Cover of the Week

JOHN PARISH & ALDOUS HARDING Groove And Move On Their NICK DRAKE Cover

Posted on by JL

25 May 2023


(Photo by Michelle Henning)

On 7th July a new NICK DRAKE tribute album, named
The Endless Coloured Ways – The Songs Of Nick Drake
will be released.

Folk songsmith Drake (1948-1974) was/is an inspiration for many singer-songwriters.
His 3 LPs Five Leaves Left (1969), Bryter Layter (1970), and Pink Moon (1972) were and
still are widely lauded. The trouble artist died following an overdose of amitriptyline,
an antidepressant, aged only 26.

25 covers will feature on the compilation. Involved among others are Ben Harper, David Gray, Craig Armstrong, Liz Phair, John Grant, Irish post-punk heroes Fontaines D.C. and also New Zealand songstress ALDOUS HARDING and longtime PJ Harvey collaborator and celebrated producer JOHN PARISH (also 6 solo LPs on his résumé).

The pair picked Drake’s 1969 composition THREE HOURS from the Five Leaves Left LP.

The duo’s take is a Krautrock-like-spinning masterstroke. It moves and grooves along a hypnotic bass riff and a steady drum beat with doomy synths working their way to the front. Mesmerizing and intoxicating while duet vocals float all over it, alluring and affecting. Special, really special.

Enjoy.

Original.

NICK DRAKE: Bio – Discography

(Nick Drake image: cover of ‘No Time To Reply‘ compilation LP)

Veteran Hardcore Punks FEAR Turn Up The Voltage With A AC/DC Cover

Posted on by JL

17 May 2023

Los Angeles’ veteran hardcore punks FEAR started their loud
and turbulent crusade back in 1977 and never looked back.

Despite countless line-ups, but still with original guitarist/singer
Lee Ving in the middle they still play live.

Now, ahead of some summer shows they want to draw attention
with their cover of 1976 AC/DC classic Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Sheep.
Hard to beat the iconic Australian rockers, but that ardent harmonica
is pretty cool.

FEAR

AC/DC

FEAR: Bio – Discography – Instagram

GARBAGE Cover SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES – Hear Their Version Of ‘CITIES IN DUST’ Here

Posted on by JL

1 May 2023

Highly lauded rockers GARBAGE, fronted by NME’s Godlike Scottish genius
SHIRLEY MANSON had an exlusive EP called Witness To Your Love out on
Record Store Day last week. It features their 2008 rarity ‘Witness To Your Love’,
three previously unreleased tracks and a pair of originals called ‘Blue Betty’
and ‘Adam And Eve’ both picked from the sessions of 2021’s album No Gods,
No Masters.

And also a cover of Cities In Dust, a single by Siouxsie And The Banshees
from their 1986 Tinderbox album. I can’t think at this moment of anybody else
who can capture Siouxsie‘s spirit better than Shirley Manson who said ‘ without
her there wouldn’t be me.” That makes two icons.

Original

GARBAGE: Instagram – Facebook

The Night Belongs To SUEDE With Their Phenomenal Orchestral PATTI SMITH Cover

Posted on by JL

22 February 2023

Since their reunion in 2010 glam pop legends SUEDE got
tremendously active with 4 albums and constant touring.

This week they did something really amazing. They performed at
the BBC’s Maida Vale Studios for their Piano Room Month‘s series
with artists’ playing the piano room with the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Suede choose to cover the 1978 classic cracker BECAUSE THE NIGHT,
written by Bruce Springsteen and recorded for eternity by Patti Smith.

The band’s take is astonishing. The orchestral magnificence is grand and
frontman Brett Anderson‘s vocal effort is phenomenal. A pure tour de force.

Listen/watch.

SUEDE: Website – Instagram

Liverpool’s Rock Bitches COURTING Cover ICONA POP/CHARLI XCX

Posted on by JL

24 January 2023


(Press photo FB)

Liverpool’s young wolves COURTING made a mighty impression with their
arousing debut album Guitar Music last year. A charged-pop-rock work of
elated electricity.

And now they surprise with a punked-up cover of Icona Pop‘s 2013
booming dancefloor knockout, which also features wildcat Charli XCX.

 

“This song accidentally became a live staple on our previous tour, and we decided
that we had to record it. It is silly, shouty, faithful, and a mere drop of water in the
ocean of how much we adore Charli XCX. We are forever grateful for her artistry.”

Seems like COURTING became rock bitches too.

