Just over one year ago, Zeus released Busting Visions, which became a breakout album for the Toronto indie rockers. To celebrate, they are re-issuing the album with an EP that includes seven distinct and, well, extremely varied cover songs.
Called Cover Me, it includes Zeus's take on R&B classics like Michael Jackson's "Who Is It?" and party anthem "Ignition" from R. Kelly, as well as songs from Stone Temple Pilots ("Vaseline"), Big Star ("The Ballad of El Goodo"), Genesis ("That's All"), the Flaming Lips ("Fight Test") and Sam Roberts Band ("Without a Map"), whom they've toured with extensively.
We sat down with Carlin Nicholson, Mike O'Brien and Neil Quin to talk about the thinking that went in to some of the more interesting choices, as well as what is up with that cover featuring a buff naked dude leaning against some rocks.
(Courtesy of Arts & Crafts)
"It’s an ongoing thing with us," explains Nicholson. "We found a bunch of weird files in a jam space that we moved into, which is now part of our studio, and in this file were a bunch of letters, poems and pictures that this fellow had been sending his family from jail. He was busted for armed robbery. And in that was this picture, which we've used before for the 'Are You Gonna Waste My Time' single release, and now it strikes again."
Adds O'Brien: "It looks like he threw on an Elvis wig for the day and a watch, and that’s it."
The photo may have a serious story behind it, but it's the humorous aspect of it that makes it the perfect cover for this covers EP, which sees the four-piece, who regularly alternated instruments for the recording, having fun tackling a variety of genres with their distinct style. They discuss a few of them below.
'Who Is It?' by Michael Jackson
Quin: This is more along the lines of electro, which is something we’re not well versed in, so it was just cool to pay homage to some of those sounds. Plus those chords are really interesting.
Nicholson: The subtleties of some of the chords, like Michael uses these almost mystery chords way back in the mix. When you listen to the song you realize no other instruments are playing that chord, and sometimes it’s even just the way he’s singing. When you just play the song per chord it doesn’t sound right because you’re missing all the harmonies and suggested chords. That was an interesting one. We did some serious homework just picking it apart, because no human could play that at once. It was a mind boggle.
O'Brien: I think Rob [Drake], who is a music teacher as well, just had to throw on the headphones and dig down deep for that one.
'Vasoline' by Stone Temple Pilots
O'Brien: I remember specifically being at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in Syracuse, on our way to New York, and Carlin was just vibing on Stone Temple Pilots at the time.
Nicholson: I think it’s been a running joke in the band for a while.
O'Brien: But you were seriously into them for a while.
Quin: Ya, you brought that record with you.
Nicholson: OK, sure I was into them back in the day.
O'Brien: No, but you had downloaded it recently.
Nicholson: But I brought it for a joke, this STP Purple album. I was actually into them when I was younger, but as time goes on you start to get a sense for all these different singers, like [he starts groaning to mimic STP's Scott Weiland, with O'Brien and Quin joining in]. At soundcheck it keeps coming back up when someone starts singing in this ridiculous voice. It fuelled the fire I think.
Quin: It's called the "herm" style of singing. The important thing is a stiff upper lip, and a move we call opening the pickle jar, like [he makes another Weiland impression]. Watch Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" video. That is quintessential herming.
Quin: The song is just so bumping and so slamming. I remember a few summers ago I just heard it by chance and was like, this is so cool. This is just hilarious. I listened to every word, and it just keeps getting funnier and funnier. R. Kelly is a genius.
At first I was doing a real greasy acoustic guitar style cover as a big joke. Everyone thought it was funny, so we thought it would be good to reproduce a recording in our own way.
'Without a Map' by Sam Roberts Band
O'Brien: This is a bit of an elbow nudge to them because we toured so long together and had a great time with them. It wasn't even discussed at all until the day we recorded it. Carlin came in and said he was listening to the record, this song is pretty cool so why don’t we do it.
Nicholson: I don’t think Sam's heard it so we’re keeping it a surprise. In all seriousness though, I'm loving that song. I always got down with it on tour.
Quin: Hopefully it will hit the radio and the Sam boys will be sitting down and having tea and crumpets when they hear it.
Zeus kick off their Canadian tour with Yukon Blonde April 2 in Thunder Bay, Ont. For more information visit Themusicofzeus.com. Copies of the deluxe edition of Busting Visions or theCover Me EP are for sale on tour or at Galleryac.com.
Follow Jesse Kinos-Goodin on Twitter: @JesseKG
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