Bands I Love: Clutch

I've made no secret on The Guide that Clutch is one of my favorite (if not number one) bands out there right now, and I've already dedicated two articled to their discography (Part 1 & Part 2), so this one is going to be a little different. For this edition of 'Bands I Love' I'm going into the evolution of enjoyment that I (and I'd assume other fans) get when I re-listen to their albums; of the changing of taste and favorite songs.

For this example I'm going to spend all of my time dissecting probably one of their best albums, Blast Tyrant, released dead center with their funk-stoner phase, way back in 2004. Initially the songs that jumped out at me were: "Mercury," "Mob Goes Wild," "Cypress Grove," and "Worm Drink," each for their simple and catchy lyrics and really head-bobbing melodies. These tracks were easy to get into and at the time that I was first giving the record a spin, I was still new to the band, with only Robot Hive/Exodus under my belt. These songs were a great and simple entry into Blast Tyrant. While I enjoyed the album as a whole, these were the songs that I spent most of my time with, and these are the group that most often landed in mix CDs for friends or for my car.

Weekly Dose of Prog: Wishbone Ash - Time Was

Here's one for you older folks out there, a band that people of my generation have probably never heard of, and I'm willing to bet even a fair chunk of the older crowd never had a chance to listen to this great band. This band was one of the earliest pioneers of dual guitar players, utilizing both as lead and creating an interesting harmony within the melody. Along with this, they incorporated multiple vocalists (three at their beginning) which gave them the flexibility of range, style and layered performances. Using these elements the act combined progressive themes with those of blues rock to create a unique sound. The band I'm referring to of course is Wishbone Ash.


Mixing the emerging themes of blues rock and progressive rock, along with the forming heavy metal scene, Wishbone Ash's songs are all over the place stylistically. I know Time Was is the best of the band, so it may be a little unfair to compare the styles of songs next to each other, seeing as they were pulled from over a twenty year career (at the time of the album's release, 1993), but I'm not complaining about the styles, just remarking that they are there. There is the constant melding of hard/blues rock and progressive rock, sounding at times like a mix between Led Zeppelin and The Allman Brothers Band, but it goes deeper then that. At times I hear tunes of the psychedelic-induced Yes, at other points I hear a vocal harmonized/operatic style closer to Uriah Heep then anything else. Early in the collection, there is a 'call and answer' section (I believe it's the song "Errors Of My Way" but I'm not wholly sure) between the lead guitar and the vocals, wherein the guitar plays a line/lick which the vocals attempt to mirror. I've heard this before in other acts, but in this example it's actually quite a long section, taking up a good chunk of the song. It's something the members spent some time on, not just a four-bar phrase tossed in for fancy.

Favorite Albums: Elf - Trying To Burn The Sun

Trying To Burn The Sun is the last Elf album, and similarly the last Elf album to be included in my Favorite Albums list (aha a stupid joke). Check out my articles on their other two albums, Elf and Carolina Country Ball, for more Elfy goodness.

It seems that the band seemed to know this was to be their final release, as Trying To Burn The Sun pulls out all the stops. The album includes some of their best songs, most varied compositions, and almost every track of the record has a centralized story - something I love within my music. This album, on a song by song basis, is the greatest of the Elf albums. It contains their best tracks, all collected very nicely in one place.

Awesome Songs: Elf - "Streetwalker"

As I was working on my 'Favorite Albums' article for the last album by Elf, Trying To Burn The Sun, I began writing about the amazing song "Streetwalker" which appears on the album. After giving a bare-bones version of the song, I still ended up writing half a page on the subject. So I either had to slim it down, or start a new article... Guess what I chose.

As I said in my previous Elf article, "Carolina Country Ball" is my favorite song by the band, but the finale of Trying To Burn The Sun, "Streetwalker" takes a close second place. It is an amazingly well put together piece of rock and roll. Strong is form, melody and narration, I can't help to belt out the lyrics each and every time I hear it - especially the ending of the track.

