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.
In January we already wrote about new releases with covers of Love & Happiness (Al Green) by Boogie Rockafella, The Hunt (New Model Army) by The Daniel James Gang, Boys Don’t Cry (The Cure) by Baby Combat, Running Away From You (The Rats) by Total Whine and Strychnine (The Sonics) by Walter Daniels, but let’s highlight some other choice cuts here.
This Strange Effect || Cover: Laundromat Chicks || Original: Dave Berry
It’s brave to start your album with a cover as well-known as this 1965 classic written by Ray Davies, but in the case of Laundromat Chicks’ intriguing Sometimes Possessed LP (Siluh Records), it does a great job of setting the tone for the original songs that follow. The four-piece from Vienna, Austria deliver a half hour of charming jangle pop that they claim is like a fever dream, coming from somewhere far away or almost forgotten. I’ve been listening to this record a lot in the wake of David Lynch’s passing, so it’s become something of a soundtrack to my memories of the iconic filmmaker’s idiosyncratic work for me—both the subject matter on this album and the atmosphere the songs breathe fit in very well.
In Dreams || Cover: Brigid Mae Power || Original: Roy Orbison
Thinking of David Lynch is not just thinking of Twin Peaks and Mulholland Drive, but also of 1986 masterpiece Blue Velvet, in which Roy Orbison’s 1963 song In Dreams takes center stage. In her version, Irish singer-songwriter Brigid Mae Power omits the first verse—the part about “a candy-colored clown” that comes across as so disturbing in the film—but the impressive high notes toward the end more than make up for it. This is the opening track from her new album Songs for You (Watusi), a heartfelt collection of nine folky cover songs dedicated to her father.
Breathe || Cover: J Mascis || Original: The Cure
Both J Mascis and The Cure probably need no introduction, but this song is less well known. Breathe was the B-side of Catch, the second single from the 1987 Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me LP. The Massachusetts-based musician, who released the solid solo album What Do We Do Now (Sub Pop Records) last year, reportedly feels at home in The Cure’s music. That’s what it sounds like.
Close To Me || Cover: Lola Young || Original: The Cure
I usually try to avoid covers of the same band, but for the sake of contrast, I wouldn’t want to withhold Lola Young’s contribution to triple j’s Like A Version. The British singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalist, who made waves last year with her sophomore album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, makes a completely different song of it, with a big dose of soul.
Cue Cards || Cover: Julia & The Squeezettes || Original: Lync
We’re dealing with a supergroup featuring Julia Kugel of The Coathangers, Staz Lindes of The Paranoyds, Bonnie Bloomgarden of Death Valley Girls and Rikki Styxx of The Two Tens, who put Olympia post-hardcore trio Lync back in the spotlight by covering a track from their 1994 album These Are Not Fall Colors. The original version graces the B-side of a limited edition opaque ocean blue vinyl 7″ (Suicide Squeeze Records). Cool stuff.
Why, Baby, Why || Cover: The Sound Reasons || Original: The Beavers
After their Till The End Of Time EP (2013) and Walk With My Shadow LP (2018), Los Angeles-based garage rockers The Sound Reasons finally make a welcome return. Their Today’s Another Day 7″ (Rogue Records) contains three delicious psych-tinged originals and a catchy cover of a 1967 song by Japanese band The Beavers, reason for me to add not only this single but also the Sixties Japanese Garage-Psych Sampler to my wantlist.
I’m Eighteen || Cover: Sex Mex || Original: Alice Cooper
San Antonio, Texas-based one-man band Sex Mex aka Nathan Gray has collected eight of his loud punk covers on the digital compilation Stuff I Covered (2024-2025). In addition to two Alice Cooper covers, he also dared to crack the whip on work by Pink Floyd, Ween, The Spits and Lou Reed. Raw and intense, it works.
Non, Non Rien N’a Changé || Cover: The Surfbeat Club || Original: Les Poppys
Their 2021 Shakedown And More Hipshakin’ Bronco Beats LP has a proud place in my record collection, now the Belgian party band is back with a bang. They make 1971 hit single Non, Non, Rien N’a Changé their own—you wouldn’t expect it with all the cheerfulness, but it’s an anti-war song—and as if that’s not enough, they even add a Christmas version to it, after Christmas is over.
Yummy Yummy Yummy || Cover: Gene Champagne || Original: Ohio Express
Last year, the drummer of Teenage Head and The Killjoys stepped forward with Let’s Jet, his first real solo EP, containing four successful self-penned songs. Here, the Hamilton, Ontario-based musician shares his take on 1968 bubble gum classic Yummy Yummy Yummy (Rum Bar Records), in a way—at the intersection of power pop and punk—that’s not only catchy but also tough.
Où va la chance? || Cover: The Limiñanas || Original: Françoise Hardy
Next month, French garage-psych duo The Limiñanas will release a new full-length album called Faded (Because Music), which will be concluded by this cover. Lionel and Marie Limiñana pay tribute to their favorite song by Françoise Hardy, who passed away last year, with a subdued and respectful version.
Also worth mentioning:
Knowledge (Operation Ivy) by Catbite with Laura Jane Grace [Live at The Empty Bottle]
Mountain’r Lower (Jessica Pratt) by Blood Lemon [from Petite Deaths EP]
My Drug Buddy (The Lemonheads) by Chris Black ft. Kevin Morby, Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, Brad Cook & Evan Dando
Time of the Season (The Zombies) by Finneas [for Like A Version]
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more cool cover songs.