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As a general rule, I'm not too fond of cover versions. A lot of the time I just think 'Why bother? Why not write a brand new track?', but sometimes a cover version sneaks along and takes me by surprise.

One of the best bands to produce awesome cover versions was Guns N'Roses... in fact, they produced a whole album of them in "The Spaghetti Incident?". The good thing about that - largely overlooked and underrated album - is that it introduced me to a whole bunch of songs that I wouldn't have listened to otherwise. For the sake of this article I'm going to list a few songs from the album that I think are worth checking out; "Hair Of The Dog" (I prefer this to the Nazareth version), "Human Being", "Down On The Farm" and "Since I Don't Have You".

Guns N' Roses have also covered some other great songs and done them justice - just listen to their versions of "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", "Sympathy For The Devil" or "Live And Let Die".

Anyway, GN'R aside, I'd like to mention two more cover versions...

Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt" is, in my opinion, a thousand times better than the Nine Inch Nails original. I cannot listen to it without getting goosebumps. That song coupled with Johnny Cash's video (which also featured his wife) is amazing. It's one of the most emotional songs that I have ever heard. Cash really made this one his own. If you haven't listened to it, I'm sure it's on YouTube somewhere so go and check it out.

Vesperian Sorrow's version of "Cry Lil Sister" also deserves a mention as well. Previous to the VS version, I was only aware of this song through the film "The Lost Boys" where it featured on the soundtrack. I didn't really pay too much attention to it then, but when I heard the Vesperian Sorrow version it ignited my interest in the song and the film. I think the track is still available to listen to on Vesperian Sorrow's MySpace site - http://www.myspace.com/vesperi an

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