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.
We’ve already written about Brad Marino’s rarities collection On The Brink, of which his take on Hoodoo Gurus’ What’s My Scene has been bouncing around in my head ever since, but here’s some new ones for you.
Terry || Cover: Big Mess || Original: Kirsty MacColl
Sometimes you hear a song that you immediately take to your heart and text to your friends. The title track that kicks off the Terry EP by Danish punk rock band Big Mess is one of those. What a hit! It turns out to be a cover of Kirsty MacColl‘s 1983 pop single, but then provided with dynamite, which also applies to the tunes that follow. Out on 7″ vinyl through Specialist Subject Records.
Suffragette City || Cover: The Molotovs || Original: David Bowie
More More More is the first single of London-based siblings Mathew and Issey Cartlidge as The Molotovs, yet the British music press has already embraced them as the next sensation, generating a buzz like experiencing The Undertones, Arctic Monkeys or The Libertines for the first time. The B-side features a confident live version of David Bowie‘s 1976 glam rock banger Suffragette City that perfectly suits their own electrifying sound. Out on 7″ vinyl through Marshall Records.
All Tomorrow’s Parties || Cover: Grace Bergere feat. Thurston Moore || Original: The Velvet Underground & Nico
Gogol Bordello’s Ukrainian frontman Eugene Hütz has announced NYContinuity Vol.1: New New York Does Old New York, a cross-generational compilation featuring artists such as Karen O, Puzzled Panther, Mary Shelley, Crazy & The Brains, and Pons, with both originals and covers. He is on a mission to preserve, perpetuate and accelerate NYC’s sonic culture—fostering generational cross-pollination, and uniting punk and hardcore artists to sustain the genre’s legacy of identity and belonging, that’s why. The album releases April 4 on Casa Gogol Records. First single is an enthralling cover of 1966 classic All Tomorrow’s Parties by singer-songwriter Grace Bergere, in collaboration with Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth).
Pale Blue Eyes || Cover: Yea-Ming and The Rumours || Original: The Velvet Underground
There’s no such thing as too much VU, so here we go. Yea-Ming Chen is working on The Rumours‘ 4th album, which should be released on Dandy Boy Records in 2026. To ease the wait, you can fall back on last year’s I Can’t Have It All LP, but she has also put online an alluring indie pop version—with the help of Rob Good on lead guitar—of Lou Reed-penned Pale Blue Eyes (it was originally recorded for the Oakland Weekender 2024 compilation tape). She explains: “I own a thick book of Lou Reed’s lyrics and pull it off the shelf at times of despair, and especially artistic ones, to remember why I started writing songs in the first place. He is easily one of my favorite lyricists. I always wished I could make music as moody and beautiful as his.” We would not want to change anything about her own music.
I Only Want To Be With You || Cover: TarantinosNYC || Original: Dusty Springfield
For about 20 years, New York City’s TarantinosNYC have been bringing a mix of 60s/70s-inspired surf, soul, spy, and spaghetti western music, with a big nod to the films of Quentin Tarantino. On their latest album Once Upon A Time In…, Paulie Tarantino (guitars), Tricia Tarantino (bass), Louie Tarantino (keys), and Tony Tarantino (drums, percussion) deliver ten new instrumentals, both originals and covers, but always with a link to some soundtrack. Dusty Springfield‘s first single—from 1963—becomes a cheerful floor filler in this way.
Orgiastic || Cover: Bibi Club || Original: Stereolab
To celebrate the first anniversary of Feu De Garde, Montreal-based electro pop duo Bibi Club—Adèle Trottier-Rivard (vocals, keys) and Nicolas Basque (guitars)—have announced an expanded version of their adventurous album. The forthcoming deluxe edition includes three reinterpretations of songs that appeared on last year’s original record, plus a rousing cover of Orgiastic, taken from Stereolab‘s 1992 Peng! debut LP. Feu De Garde (Les Braises) will be released digitally on May 9th via Secret City Records.
Naked When You Come || Cover: Immaterial Possession || Original: The Lollipops
For their first ever cover song, Athens, Georgia-based psych-folk quartet Immaterial Possession turned to a 1966 single by Scandinavian teenage trio The Lollipops: “I came across this song some years ago and fell in love. It has a groove that could be almost twisted into contemporary hip hop, but with a very 60s delivery, bone-chilling existential lyrics and vocals with the perfect Danish to English accent. It felt very ‘us’ when I heard it.” It led to a cinematic remake—equal parts sultry and enchanting—which is faithful to the original. Out digitally via Fire Records.
Beautiful || Cover: Loren Kramar || Original: Lana Del Rey
On his debut album Glovemaker, we got to know Los Angeles-based Loren Kramar last year as an extraordinary songsmith with an amazing voice and a soulful sense of theater (check out the iconic single Hollywood Blvd, and you’ll know what I mean). Now he surprises again with the Living Legend EP, on which he sings five songs by Lana Del Rey. It is a heartfelt and delightful tribute. Out now digitally via Secretly Canadian.
Human Touch || Cover: Kathleen Edwards feat. Bahamas || Original: Bruce Springsteen
Ottawa, Ontario-based singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards has put out some beautiful work of her own, but now she’s back with the Covers LP, on which she performs eight songs—you guessed it—by others. You’ll hear subdued, acoustic versions of lesser-known songs by Tom Petty, Jason Isbell, Bruce Springsteen, The Flaming Lips, Supertramp, Paul Westerberg, John Prine, and R.E.M.—Americana with angelic vocals in the lead role. I could have picked any. Out digitally and on vinyl LP through Dualtone.
Never Say Never || Cover: Spark of Life feat. Fred Armisen || Original: That Dog
In the run-up to their sophomore full-length Plagued By The Human Condition—over 20 years after their debut record—Southern California post-hardcore band Spark of Life shared a cover of Never Say Never, for which they enlisted longtime friend and comedian/musician Fred Armisen to take a seat behind the drum kit. In the late 90s, That Dog‘s Retreat From The Sun would regularly blast from the speakers as these guys spent their evenings skateboarding, making this tune a natural choice, one that is executed suberbly. The new album drops May 30 on New Age Records.
Also worth mentioning:
Can You Feel My Heart (Bring Me The Horizon) by Fontaines D.C. [for Like A Version]
Close My Eyes (Arthur Russell) by Jake Xerxes Fussell
A Forest (The Cure) by Whiskey Daredevils [from Fast And Furious LP]
Fragile (Sting) by Aaron May & David Ridley [from Adolescence soundtrack]
Hercules (Aaron Neville) by Night Owls feat. Alex Désert & The Lions [F-Spot 7″]
Hybrid Moments (Misfits) by Waylon Thornton [from Thee Poison In Apple Seeds LP]
I’m Like a Bird (Nelly Furtado) by Good Kid [from The JUNO Sessions]
Message To Pretty (Love) by Magon [from Tales Of A Mountain Child LP]
Old Man (Neil Young) by Stephen Marley
Rock & Roll Queen (The Subways) by Alex Lahey
Seasons (Earth and Fire) by Johan feat. Fiep [from The Soundtrack of our Lives EP]
Torn (Lis Sørensen) by Weakened Friends
Up On The Roof (The Drifters) by Joe Normal
Check out our Dusted playlist on Spotify for more worthy cover songs.
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