his own small press comic shop Isolation Disorder Comics. Robinson also produced and starred in the on-line pop culture show Dude, That’s Awesome.