This gem was submitted by Mark Adams
Jawbreaker is one of my all time favorite bands. Granted the four chord punk riff simplicity of the “Boxcar” (1994) verse is nothing mind blowingly original. But check out Green Day‘s “She’s a Rebel” (2004) and the similarity is unmistakable.
Green Day - "She's a Rebel" (2004)
Jawbreaker - "Boxcar" (1994)
This is not the first time Green Day has appeared on this site. Check some of these other posts:
Green Day vs. ELO vs. Scott McKenzie
Green Day vs. Motley Crue vs. Bryan Adams
Green Day vs. Night Ranger
And the riff from Platypus (I Hate You) off of nimrod in 1997 sounds kind of like Master of Puppets by Metallica (1986).
http://www.muzu.tv/metallica/master-of-puppets-video/267173/undefined
This might be a bit of a stretch, but the riff from East Jesus Nowhere (2009) sounds kind of like that of Locomotive Breath by Jethro Tull (1971). Anyway, it sounds more like Locomotive Breath than Disposable Teens by Marilyn Manson, where the only similarity is the deadened strums. There is also a video performance for the Green Day song where Will Ferrell plays Cowbell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPu18Wt8e7Y
The Forgotten (2012) sounds kind of like Always On My Mind, written by Willie Nelson and originally performed by Brenda Lee (1972). Interesting that the similar portions begin at around the same point and that’s not the beginning. All I know about the chart performance of The Forgotten is that it reached #39 on the UK Rock Chart, according to Wikipedia, but there are some references. I suppose Megan Washington’s new song Begin Again sounds kind of like these, but I can’t find it on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rs2m3lhg-k#t=1m30s
And the melody of Boxcar sounds kind of like Exhuming McCarthy by R.E.M, off of Document (1987) and Strange by Wire (1977). A comment states that Strange sounds like Sister Ray by The Velvet Underground (1968). R.E.M. covered Strange on the same album.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDclzxulwT8
While I’m on the subject The One I Love by R.E.M. (1987) sounds kind of like Solitary Man by Neil Diamond (1966).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7oQEPfe-O8
I think Pick Up Lines by Dynamite Hack sounds like a faster Boxcar.