They'd asked Frank Sinatra once what was his opinion of Sid Vicious' cover of My Way. Frank said something in the line of, "yeah it's fine but if I met him on the street he wouldn't exactly have a good time".
I generally like covers, even when they're awful, which most of them usually are. They are an awkward sort of tribute after all.
My favorite (at the moment) is Calexico's version of Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division, one of the two most beautiful love songs ever. (The second one being
There is a Light that Never Goes Out by The Smiths - it even has its own brave and unconventional
electro cover by the wonderful Erlend Oye).
Anyway, back to Calexico and Love Will Tear Us Apart - it's the only cover of this song I've ever heard (and believe me, there are MANY) that does it justice. They play it on a much happier and somewhat faster note than the original, but it sounds really good.
While we're there, 16 Horsepower did a
kick ass cover of Heart and Soul (Joy Division again). All Joy Division cover attempts usually turn to disaster, but 16 HP are just weird and brilliant enough to pull it off.
Jose Gonzalez does
good covers too.