Hmmm, I still like BR better, but have to say that Versus' cover of the Kinks "Shangri La" turns out to be pretty great (although it is one of the greatest songs ever written, so as long as you don't do anything stupid, a cover of it ought to be great).
They actually do do something stupid too: singing one of the most English songs ever written, mostly in a faux Davies accent, but for some reason it's la-va-tor-ies, instead of lavat'ries. Once the loud guitars come in on the first chorus, everything is ok.
― dlp9001, Thursday, 5 November 2009 18:59 (fourteen years ago) link
I really like that Versus song "Blade of Grass." I think it was the first request I phoned in to a college radio station.
― Trip Maker, Thursday, 5 November 2009 20:06 (fourteen years ago) link
Concur with electricsound and the notion that everything through "Secret Swingers" is great. "Lose That Dress" is a fave. The later albums have their high points but aren't as consistent.
I followed all the side projects - Containe and Plus Minus were/are the best. I was vaguely disappointed by the Fontaine Toups album, Pacific Ocean is nice but generic indie rock, and Whysall Lane is kinda like another Versus album, which is good.
Hey, they didn't name themselves after a Mission Of Burma album for nothing!
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Thursday, 5 November 2009 20:42 (fourteen years ago) link
i think i kinda like two cents best of all - although i get a kick out of listening to all their stuff, it's that one that satisfies most.
need to hear the whysall lane album... kinda agree on pacific ocean though they have a couple of absolute killer songs amongst the generic stuff
― quaq quao, sweetie (electricsound), Thursday, 5 November 2009 22:31 (fourteen years ago) link
I've never knowingly heard either of these bands. Blonde Redhead naming themselves after a DNA song enraged me for reasons I don't honestly understand or take seriously. Only vaguely aware of Versus.
― the jun togawa of farting (╓abies), Thursday, 5 November 2009 23:27 (fourteen years ago) link
Versus has their first album in 9 years ready. First couple of songs are great! Here's one of them:
https://versusny.bandcamp.com/track/gravity-2
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 12 July 2019 02:52 (four years ago) link
The new EP is great, the best thing they've done in eons. The last album in 2010 was ok but forgettable, this new one could be a real late period surprise.
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Friday, 12 July 2019 03:00 (four years ago) link
Versus is opening for Unwound March 11, 2023 at Irving Plaza in NY . ( reunited bands night)
― curmudgeon, Friday, 10 March 2023 12:52 (one year ago) link
Hopefully that means Numero reissues those first two Caroline Versus records.
― Josh in Chicago, Friday, 10 March 2023 12:54 (one year ago) link
Versus have been playing shows for years now, with a relatively new album, too (2019).
But yeah all their early albums need reissues.
On that note, this incredible early EP did happen to get a recent reissue, highly recommended music:
https://www.discogs.com/master/2396440-Versus-Lets-Electrify
― Evan, Friday, 10 March 2023 14:32 (one year ago) link
versus never really hooked me, i know friends were into them but it was always meh.
BR on the other hand have never made a bad record and have a few masterpieces under their belt.
― goole, Thursday, August 21, 2008 3:10 PM (fourteen years ago) bookmarkflaglink
Swap the bands of this post and then it becomes my post. But I don't have anything bad to say about Blonde Redhead I just never got into them (yet).
― Evan, Friday, 10 March 2023 14:34 (one year ago) link