Not all new music is really new, as many artists cover songs. Sometimes these are songs by their favorite artists, eg as a tribute to such a musical hero for a special reason, or they simply feel that a song deserves to be dusted and polished to reacquaint fans with great songs from the past. Other times, bands cover songs as a parody. Regardless of intent, some of those cover versions are so good or so much fun, we’d like to put a spotlight on them. Chosen from a wide range, here are – in random order – ten of our favorite covers from last month – links to the pages where you can add them to your wantlist included.
One final look back at 2023 before we start 2024. In December we not only came across countless Christmas adaptations, but we also listened to cover releases by Jim Bob (This Is My Mix Tape), friends & family of Dan Sartain (Dan Sartain Vs. The World (is gonna break your little heart)), various artists from the Dualtone roster (Discovered & Covered), Trevor Horn (Echoes – Ancient & Modern), The Anchoress (Versions), Dave Finney & The Procrastinators (Covers) and Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection (Aquarium Drunkard Lagniappe Session 2), and to tributes by various artists to Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Smiths, Metallica (all on Cleopatra Records) and Guided By Voices (Rusted Gear Records), but below you can hear ten other melancholic cover songs to evoke nostalgic feelings.
My Shadow Tags on Behind || Cover: The Cribs || Original: Adam Green
On Capitane Records’ 2-LP Moping in Style: A Tribute to Adam Green, 26 largely well-known names – Jeffrey Lewis, Regina Spektor, Father John Misty, Devendra Banhart, The Libertines, Sean Lennon, The Lemonheads, and so on – show how many good songs the American singer/songwriter delivered after his life in the Moldy Peaches. Lots of successful material, but I particularly enjoyed hearing British indie rock band The Cribs again.
Starry Eyes || Cover: Tony Marsico || Original: Roky Erickson
Californian bassist/singer/songwriter Tony Marsico (The Plugz, Cruzados) is back at the front with the entertaining 6-track EP Sleepwalker (Rum Bar Records). In addition to appealing originals, it contains a strong cover of the indestructible Starry Eyes, first released by Roky Erickson & Bleibalien in 1975.
2000 Miles || Cover: deary || Original: Pretenders
Sonic Cathedral put out a beautiful limited-edition split 7”, pressed on candy cane vinyl: Shoegazer Christmas – now sold out. On side AA you’ll hear Three Quarter Skies’ Holy Water, but here we share British dream pop duo deary and their Mazzy Star-esque take on 1983 Christmas song 2000 Miles from side A.
Band On The Run || Cover: Fantastic Cat || Original: Paul McCartney And Wings
Wings’ Band On The Run LP is exactly 50 years old, which is being celebrated by NYC supergroup Fantastic Cat with a fun vocal-trading and instrument-swapping cover of the title track (“We love shining a light on obscure artists like this”), recorded with producer Butch Walker, who also sings and plays guitar on the new version.
Working Class Hero || Cat Power & Iggy Pop || John Lennon
Marianne Faithfull is recovering from Long COVID, the proceeds from The Faithful: A Tribute to Marianne Faithfull 2-LP (In The Q Records) should help her with this. The album consists of 19 covers originally performed by the legendary English singer/actress between 1964 and 2004, including this special collaboration between Cat Power (she also Sings Dylan) and Iggy Pop.
Fruits Of My Labor || Cover: Amos Lee || Original: Lucinda Williams
Record Store Day brought the limited edition ‘honeysuckle swirl’ vinyl LP Honeysuckle Switches (Thirty Tigers), on which Amos Lee performs 12 Lucinda Williams songs. Although the beautiful original version of Fruits Of My Labor (from World Without Tears, 2003) can’t actually be beaten, this cover by the American singer-songwriter is very meritorious.
Bizarre Love Triangle || Cover: The Photocopies || Original: New Order
Regular visitors to our little blog will know that we’re fans of indie pop outfit The Photocopies aka prolific artist Sean Turner. His most recent release, called Rearranged, is a free compilation of cover versions previously released in 2022 and 2023, including songs first recorded by Primal Scream, Bob Dylan, Kylie Minogue, The Lilac Time, My Bloody Valentine, The Television Personalities, The Velvet Underground, and… New Order.
Lodi || Cover: Dead Bars || Original: Creedence Clearwater Revival
Iodine Recordings has started a cover series, and Washington-based punk band Dead Bars fills Jukebox Vol 1. with their loud but melodic renditions of Morphine’s Cure For Pain and CCR’s Lodi. If the band owned a bar, these songs would be on their jukebox, and I completely understand that.
You’re Standing on my Neck || Cover: Katy Needs A Life || Original: Splendora
Fake Baseball presents a charity compilation with Cartoon Covers by Michigan Artists, a benefit for the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council. One of its highlights is this punky cover of the theme song for MTV’s animated sitcom Daria, by sad-pop band Katy Needs A Life.
Shake It Off || Cover: The Courettes || Original: Taylor Swift
We have been fans of the fabulous Courettes for a long time, but the Brazilian/Danish garage rock duo continues to amaze. I didn’t see this cover coming, but the vintage sauce gives the poppy original an appetizing color. Out digitally via Cleopatra Records.
Bonus: This touched me the most last month, so I would like to leave you with this closing note.
Fairytale of New York || Cover: Glen Hansard & Lisa O’Neill || Original: The Pogues
The funeral of Shane MacGowan was a fitting and honorable tribute to the frontman of The Pogues, full of music. Backed by remaining members of the punk / folk band, Irish singer-songwriters Glen Hansard (The Frames) and Lisa O’Neill convincingly performed 1987 Christmas classic Fairytale of New York – churchgoers danced with laughter and tears.
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.
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