== Check out the track on YouTube (better this way then the old) ==

Favorite Albums: Elf - Carolina Country Ball

Continuing on with last week's edition of Favorite Albums, dedicated to Elf's debut album, I thought it prudent to work on the second disc in their discography; Carolina Country Ball. This is the album where the group begins to pick up steam, having toured with Deep Purple for over a year, working on their composition and sound. It begins a direction more into the rock aspect of blues rock, joining in with the rock 'n roll era, and is a real step up in the story-telling aspects.

First thing, the name; you see, while the album if officially titled Carolina Country Ball, it was released in parts of the world (most notably the USA and Japan) as L.A. 59. No reason for this switch has ever been offered, and while it really doesn't change anything - there aren't two different track lists out there - it does strike me as a bit odd. Personally I much more enjoy the song "Carolina Country Ball" over "L.A. 59," so I prefer the original title, and will continue to address it as such.

Favorite Albums: Elf - Elf

Unbelievably, it has been almost a full year since the passing of the legendary Ronnie James Dio. I still can hardly fathom is and it puts a pit in my stomach every time I think about it. Although the man is best known for his metal career; both solo and with Black Sabbath (as also Heaven And Hell), my favorite recording to benefit from his amazing voice are from his short-lived blues rock band, Elf. I've already written a bit about the band, once when I first discovered them, and again while I was going through the entire Ronnie James Dio catalog (a full year before his death). Now that it's been a while, I believe that I can adequately describe these amazing records (all three of them) and why they are included within my Favorite Albums.

Elf, the group's debut album, is a great first release from the group. As I stated before, this is their most 'pure' album, and by that I mean that this album takes upon the sounds of blues and mixes them with a semi-big band jam sound. The following pair of releases are much more rock-oriented (while still keeping the hint of blues) as the group was influenced by the sounds and styles of Deep Purple, who they were opening for continually throughout their career. So this is the album that best signifies the 'true sound' of the band, for better or worse.

Band Submission: Peanut Butter Lovesicle - Heavy Daze Wildcat Craze (EP)

I've been owing Peanut Butter Lovesicle a review for some time now, which is why I'm having this EP posted mid-week instead of for an EP Shakedown, they deserve as much.

The decent-length EP (about twenty-three minutes), Heavy Daze Wildcat Craze, starts off interestingly; the first track, "Colorblind," begins with a very classic-rock sounding guitar lick, giving a real laid-back feeling. The song quickly shifts into a mini-funk/groove style, with the guitars and bass playing a major role. There are three different styles of vocals, the first a bit growly and guttural (not too much though), the second more laid back - something I'd expect with the music - and a third which sounds like it's being played through a voice recorder. Kind of odd, but also kind of interesting, I'm not sure what to make of it yet.

Track two, "State of I," starts off again with a retro-rock guitar riff, although this time much slower and semi-bluesy, something like Eric Clapton. The guitars still play a major role, but at least this time the vocals are a little more pronounced. Speaking of the vocals, the second style (the laid back and chill version) plays the main focus, much to my enjoyment. It really works well with the music behind it.

EP Shakedown: The Five Tones - Episode I: Tennessee

Keepin' up with the daily posting, as best I can. This EP Shakedown is dedicated to some new blues-inspired rock (that is, rock focused more on blues, as opposed to blues rock, which has such a wide berth, it might as well mean nothing), The Five Tones.

The Five Tones' debut EP, Episode I: Tennessee, is a great display of what a group can do with blues rock, even if their influences are obvious. Their songs are eclectic go from being a throwback to the delta-blues era of the 20s, to sounding like a more modern rock band is releasing a blues-oriented LP, or just a more modern version of blues rock (with more emphasis on the rock aspect). I can't figure out if I really like the music, or just like how it reminds me of other acts.

