If It's Too Loud...

WMBR's Pipeline is a legendary radio show in the Boston music scene. Before his passing, host Jeff Breeze invited bands to submit self-recorded live sets during the early days of the pandemic, but required bands to include a cover song from a list of songs he has chosen (much like AV Club's Under Cover series). For Black Helicopter's turn, they selected an unlikely song: The Bee-Gees' "World." It's a 60's Bee-Gees song from their pre-disco, folk/pop era. Considering Black Helicopter are a heavy alt-rock band that has played with artist's like Sonic Youth and Mission of Burma, this is an odd choice. Even more surprising, they chose to play the song fairly straightforward. Sure, it's a little heavier and less melodic, but it's quite recognizable as "World." It's fairly akin to Sonic Youth's cover of The Carpenters' "Superstar." It's still there own, but much more of a tribute to the original than you'd ...

The Bee Gees are one of those bands that I'm not too familiar with, despite watching the fantastic Bee Gees: How Do You Mend a Broken Heart documentary. I do know that they kind of accidentally got caught up in the whole disco thing, and had an entire career before disco or Stayin' Alive. "I Started a Joke" is from that time period. The 1968 song is kind of a mopey and sappy heartache ballad. It's definitely not my thing. Enter Kid Gulliver to make me love this song. Their cover is a power pop sensation. It's a bouncy and upbeat version of the song that takes the lyrics and melody and turns it into a party. It's the kind of power pop we can get fully behind, and now we're waiting for Kid Gulliver to issue a Bee Gees tribute album. You can watch the video for Kid Gulliver's take on "I Started a Joke" below. Gimme Some Go! is available now via Red On Red Records, and can be ordered on Bandcamp . For more on Kid Gulliver, check out the band ...