“You’re on a different road, I’m in the Milky Way
You want me down on Earth, but I am up in space
You’re so damn hard to please, we gotta kill this switch
You’re from the ’70s, but I’m a ’90s bitch
I love it
I love it”

Go gaga.


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The original

COURTING: Facebook – Instagram

Almost 90 And WILLIE NELSON Is ‘BUSTED’

Posted on by JL

18 January 2023

Next April country-pop-rock-folk-blues icon WILLIE NELSON turns 90 but no signs
to slow down. On the contrary, he will celebrate his birthday with a new longplayer,
named I DON’T KNOW A THING ABOUT LOVE.

A tribute album, to an old peer, the late country star HARLAN HOWARD with
Nelson covering 10 of his songs. His son Micah designed the LP’s artwork.

The first taster is BUSTED, a 1961 Howard penned tune.

Tap your feet, nod your head and get lazy to the blues.

Original

WILLIE NELSON: Facebook – Website

(Image: cover of his ‘Spirit’ LP)

TOYAH And ROBERT – Still In The Kitchen At Parties In 2023

Posted on by JL

On the seventh day – almost 3 years ago – TOYAH and her
beloved husband ROBERT FRIPP (King Crimson) created
their Sunday Lunch Sessions as a fun pastime while being
locked up in their kitchen due to that shit virus.

The virus is beaten and (almost) gone, but these two rockin’
clowns offsprings are still alive and kicking hard, and they’ll
keep on doing it in 2023.

Join them for a mental take on The Offspring
1998 cracker The Kids Aren’t Alright.

Right here, right now…

Original

TOYAH-ROBERT: Website

THE DANDY WARHOLS Know WHAT WE ALL WANT When Covering GANG OF FOUR

Posted on by JL

3 January 2023

British indie legends Gang Of Four influenced many post-punk bands,
mainly because of guitarist Andy Gill‘s innovative way of play.

Almost 3 years ago, he passed away due to multiple organ failure and pneumonia.
He was only 1964. Since then, multiple artists paid tribute with covers of Gang Of Four songs.

One of the most notable is the rendition by Portland’s groove turbine
The Dandy Warhols of 1981 track What We All Want. A stunner of
a version. Check it out below.

Could I be happy with something else
I need something to fill my time
Could I be happy with someone else
I need someone to fill my time


.
The original

GANG OF FOUR: Bio – Discography


(The Dandy Warhols – photo by Turn Up The Volume!)

Striking Version – DAVE GROHL And Friends Cover RANDY NEWMAN’s ‘I LOVE L.A.’

Posted on by JL

It’s the third, consecutive year now that foo fighter Dave Grohl
and his buddy, producer/multi-instrumentalist Greg Kurtsin their
Hanukkah Sessions.

On one of them Grohl invited some friends – YYYs Karen O, Beck
and Tenacious D – to join him on backing vocals for his cover of
Randy Newman 1983 hit I LOVE L.A..

And? Grohl is on an energetic roll. A pretty striking version. Big fun.

Original

Portland’s Dream Pop Duo PURE BATHING CULTURE Cover THE PRETENDERS’ Xmas Classic ‘2000 MILES’

Posted on by JL

5 December 2022

It’s been 2 years since Portland’s dream pop duo PURE BATHING CULTURE
released their latest longplayer – the 4th in 10 years – with Hats.

They return now to connect with the upcoming holidays with a cover of the magnific 1983 Xmas reverie 200 MILES (more than 84 million streams on Spotify) by THE PRETENDERS, written/sung by the fabulous Chrissie Hynde.

PBC shared it along with this message.

“hi friends! happy holidays! we’re excited to share our cover of 2000 miles by one of
our very favorite bands the pretenders! it was truly a joy to explore this song together.  

the holidays can be tough especially if you’ve lost someone or if you’re separated from loved ones, so this one goes out to anyone who’s going through a hard time right now. sometimes there’s magic to be found in the melancholy though…it’s been a rough year for us in a lot of ways but you all are our diamonds sparkling in the snow. thank you for being here with us!
your support here at bandcamp truly makes a huge difference.

we love you all, thank you so much for listening to our music we love being here with you!”

PBC‘s take has a similar approach, sounding both emotive and tender,
not cheesy Xmassy. Sarah Versprille‘s starry-eyed voice and Daniel Hindman‘s
sparkling guitar lines come together just beautifully. Glorious version.

Stream/buy
the track here…


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Original version

PBC: Facebook – Instagram