The most obvious song of a modern relation is the first track, "Hid Away." It has such a similar guitar rhythm to Wolfmother's "Joker & The Thief" that it's all I think about when I listen to the song. "Hid Away" is still a good song, but the resemblance is uncanny, as if Wolfmother decided to go blues rock instead of psychedelia-laced stoner. It's too similar for me, and I know that I'll never get over that hurdle.

New Band: The Snakehandlers Blues Band

I've been on a bit of a mini-blues and southern rock kick lately, with acts like Confused Little Girl, Black River Bluesman & Bad Mood Hudson, and Bo Molasses. There is just something nice about the laid back and simple sounds of many bands within the genre. It's not real heavy (although it can get there), the vocals are catchy and the rhythms are something you can tap your feet to. Keeping on with this, we move to The Snakehandlers Blues Band, and their album, Rock Plus Roll. I got maybe one hour of sleep last night, so this may not be my best work, but I gotta keep pumping them out, for you, my adoring fans. 

The first thing that hit me, when the first track of Rock Plus Roll came up, was a strong feeling of modern-era Clutch. The vocalist has his moments when he sounds just like Neil Fallon, and the band has licks and rhythms that could be off Strange Cousins From The West. Once you get further throughout the record, The Snakehandlers Blues Band sound less and less like Clutch, but the initial thought remains, and remains in the background the whole time.

Rant: 20 Cover Songs That Are Better Than The Original II

So I wrote the first installment of this article way back in 2008, as one of my first articles, and while I do have a ton of cover songs in my arsenal, it's hard to pick 20 more songs that completely blow away the original versions enough to be made mention of. That is why the long pause (over two years) between articles. I've tried on a couple of occasions to compile a new list, but this is the first time I feel that I have found enough amazing songs to warrant a list of 20.

1. Andrew Clayton - "In My Time of Dying" - Traditional, notably done by Bob Dylan and Led Zeppelin
The fact that I was a direct part of the recording for this song may have something to do with it, but I think the other half is that it is so different from most of the other cover versions out there. It's got a bar room quality to it; a bunch of friends drinking and jamming out. Nice and chill.

2. Black Robot - "Cocaine" - Originally by J.J. Hale, made famous by Eric Clapton
An off-shoot from some of the members of Buckcherry, Black Robot's debut self-titled debut was an alright foray into the world of radio-friendly rock, but their cover of "Cocaine" really does the group some justice. While it's not amazing, it is a completely different direction for the legendary song, and I think the refresher works well.

3. Black NASA - "I Don't Have to Hide" - Originally by Bachman-Turner Overdrive
A song that I had for a while before I even realized it was a cover, and for that it will always shine brighter. The only reason I discovered that "I Don't Have to Hide" was a cover is from the two great editions of the Sucking The 70's collections. When I was jamming through them originally (all 4 discs worth) I came to this Black NASA song and was confused. This was a song I already owned and had heard many times before, it wasn't a cover was it? It was, and a favorite cover was born that day.

4. Blind Guardian - "Spread Your Wings" - Originally by Queen
One of my favorite covers of all time. Hansi Kürsch, the vocalist for Blind Guardian, cites Queen as one of his major inspirations and he knocks this one out of the park. His amazing vocals, coupled with the rest of the band's fluency with their instruments, makes this a song to behold. A lot of emotion is heard on the original, and it is doubled on this new version.

5. Blind Guardian - "The Wizard" - Originally by Uriah Heep
I know, I know, not only two Blind Guardian songs on the list, but two originals by Uriah Heep (see number eighteen for the second), but sometimes it's worth it. The original is great, and Blind Guardian don't stray far from it, but, once again, Hansi Kürsch's vocals make it go the extra mile.

Rant: 20 Cover Songs That Are Better Than The Original - UPDATED!!!

This is a direct copy from my original 20 Cover Songs That Are Better Than The Original, but I was working on my list of 20 more kick-ass covers, and I decided that I needed to go more into detail with these songs, telling why they are so amazing. I'm doing it with the new list, so why not update the old? Plus it opens up my new readers to one of my first articles as my 'career' as a 'writer'.

