Each week I'm posting a random or not-so-random cover song. Only the current week's track will be available but if you see a past one you'd like, contact me and we'll make arrangements.
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Sunday, May 2nd, 2010
A.C. Newman covers a-ha
sheandhimfan.comAs New Pornographers mastermind Carl Newman – operating under his solo guise of A.C. Newman – begins his contribution to last year’s Starbucks Valentine’s Day-themed Sweetheart covers compilation, you get the sense that maybe he’s taking the easy way out. The signature opening keyboard lines of a-ha’s “Take On Me” are represented by some background pads before Newman comes in on acoustic guitar, strumming and singing coffee house-style. Which would be fine, I suppose, as stripping down any ’80s synth-pop tune to six strings and voice would qualify as a reinvention.
When the chorus arrives, however, so to do the synths return with some reverb-laden strings in tow and they remain through the remainder of the song, adding a ghostly majesty to the proceedings and perhaps giving Newman the wherewithal to not only attempt but hit those signature Morten Harket high notes – Newman has many talents, but massive vocal range generally isn’t one of them so it’s quite a feat. And then the signature riff does arrive in the bridge, sounding Casio-powered and string-assisted, and with that checked off it’s just riding the chorus through to the end whilst letting the strings off the leash to up the grandeur.
And that, kids, is how you do a cover.
The New Pornographers’ Together is out this week and they play The Sound Academy on June 15. a-ha’s farewell world tour arrives at Massey Hall on May 10 and I am giving away tickets.
MP3: A.C. Newman – “Take On Me”
Video: a-ha – “Take On Me”
Sunday, April 25th, 2010
Jonsi and Little Boots cover MGMT (not together)
Lilja & Inga BirgisdottirThe first of these covers made the blog rounds not too long ago, but the timing is such that I can’t resist making it this week’s selection and the second, well, that would have been just as perfect if only…
Anyways. First, you’ve got the inexplicably (to me, anyways) popular MGMT, who released their second album Congratulations a couple of weeks ago. Despite a high chart showing, it’s gotten a pretty polarizing response for apparently not sounding much like their debut Oracular Spectacular, which by extension means that none of the songs is as immediate as “Time To Pretend” and might not inspire covers such as these ones by Jonsi or Little Boots. The Jonsi cover, recorded for BBC Radio 1, is the more transformative of the two what with being performed on sombre piano, shed of the fun-time synths of the original. Little Boots recorded hers cover for her YouTube channel and despite being armed with just her Tenori-On, does a pretty faithful rendering (the audio isn’t great as it’s ripped from said YouTube vid).
The big moment of synchronicity amongst these three versions is that MGMT are playing a tiny (for them) club show at the Mod Club this Thursday night – presumably something bigger is coming later this Summer – while Sigur Ros frontman Jonsi is playing the Sound Academy for two nights this Friday and Saturday night in support of his solo debut Go and Little Boots was supposed to play the Phoenix on Friday night but that, along with most of her North American tour dates, was canceled a couple months ago for no given reason. But still, if that hadn’t happened you could have seen all three in three nights. Whoo.
The Chicago Tribune has a feature on Jonsi while Clash talks to MGMT.
MP3: Jonsi – “Time To Pretend”
MP3: Little Boots – “Time To Pretend”
Video: Little Boots – “Time To Pretend”
Video: MGMT – “Time To Pretend”
Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Hot Chip covers Marvin Gaye
WikipediaThere is no way to out-sexy Marvin Gaye. It simply cannot be done, especially if you’re talking about one of his signature sexy songs – in this case, “Sexual Healing” from his final studio album, 1982’s Midnight Love.
English electro-indie outfit Hot Chip know this, thankfully, and when it came time to record a b-side for Over And Over – taken from their 2006 release The Warning – they opted not to use the Prince Of Soul’s silky approach, but their own trademark patchwork of synthetic throbs, studio-induced stutters and organic instruments. As a result, their version sounds like the soundtrack to a seduction that’s as awkward and fumbling as it is smooth, but confident in its own, post-modern way and – most importantly – ultimately successful. Aww yeah.
