New Model Army: Masters of War (Radio Radio)

So many rocker dream of executing a perfect Dylan cover. And so many fail. But there's such electricity in the words, such elasticity in the melodies that often even the imperfect attempts (at least those not done merely to curry favour with Rolling Stone) can bear witness to the performer's own gifts. In 2003, in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, New Model Army's Justin Sullivan threw out a take on Dylan's "Masters of War" which showed off of his razor-edged voice and his almost Manson-esque intensity.

Radio Radio, the bootleg on which this cover appears, is billed as Justin Sullivan but seeing as he is the lead singer, guitarist, song-writer and sole permanent member of New Model Army (whose songs he performs in this set) it's not a distinction most fans need be overly concerned about. Perhaps that concern should be saved for the realization that Sullivan and NMA last exhumed the radical side of the sixties with Tom Jones (yes, that Tom Jones, pussycats) doing a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter"...(hold onto your jaws ladies and gentleman, the real action starts about two minutes in...)

For further cover madness, no more Dylan alas, don't miss this shaky-cam version of Ramones' "Sheena is a Punk Rocker" NMA did after Joey died and, to make matters weirder, check out Sepultura's (yes that Sepultura, bangers) version of NMA's "The Hunt".

Radio Radio link is in the comments

Speaking of comments, what do you make of these NMA cover songs?


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