1. Bruce Dickinson with Godspeed - "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" - Originally by Black Sabbath 
A great opener for the list; although Godspeed was a short-lived act (barely making it two year), with Bruce Dickinson with the lead vocals they could have amounted to anything. This song is from the Nativity In Black tribute album to Black Sabbath, and it is one of the most played tracks for me.

2. Demons & Wizards - "Immigrant Song" - Originally by Led Zeppelin 
Those guitars, those vocals, that double bass drum... the entirety of this song shoots far over anything Led Zeppelin ever have done. I love both Demon & Wizards albums (waiting/wanting for a third...) but this song seals their legendary status for me. I can't even stomach the original, because after hearing this version, you will swear the original is by an indie band, there is that much of a difference between the 'rock' and the 'metal.'

3. Dope - "You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)" - Originally by Dead or Alive
A so-so band covering a crappy disco song. I really don't know why I included this one originally, but it was two years ago. This is still the only Dope song I listen to (an Ex is the one who introduced me to the band), but even that is sketchy. Still, I'd rather hear Dope shout it out then Dead or Alive, that is for sure.

4. Eric Clapton - "Cocaine" - Originally by J.J. Cale
Ok, this one is a bit of a cop-out, as most people have never heard of J.J. Cale, and as such have no inkling of what the original brings. This is still a Clapton staple, and I don't know a single person who doesn't love this song, whether it be the original or the unplugged version, you can catch anyone and everyone humming along whenever it pops on the radio.

5. Eric Clapton - "I Shot The Sheriff" - Originally by Bob Marley
The first in a long line of 'Oh, I thought that was the original artist,' "I Shot The Sheriff" has been argued over countless times. Was it Marley or Clapton who recorded it first? Which one is better? Yadda yadda. Well I am here to tell you it was Bob Marley who originally wrote and recorded the song, but Eric Clapton re-recorded only a year later, which then launched to number one on the Billboard Hot 100, causing all the confusion.

Video: Clutch "50,000 Unstoppable Watts"

Now I wanted to put this as my last video, instead of the Mastodon song, but it hadn't been released yet. If I had known that it would be out a week later I would have waited. So now you get two videos this week!

I love Clutch, and while I am still up in the air about their new album, this is a good song. The music video is kind of interesting, mixing the story in the lyrics with the idea of a band recording a song. It's pretty laid back - at least as far as most of their music videos are concerned.

So go enjoy the first single off their new album (just released today), Strange Cousins From The West, "50,000 Unstoppable Watts."

Clutch - New Music - More Music Videos

New Band: Elf

Recently I have been listening to the "Recommendations" of my Last.FM account. It's their compiled list of bands that are similar to the majority of your library, but not artists that you've listened to alot. I use this station to find new bands in the same genres of the artists I already love. That's how I originally discovered power metal, three years ago, and how there were more doom bands than Type O Negative. Now, I use it to expand my knowledge of power, thrash, folk, and stoner bands (the stoner is the most recent, expect a Current Trend to appear).
Every now and then an artist pops up that I had heard of before, but I haven't seen much of their stuff over the years. Just the occasional song, or cover song, nothing to sink your teeth into, just a teaser. That's how it was with Elf.

First let me star off by saying, Elf is a fantastic band! While they only released 3 albums in their short tenure, every disc is chock-full of great songs, and catchy rhythms.

