Were the Pet Shop Boys covering Elvis or Brenda Lee when they sang “Always on My Mind”? And other paradoxes of cover songs. Continue reading

October 20, 2022
by Aesthetics for Birds
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October 20, 2022
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Were the Pet Shop Boys covering Elvis or Brenda Lee when they sang “Always on My Mind”? And other paradoxes of cover songs. Continue reading

September 5, 2019
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Musician and philosopher Matt Lindauer interviewed by Alex King Matt Lindauer is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. He specializes in moral and political philosophy, moral psychology, and experimental philosophy, and has published work in Philosophical Studies, Journal of Moral Philosophy, Journal of Ethics and Social Philosophy, and Oxford Studies in Experimental Philosophy, among other venues. He is also a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His band Myrna recently released their debut EP on Kitty Wizard Records and a full-length release is coming soon. His solo project Utena also produced a recent album that was recorded almost entirely on his iPhone between Australia and Brooklyn. He also played in the banjo-key-drum group Sugarbat and in Daphne Lee Martin’s band as guitarist and banjo player, and has recorded a number of other projects. Some of his music was recently featured in an ad for Joe’s Jeans.
September 6, 2014
by Aesthetics for Birds
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AFB announces the winners of the Covers Contest, who answer the question, “Can a Band be its own Cover Band?” Continue reading
August 1, 2014
by Aesthetics for Birds
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The Cover Song is a wondrously magical yet terribly fickle alchemical creature: just as it may resurrect an otherwise lifeless subject, so too might it destroy all that’s good in it (or even worse, leave it seemingly altogether unchanged). To pay tribute to this mysterious being, for the month of August Aesthetics for Birds will feature nothing but cover songs in its weekly music posts Musical Mondays & Fall Fridays. As an extra bonus, AFB is holding a PHILOSOPHY CONTEST related to the philosophical issues surrounding the Cover Song. Here’s what you need to know: Background: Cover bands (also known as tribute bands) aim to faithfully reproduce the music (live performances) of the bands they cover (e.g., Fan Halen is a Van Halen cover band, BC/DC is an AC/DC cover band from British Columbia, Iron Maidens is an all-female Iron Maiden cover band). Assignment: In 50 words or fewer, provide … Continue reading
May 21, 2014
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Musician Tesco Vee shares his insights on punk rock, satire, and live performances. Continue reading

December 16, 2013
by Aesthetics for Birds
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Historian and musician Matt Kadane shares his thoughts on interpreting lyrics, the compositional process, and what makes a cover “good” or “bad.” Continue reading