Covers

Covers / Listen / Live Performances / Music — 4 Comments
3
Nov 09

VV Brown – Crazy In Love (Beyonce Cover), PMA Premiere

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VV Brown transforms Beyonce’s Pitchfork-adored “Crazy In Love” into a pumped-up, folksy flurry of energy. It’s the latest track in her series of live covers. Past covers include Kid Cudi’s “Day N Nite” and Drake’s “Best I’ve Ever Had.” Her frantic rendition of “Crazy In Love” is easily the best of the bunch and has a killer chance of becoming my favorite cover of the year.

Make sure to check out VV Brown’s latest release, The Attic EP on iTunes. You can now download VV Brown’s “Crazy In Love” cover on MP3! Continue reading →

Covers / Listen / MP3 / Music — 6 Comments
26
Oct 09

Ellie Goulding: Passion Pit, Sam Sparro & Bon Iver Covers

Ellie Goulding: Passion Pit, Sam Sparro & Bon Iver Covers coversLast week I posted Ellie Goulding’s official debut single, “Under The Sheets,” set to be released by Neon Gold. Here are a couple of covers she recorded before getting picked up by Neon Gold. Let me just say that this is a legit way to get attention. Something you working-on-it musicians ought to take note of. It could just be that I like covers, or that I’ve seen it happen many times before. But that’s just my two cents.

From what I gathered, Ellie Goulding has covered Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead,” Sam Sparro’s “Black and Gold” and Bon Iver’s “The Wolves (Act I and II).” The song selection itself speaks volumes about Ellie Goulding, not only as a musician, but also as a music fan. And I’m delighted to say that Ellie Goulding sounds just as comfortable covering one of her electro-pop peers as she sounds covering a cabin-dwelling Northwestern Wisconsinite, lo-fi layered vocals and all. Respect. Continue reading →

Covers / MP3 / Music — 2 Comments
2
Oct 09

Under Cover

I haven’t thrown a bunch of covers at you in a while. I have a handful of covers of well-known songs performed by relatively unknown artists, who really take charge of the tracks, making them their own.

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Covers / Listen / MP3 / Music / Remixes — 2 Comments
1
Oct 09

The xx – You’ve Got the Love (Jamie xx Rework / Florence and the Machine Cover)

The xx really are creating some great remixes, as well as great music, lately. The song wonderfully begins with an entrancing dream-like sequence followed by a beat which remains constant throughout the song. The duel vocal of the xx’s two leads then play off each other with a quiet, subtly confident delivery that goes over incredibly.

Silence fills after a simultaneously delivery of “Your love is real”. The song then explodes with Florence’s soulful back and forth denial and acceptance of “You know it’s real”. This entire 5 minute 44 second song perfectly grasps the emotional highs of love and is a great, highly recommended track.

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Covers / MP3 / Music — 7 Comments
24
Sep 09

Dappled Cities – My Girls (Animal Collective Cover)

Dappled Cities My Girls (Animal Collective Cover) covers

Anyone searching for a stripped down, acoustic rendition of Animal Collective’s song-of-the year-worthy “My Girls” need not look any further. Dappled Cities have delivered a delightful cover of the hit Animal Collective song which has probably been playing in your headphones all year.

This cover, for the most part, takes out all of the intricate beats Animal Collective put together to go with “My Girl” and instead rely on the vocals to carry the song. The one thing Dappled Cities do keep is the drum beat that follows “I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls”; an important part of this song both on the record and during the live show. This cover is definitely a fun listen and it also creates even more appreciation for how great the original version is.

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Covers / MP3 / Music — 9 Comments
8
Sep 09

Paramore – Use Somebody (Kings of Leon Cover)

Paramore Use Somebody (Kings of Leon Cover) covers

I’ve noticed that my favorite covers of the year have been Kings of Leon covers. The lovely Natasha Khan — better known as Bat For Lashes — covered the song that is riding the alternative rock wave that comes around every 5-10 years in radio. Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody” is so ridiculously popular, it has spent the last month and a half in the top tier of the American Singles charts; right after kicking ass all over European and Aussie charts, that is. It is definitely good to be the Kings of Leon right now.