The Mirror, Gear 4 Music and The Aquarian Weekly have features on Hot Chip, who bring their third record One Life Stand to the Kool Haus on Tuesday for a sold-out show. Marvin Gaye was born 71 years ago and died 26 years ago, both this month.
MP3: Hot Chip – “Sexual Healing”
Video: Marvin Gaye – “Sexual Healing”
Sunday, April 11th, 2010
The Wedding Present covers Pavement
The Moment’s GoneConsider this entry a bit of an adjunct to yesterday’s contest post wherein I wondered exactly which edition of Bizarro we’d hear The Wedding Present perform on the album’s 20th anniversary tour. Because if they do what’s probably the right thing and stick to the original album’s 10 tracks, then we may not get to hear their version of Pavement’s “Box Elder”, which was originally included as a b-side on the Brassneck EP and added to the US edition of the album as well as the 2001 reissue.
For further information and context, refer to this FAQs.org piece on the band, particularly item 5.2 which I’ve helpfully copied out here below:
Q5.2 Did TWP cover a Pavement song? Where can I find the original?
A5.2 David Gedge: “Keith returned from a holiday in America in 1989 with a cassette of [“Box Elder”] which we all liked and decided to cover on the Brassneck E.P. ”
It can also be found on the American version of Bizarro, as well as Hit Parade 3.
The original version by Pavement can be found on the Slay Tracks record, as well as their Westing (By Musket & Sextant) compilation.
This question comes up because Pavement were not credited on the US version, though they were on the UK version. Also the copyright date on Westing is later than that of Bizarro, leading people to believe that Pavement covered TWP.
Though it should be noted that according to this, “Box Elder” never actually did appear on the France-only mini-LP Hit Parade 3. So interestingly, what was one of the band’s more popular early tracks was also one of the more elusive to actually get a hold of in some parts of the world, at least until the digital age.
Anyways, what’s important is this – The Wedding Present are at the Horseshoe this Wednesday night, April 14, and may or may not play “Box Elder”. The reunited Pavement are headlining the Toronto Island Concert on June 19 and almost certainly will.
MP3: The Wedding Present – “Box Elder Mo”
Video: Pavement – “Box Elder” (live)
Sunday, April 4th, 2010
Final Fantasy covers Joanna Newsom
WikipediaFlashback: 2006. Tiny Toronto label Escape Goat Records releases Young Canadian Mothers, a 10″ 7″ EP for local violin wunderkind Owen Pallett, who had released his debut album Has A Good Home under the Final Fantasy moniker the year before. It includes a cover of a song The Milk-Eyed Mender, the debut from California harpist Joanna Newsom, which had come out two year prior to decidedly polarizing response. The song in question – “Peach, Plum, Pear” – was a perfect pairing of two decidedly idiosyncratic artists who seemed destined to ply their craft on the fringes of the pop music world.
Fast forward to 2010 and the two former outsiders are now very much on the inside. In addition to being a highly in-demand string arranger for high profile acts like Arcade Fire, Pet Shop Boys and The Last Shadow Puppets, Pallett – now operating under his own name – won the inaugural Polaris Music Prize in 2006 and threatens to be the first repeat winner with this year’s Heartland. Newsom’s epic Ys was similarly one of the most acclaimed albums of 2006 and her new triple-album Have One On Me is, if possible, even more acclaimed. And Pallett’s recording of “Peach, Plum, Pear”? Still perfect.
Pallett plays the Queen Elizabeth Theatre this Thursday evening, April 8. Having just wrapped a North American tour, Newsom may be hitting the road again this Fall.
MP3: Final Fantasy – “Peach, Plum, Pear”
Video: Joanna Newsom – “Peach, Plum, Pear” (live)
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