History
The act was founded by singer and bassist Ronnie James Dio (of future solo and Black Sabbath fame), keyboardist Doug Thaler, drummer Gary Driscoll, and guitarists Nick Pantas and David Feingstein, both of who were Dio's cousins. Originally called The Electric Elves, then shortened to The Elves, then just to Elf in the beginning of the 70's.
Elf's self-titled debut album was produced by the members of Deep Purple, who saw the group auditioning in 1972, and for the next few years, Elf had a steady gig opening for Deep Purple's world tour. It was during this time that Elf released their next two albums, Carolina Country Ball in 1974, and Trying To Burn The Sun in 1975. Also in 1975, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple with the intent to release solo works. He liked Dio's soulful voice, and thought he would be perfect for his latest project, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Following their band leader, the rest of Elf helped record Blackmore's then-solo project, taking time from touring and recording their own music. After the album was recorded, Blackmore decided to scrap his solo effort, and instead created Rainbow into a full-fledged band, replacing all of the Elf members except for Dio. Without a singer, and without the support of Deep Purple, the members of Elf parted ways, and the band was no more.

Discography
Elf (1972)
The band's first album, and truly their only true album. After this release the band began being influenced by Deep Purple, and because of this, their other releases sounded more like a bluesy-Deep Purple and less like the boogie-rock Elf that was founded.
This is the album that I heard when I was younger, so when I began my trek through the track list, I recognized a few of the songs off the bat. "Hoochie Koochie Lady" is my favorite off the album with "First Avenue" a close second. It's work like this that make me wish that the group had released more albums, at least one more before being discovered by Deep Purple.

1. "Hoochie Koochie Lady" – 5:32
2. "First Avenue" – 4:23
3. "Never More" – 3:50
4. "I'm Coming Back For You" – 3:27
5. "Sit Down Honey (Everything Will Be Alright)" – 3:48
6. "Dixie Lee Junction" – 5:09
7. "Love Me Like A Woman" – 3:47
8. "Gambler, Gambler" – 4:26

Carolina Country Ball (1974) - Released as L.A./59 in the US and Japan
This is the album where the sound starts changing, not that it's a bad thing, it's just different. Elf's sound started becoming more complex and layered (the Deep Purple influence), and was more rock-oriented then their debut album, for better or worse.
The best song is the title track, I really liked the groove of the entire song, I was pleasantly surprised at the sudden change of styles from the previous album - at least for this song. After the first track, the other songs I enjoyed were the more original-sounding material, "Ain't It All Amusing" and "Rocking Chair Rock 'n' Roll Blues," both classics.

1. "Carolina County Ball" - 4:46
2. "L.A. 59" - 4:21
3. "Ain't It All Amusing" - 5:01
4. "Happy" - 5:28
5. "Annie New Orleans" - 3:01
6. "Rocking Chair Rock 'n' Roll Blues" - 5:36
7. "Rainbow" - 4:00
8. "Do the Same Thing" - 3:10
9. "Blanche" - 2:31

Trying To Burn The Sun (1975)
Elf's final release, this album made the full jump to rock with blues undertones, very little straight blues in the entire album. Again, this doesn't make it a bad album, just not the sound of the original Elf. Make your own decision whether it's good or bad.
This album had a lot more songs that I enjoyed overall, the only two I didn't really like were the somber, slower melodies of "When She Smiles" and "Wonderworld." They were just too slow and teary-eyed for me. Again, the first track was the best ("Black Swampy Water"), followed by "Shotgun Boogie."

1. "Black Swampy Water" - 3:43
2. "Prentice Wood" - 4:37
3. "When She Smiles" - 4:54
4. "Good Time Music" - 4:30
5. "Liberty Road" - 3:22
6. "Shotgun Boogie" - 3:07
7. "Wonderworld" - 5:03
8. "Streetwalker" - 7:07

So there you have it, the history and works of one of the best unknown bands of all time. While they didn't have the impact of Deep Purple, or even their follow-up act, Rainbow, Elf was still an amazing band. One I plan on listening to until I am 60, by that point the music will be over 70 years old. It'll the the "oldies of the oldies" and I'll embarrass my grandkids every day. Good times...

Video: Clutch "Electric Worry"

The single from the newest Clutch studio album, From Beale Street To Oblivion. I love the blues sound throughout the song and the drum fill at the end.
Enjoy

While looking up the links for this post I found out that Clutch has a new album due out in July of this year, Strange Cousins from the West. I now have something to look forward to!

