Nightclubbing

Consequence of Sound has pointed out that Trent Reznor has updated his Vimeo account to include a great performance of covers from a 2006 radio show in Boston which includes a take on Iggy Pop's "Nightclubbing" with Peter Murphy handling the vocals. The song, of course, just throbs with sleazy menace. The beat skulks and cowers and hides in the shadows while the synths sound like they're spoiling right before your eyes.

And considering that Reznor stole the beat for "Closer" from "Nightclubbing," it's not surprising that the cover is excellent. Jeordie White provides all the right accent marks with his fuzzed out guitar solos, and Reznor's piano slinks along like a dirty old man. Peter Murphy adds a bit more oomph to the song than Pop, rounding out the natural bass in his voice. The clean production coupled with Murphy's stately voice adds a certain elegance to the song that I never heard in the original. This subversive reading of the song makes it a surprisingly compelling cover.

You can also take a listen to Murphy's needlessly theatrical cover of NIN's "Hurt" right here if you're so inclined.