Alt, pop-punk, new(-ish) kids Paramore have decided to take a crack at the chart-topper at BBC’s Live Lounge. The group has been making quite a name for itself over these last few months, releasing 2 or 3 successful singles, as well as writing a track for Twilight. They have also toured with No Doubt (I saw them live one once, but twice this year).

They’re a fun band, but I probably give them too much credit because I am just loving their cover of “Use Somebody.” Their cute, fiery front-girl Hayley Williams sounds reserved (compared to the roaring vocals I heard over the summer), and does a great impression of KoL’s Caleb Followill and his signature raspy voice. Listen to it here:

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Covers / MP3 / Music — 1 Comment
18
Aug 09

From – Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys Cover)

From Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys Cover) covers
The world was a troubled place before October 1986. It brightened up a little right when the immortal words, “Kick It!” exploded through every boom box on the street, followed by the cheesiest and possibly the greatest fusion of rock and rap production of all time.

Even though “Fight For Your Right”’s conception wasn’t so innocent and mostly a joke, it doesn’t take away from what the Beastie Boys and Rick Rubin had created. I will always remember “Fight For Your Right” as one of the greatest party songs ever.

I was delighted when the Harvard-educated, ex-fashion designer and producer/singer/songwriter/front-woman Roni Brunn from From linked me up to her cover of “Fight For Your Right” — en français, bien sûr. In her words:

It’s both intimidating and fun to take on the Beastie Boys, so we made sure our version is very different from the original. It’s in French, for one. We replaced the Deep Purple-style guitar riff with a New Order sound, layered a fuzzed out synth on the 4/4 beat of an 808 kick drum, threw in samples of a Peruvian flute and a cello, and invited an all-girl choir to join in for the chorus.

From – Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys Cover) | mp3

Previously: From – Dream With You ♥♥♥

Covers / MP3 / Music — No Comments
15
Aug 09

Atlas Sound – Walk A Thin Line (Fleetwood Mac Cover)

Atlas Sound Walk A Thin Line (Fleetwood Mac Cover) covers
I’m not an entirely huge Fleetwood Mac fan, but I am a fan of the covers some of my favorite bands put out. Remember Vampire Weekend’s cover of “Everywhere”?

Now Atlas Sound has posted a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Walk A Thin Line” on his Deerhunter blog. Originally off Fleetwood Mac’s Tusk LP, “Walk A Thin Line” has been broken down to a haunting acoustic rendition. It always gets me how Atlas Sound can do so much with so little.

The cover is moved along by steady, monotonous guitar strumming but Atlas Sound’s spot-on harmonies give the track an emotional punch that, given time, can come to knock you out. Listen to it here: Continue reading →

Covers / MP3 / Music — 11 Comments
6
Aug 09

Radiohead – Wonderwall (Oasis Cover)

Radiohead Wonderwall (Oasis Cover) covers
Those of us that grew up in the brief era when Oasis was the shit and Wonderwall plagued the airwaves, might find this brief parody a little offensive. Especially when Thom Yorke seems to forget the lyrics and begins to mumble almost incomprehensibly.

But hey, it’s Radiohead, so I guess it makes it ok. They might be one of a very select few bands that can get away with covering, and simultaneously ‘taking a piss’ (as our English friends would say) on such a 90’s classic. Much thanks to WAWSTSF for unearthing it for us. Continue reading →

Covers / MP3 / Music / Music Videos / Videos — 5 Comments
21
Jul 09

Harlem Shakes – Strictly Game, Music Video / Y Control (Yeah Yeah Yeahs Cover)

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What a concept for a video. I’m really impressed by the creativity and originality. The second time around you watch it it’s even cooler. A concept so simple, yet (correct me if I’m wrong) never really been done before. Badass.

Also, Harlem Shakes’ keyboardist, Kendrick Strauch, got his Karen O on and covered the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ “Y Control” from their critically acclaimed debut, Fever To Tell. The cover is simple, dreamy and smooth. Towards the end, Strauch’s “Y Control” turns into a shimmery, disco-flavored ballad. All the polish doesn’t ever reach the heights Karen O and the YYYs take “Y Control” to. But can anyone? Probably not.

Download it here Continue reading →

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