Bands I Love: Clutch - Part 2

So I love Clutch, and rather then write a long story about my love for them (which I will get to eventually) I am just going to post a list of my favorite songs of theirs. Now by favorite I mean about 40, they have so many amazing songs.
(The bolded songs are my choices)
By Album:
Pure Rock Fury
Pure Rock Fury continued on the path of their previous album, Jam Room, although with added success. It still holds onto the raw rock/metal sound, but is much better produced. Still in the vein of stoner rock, this album is the stepping stone to the groove-oriented band that they become with their next few releases. "Pure Rock Fury" is a balls-to-the-wall shout-at-the-top-of-your-lungs kind of song. "Open Up the Border" and the updated version of "Sinkemlow" are nice groove songs. "Careful With That Mic..." is Clutch's only(to date) rap song. It sounds odd to say, but it is actually quite good. It's all about how other bands rely on repeating lyrics and catchy gimmicks to make it big, while bands like Clutch are constantly re-inventing themselves. A very true statement, looking at the next three releases.

1. "American Sleep" – 4:18
2. "Pure Rock Fury" – 3:21
3. "Open Up The Border" – 3:45
4. "Careful With That Mic..." – 3:27
5. "Red Horse Rainbow" – 5:58
6. "The Great Outdoors!" – 3:47
7. "Smoke Banshee" – 3:33
8. "Frankenstein" – 5:41
9. "Sinkemlow" – 3:55
10. "Immortal" – 3:39
11. "Brazenhead" – 6:28
12. "Drink To The Dead" – 5:58

Blast Tyrant
Blast Tyrant was the first Clutch album to fully embrace rock and funk into it's sound. This is one of my favorite albums by them, as you can see almost every song is good. The entire album is in the same key and overall groove sound, and as such it is easy to pick out songs off of this album. Some stand-outs include "Profits of Doom," "The Mob Goes Wild,' "Cypress Grove," "The Regulator," and "Ghost." "The Regulator," and "Ghost" are in battle for my favorite Clutch song, each one is amazing. I love the opening tri-guitar riff in"The Regulator," and I love the lyrics in "Ghost." Too difficult to choose.

1. "Mercury" – 3:00
2. "Profits of Doom" – 3:12
3. "The Mob Goes Wild" – 3:32
4. "Cypress Grove" – 2:45
5. "Promoter (of Earthbound Causes)" – 3:14
6. "The Regulator" – 5:25
7. "Worm Drink" – 3:13
8. "Army of Bono" – 4:36
9. "Spleen Merchant" – 2:38
10. "(In the Wake of) The Swollen Goat" – 3:01
11. "Weathermaker" – 0:47
12. "Subtle Hustle" – 2:46
13. "Ghost" – 4:37
14. "(Notes from the Trial of) La Curandera" – 5:49
15. "WYSIWYG" – 5:45

Robot Hive/Exodus
song I heard, thanks to my Dad's Robot Hive/Exodus was the first Clutch album that I owned, and the song "10001110101" was the very first song I heard, due to my Dad's Sirus Satellite Radio. And although this album has less memorable songs then Blast Tyrant, it is my favorite album by them. Listening to every song back-to-back is more of an experience then their other discs. Robot Hive/Exodus seems to be more religiously oriented than any other Clutch CD, with the songs "Burning Beard," "Gullah," and "Mice And Gods" touching on some sort of religion either explicitly or implicitly. This is also the first album that features keyboards, having added the instrument to the band. Because of this new instrument, the keyboards are very heavy in some of the songs, something that I think goes well with the subject matter on this album. "10001110101" is a whimsical song about nothing. All of the lyrics are random, and have no purpose. But it still is a great song.

