Terminalcoffee discussion

What do you think of acoustic versions of rockier songs? Any examples of good ones or bad ones? When should an acoustic guitar not be used and/or smashed in a million pieces? When can it carry emotional weight despite the lack of volume?

This is one of my favorite acoustic versions of a rockier song, by the way...the Lemonheads covering The Misfit's "Skulls":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0E2Dc...

Aztec Camera's cover of Van Halen's "Jump" is pretty good as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COtZZm...

this is a highly acceptable acoustic version of SRV's testify

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxttPl...

Foo Fighters - Everlong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoAajO...
I heard this live on Stern years ago and loved it. This isn't the best version, but it was apparently the first time he had done it acoustic. Since then, he does it live a lot.

Obadiah Parker - Hey Ya (by Outcast)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ejeEB...
Not a rock song, but an amazing acoustic version of an obnoxious pop "hip/hop" song.

And of course!
Metallica - Enter Sandman (Smooth Jazz Version)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBmM79...
OK, this is a joke, but ... hilarious video. This guy takes Metallica's vocal and puts them to his own instrumentaion.

Does anybody else remember the exact moment MTV Unplugged was born, when Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora got on stage at the VMAs and sang Dead or Alive acoustic?

really? i especially liked alice in chains unplugged. no excuses and rooster were good

Nirvana Unplugged was excellent, but partly because it totally reinvented the songs and the band. They didn't just slow down and strum their back catalogue. And they picked great covers.

Kevin "El Liso Grande" wrote: "really? i especially liked alice in chains unplugged. no excuses and rooster were good"

Yea, that was a good show. Got me into Alice in Chains for the first time.

I don't remember the Alice in Chains one, but I can see how songs like Rooster and Would would translate well.

The ones that I remember enjoying most were bands that had an acoustic bent to begin with, so their songs held up to that treatment: REM, 10,000 Maniacs, Jules Shear, Michael Penn.

I realize that the topic was about acoustic versions of rockier songs, but I wanted to say some of my favorite uses of an acoustic guitar involve guitarists who recognize it as a percussive instrument:
Rodrigo y Gabriela - Tamacun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8zT_O...
And this one fits the original topic , though I think it's not what you intended.
Stairway to Heaven -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNc5o9...

My husband plays acoustic guitar, and it is the most relaxing sound to me. Thanks for the srv link, we love him still, always. And I really was a fan of unplugged also. My daughter loves covers, so I will show her these.

There are just heaps and heaps of people who play it without any distinction at all, and vocal+acoustic guitar can be very dull indeed if the person isn't particularly great at one or the other.

However, in the hands of a good/distinctive guitarist, I think acoustic guitar is much more interesting, on the whole.

To address the original question here, the one that springs to mind that the first time I heard an acoustic version of John Mellencamp's "Little Houses" was the moment he became more than just another guy on the radio.

But for the fun of it, I will mention that to me the most profound moment of acoustic guitar in the universe is the closing of "The Boxer" after the singing is done. It's a benediction.

Rebecca wrote: "There are just heaps and heaps of people who play it without any distinction at all, and vocal+acoustic guitar can be very dull indeed if the person isn't particularly great at one or the other.
..."

I think you mean "Pink Houses", and yes, the acoustic version is terrific.

Rebecca wrote: "But for the fun of it, I will mention that to me the most profound moment of acoustic guitar in the universe is the closing of "The Boxer" after the singing is done. It's a benediction. ."
I can't think of what happens after the singing is done!
I'm usually too captivated by the thunder crack boom in the lai la lais...

What is the proper use of an acoustic guitar?

...it depends on its quality - if it's cheap and nasty a cheese grater is a good use...;-)

Ooh. I don't know James, but I like him already.