Briefly Philosophizing the Cover Song & Soccer Mommy

How should a band approach a cover? As with most things, I’m torn. Nothing is simple. Life is a multiplicity of ideas and realities.

Sometimes I like a cover that is very straightforward and true to the original. But why, you might ask, when we already have the original? I don’t know. Sometimes I like it when an artist has extended the idea of the cover the same way a composer might reinterpret another classical composition. But if it’s too exotic, well, sometimes that doesn’t work for me. I don’t know. I don’t know why I bother with covers, when there’s always the original. I guess it’s a need for novelty, from time to time. I guess it’s because some bands really do a good job of paying tribute to a band or a song they really love. Maybe that’s it: love.

Love looks everywhere. Or it at least looks. Because it is hopeful.

I hope you enjoy these new playlists. You can find me on Spotify as Tim Lane and follow my playlists.

I am especially fond of covers of The Cars song, “Drive.” Be sure to scroll all the way down for the vid of Soccer Mommy covering this tune.

Galleries

Home of original art, photography, playlists, blog posts, poetry and 80s New Wave coming-of-age novel, Your Silent Face, created by artist and novelist, Tim Lane.

Your Silent Face: The Playlist

This playlist is a companion to my 80s coming-of-age novel, Your Silent Face. Stuart Page is a protagonist obsessed with 80s New Wave and Ian Curtis, the lead singer of Joy Divison. All of the tunes and bands in the playlist get a mention in the novel. The novel is available on Amazon.

Lila, Deftones, Sade Cover

It’s hard to explain the bond between humans and animals. #mainecoon

A New Amazon Review, Aimee Mann & Avalanche

Dan Cronin and I have had a few moments in our formative years that we will always cherish. He left this review of Your Silent Face at Amazon. Below the review, I have left the Spotify playlist which is the companion to my novel, as well as links to all the places where my digital novel can be purchased.

Check out other reviews of YSF at Amazon, and find me on Spotify for more 80s playlists.

Oh, I’ve also left Aimee Mann’s single that came out in September—a Leonard Cohen cover of ‘Avalanche.’

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2020

Terrific read in these covid times. Take a walk back through the mid 80's as a young adult trying to navigate what it means to leave the family home and establish his (or her) identity. Go back to the underground punk rock shows, the alternative music bars, scraping together the change in your pocket for a final beer at last call.

Clock in at your minimum wage job bagging groceries at your locally owned market looking at your co-workers with equal amount distain, dread, and camaraderie.

Walk through the doors at the clubs. Bask in their music that made the 80s: Joy Division, the Cure, Depeche Mode, or whatever is blasting in your mental playlist.

Who are your friends, your peers? Who do you emulate at the scene? Who have you misjudged and who are you going home with when the bar closes?

I loved being able to revisit this time and this place in my life. Thank you Mr. Lane for picking me up in a beat up Buick Skylark and taking me back to downtown Flint for another visit.

Your Silent Face

By Lane, Tim

Buy on Amazon

Photo credit: Greg Cristman

Entanglement

This is one of those rare paintings of mine that unfolds in one sitting over the course of a protracted afternoon. I lost track of time. After about two hours in, I began to struggle with it. It was a like a game of chess; I had managed the opening well enough, but I was floundering in the middle game.

I tried to adjourn the game for another day, but it nagged at me. I kept going. I pushed the painting until I was pleased with it once again, and then I decided to just try to finish it.

I hope you like it. It’s part of The Sublime series, and it is also in the shop (Art for Sale). The Sublime series reflects my preoccupation with quantum mechanics, first contact and the singularity.

Entanglement, 2020

The Sublime

A series of colorful, painterly, expressionistic paintings focused on depictions of space, space travel, portals, parallel universes, first contact and futurism.

The Shop

And I See Your True Colors Shining Through

Was able to put some more funds into new spray paint and brushes! Love it.

Love Cyndi Lauper, too.

New Review

There is a new review of Your Silent Face at Amazon!

“Great read

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2020

Verified Purchase

Your Silent Face follows the emerging adult, Stuart, through his first summer at home after his first year away at college. It is set in the mid-80’s in the struggling industrial midwest city of Flint. The novel beautifully weaves together the struggles of Stuart as he tries to figure himself out, with the 80’s new wave music scene. There is music, alcohol, drugs, dancing, fighting (including a basketball fight), graffiti, poetry, sex, chess, and a mysterious Viking. Read it! I loved it and am hoping to hear more from author, Tim Lane.

—Mary M”

You can check out the other reviews here.

Day of the Lords

New painting in The Sublime series. I always need the warm pinks and peaches in the winter.

I’ve been listening to a new Spotify playlist a lot lately: Should Have Known Better. Check it out and follow.

Been reading Animals, by Emma Jane Unsworth.

Day of the Lords, 2020

The Sublime

A series of colorful, painterly, expressionistic paintings focused on depictions of space, space travel, portals, parallel universes, first contact and futurism.

Sock Creature Challenge

Lansing Art Gallery’s education director, Michelle Carlson, created a sock creature challenge for local budding creatives and other community members.

Challenge accepted!

Michelle Carlson serves as Education Director for the Gallery, simultaneously coordinating robust educational programming for all ages. Michelle’s experience involves more than 10 years in the arts community in the greater Lansing area, including her previous role serving as the Executive Director for the East Lansing Art Festival. Throughout her professional career, Michelle has worked to improve communities, find the inspiration in every day, and to cultivate appreciation for the arts. Her practice is supported by academic pursuits including her undergraduate degrees in Spanish and Cultural Anthropology and a Masters of Public Administration degree. Michelle joined our team in 2016 and is leading efforts toward greater engagement and accessibility in programming.