1. "The Incomparable Mr. Flannery" – 3:43
2. "Burning Beard" – 4:00
3. "Gullah" – 4:24
4. "Mice and Gods" – 3:55
5. "Pulaski Skyway" – 4:09
6. "Never Be Moved" – 4:04
7. "10001110101" – 5:00
8. "Small Upsetters" – 2:38
9. "Circus Maximus" – 3:42
10. "Tripping The Alarm" – 2:25
11. "10,000 Witnesses" – 3:29
12. "Land Of Pleasant Living" – 4:06
13. "Gravel Road" – 5:18
14. "Who's Been Talking?" – 3:46
    

From Beale Street To Oblivion
Their most blues-oriented album, From Beale Street To Oblivion, was the first Clutch album to be released while I was a fan (the others being released prior to my knowing that the band existed). This album is my Dad's favorite (yes my Father is a Clutch fan too), because of the heavy blues lines and slower songs. While Robot Hive/Exodus favored the keyboard, From Beale Street To Oblivion favors the vocals. Many of the songs are stripped down to their bear minimum, with very little distortion on the guitars. The stand-out hit of the album, and also the first single, is "Electric Worry." This song reminds my Dad of Frank Zappa and The Mothers, with the deep vocals and the lone guitar-lick segments. I don't know much about Zappa, except for one or two of his albums, but I enjoy it for the song's music and lyrics. It's a love song of sorts, or a song after the love has ended.

1. "You Can't Stop Progress" – 2:40
2. "Power Player" – 3:06
3. "The Devil & Me" – 3:57
4. "White's Ferry" – 5:24
5. "Child of the City" – 3:53
6. "Electric Worry" – 5:14
7. "One Eye Dollar" – 1:23
8. "Rapture of Riddley Walker" – 4:09
9. "When Vegans Attack" – 4:56
10. "Opossum Minister" – 4:28
11. "Black Umbrella" – 4:05
12. "Mr. Shiny Cadillackness" – 5:11

Rant: 20 Cover Songs That Are Better Than The Original

So there are alot of covers out there. Most of them are utter shit. Either they are direct copies of the originals, or they try to put a creative spin on them that send down the spiral of hell. However, every so often a truly great cover comes along, a song that is so awesome that I cannot enjoy the original song nearly as much as I did before. Some of these are great songs covered by great bands, and some are crappy songs made great. This is my list of those songs:

1. Bruce Dickinson with Godspeed - "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" - Originally by Black Sabbath
2. Demons & Wizards - "Immigrant Song" - Originally by Led Zeppelin
3. Dope - "You Spin Me Right Round (Like A Record)" - Originally by Dead or Alive
4. Eric Clapton - "Cocaine" - Originally by J.J. Cale
5. Eric Clapton - "I Shot The Sheriff" - Originally by Bob Marley
6. Foo Fighters - "Darling Nikki" - Originally by Prince
7. Gary Jules - "Mad World" - Originally by Tears For Fears
8. Guns N' Roses - "Hair of The Dog" - Originally by Nazareth
9. Guns N' Roses - "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" - Originally by Bob Dylan
10. Guns N' Roses - "Sympathy For The Devil" - Originally by The Rolling Stones
11. GWAR - "School's Out" - Originally by Alice Cooper
12. Helloween - "Hocus Pocus" - Originally by Focus
13. Iced Earth - "Shooting Star" - Originally by Bad Company
14. Iced Earth - "Transylvania" - Originally by Iron Maiden
15. Jimi Hendrix - "All Along The Watchtower" - Originally by Bob Dylan
16. Johnny Cash - Hurt" - Originally by Nine Inch Nails
17. Metallica - "Sabbra Cadabra" (With "A National Acrobat" mixed in the middle) - Originally by Black Sabbath
18. Tesla - "Signs" - Originally by Five Man Electrical Band
19. Type O Negative - "Hey Pete" - Originally "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix
20. Ugly Kid Joe - "Cat's In The Cradle" - Originally by Harry Chapin