This week... COVERS
Eels - Get Ur Freak On (Missy Elliott)
I absolutely love this cover, it makes me laugh every time I hear it. I love the Eels so it's great to see them do something that's completely not their style and do it brilliantly. Crackaaaa!
Jareth Wolfe
Lake Street Dive - I Want You Back (The Jackson 5)
On the strength of this cover alone, I bought Lake Street Dive's entire back catalogue and don't regret it one bit. It's a real jazzy soul-infused interpretation of a Motown classic, and I could listen to it all day. In fact, I often do. It certainly blows previous covers - by the likes of Taylor Swift and 90s girl-band Cleopatra - out of the water.
Eoin Smith
Ashley Park - Never Meant (American Football)
Ashley Park - Never Meant (American Football)
A great moment after a gig in Aberdeen on a Friday night. A drunk Craig Henderson (known as Ashley Park) sits on Little Belmont Street and plays American Football’s Never Meant with great aplomb. A 2 minute snippet of a local talent that saw people on nights out stopping to listen in.
Dallas James
Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
Maybe a bit of an obvious pick, but a track that many don't seem to realise is actually a cover of an earlier Leonard Cohen track, and not an original by Jeff Buckley. Cover or not there is a reason most people think of this track when you mention Jeff Buckley - beautiful guitar playing, heartfelt lyrics and some stunning and powerful vocals, Jeff made this track his own and holds a place as one of those mythical people who actually managed to play a cover that was just as good - if not better - than the original, which can sometimes be something of a rarity.
David Lovie
My Bloody Valentine - Map Ref 41N 93W (Wire)
Often, some of the best covers do not re-invent the wheel per se, but retain the winning formula of the original; and My Bloody Valentine's version of Wire's Map Ref 41N 93W is no exception. It sticks true to the 1979 single in several elements; the danceable, propulsive beat and robotic kraut bass are present and correct, as are the strong group vocals, accentuated in MBVs version by plenty of washy reverb. So how do MBV produce such a striking version? They stick their guitars the most insane envelope filter pedal they can find to produce a startling array of glitchy synth tones and low purring swells to create nothing short of a bona fide floorfiller. Best enjoyed through a decent pair of headphones to get the best from the panning, play loud.
Claire Harkins
Chromatics - Into The Black (Neil Young)
It's a tough call to pick just one cover, so I've decided to pick the last cover I heard that really impressed me. I like covers where the artist has departed from the original in some way in order to make it their own and Chromatics certainly fit the bill here. From the recognisable opening riff of Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black) delivered amongst lethargic strumming and syrupy synths you can tell that this is Neil Young, but not as you know it.
James MacKinnon
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