Under The Radar: The Diamond Family Archive

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Mar 312011
 

Under the Radar shines a light on lesser-known cover artists. If you’re not listening to these folks, you should. Catch up on past installments here.

Although The Diamond Family Archive may sound like the name of a big band, it consists only of one man, by the name of Laurence Collyer. Settled on the south coast of England in Brighton, this ZZ-Top-bearded singer is a veritable jack of all trades in the music business. Along with writing, recording and producing his own songs through his own label, he also drops in to play with other local British bands and occasionally records EPs on friends’ labels. It’s near impossible to know how many albums Collyer has put out between his own projects and colleagues’ and he often limits printed album copies to less than 100 (including hand drawn artwork and other treasures). Despite being this busy, The Diamond Family Archive’s website labels him “reclusive.” Continue reading »

Corin Joel Acoustifies Bieber and Britney, Katy and Ke$ha

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Mar 312011
 

It’s easy to have low expectations of acoustic covers of pop songs. It’s understandable that so many of them are as difficult to listen to as the originals; with the general simplicity of the originals, an artist might be quick to think they’ve nailed it. Oftentimes they’re right and they have nailed it – this, however, doesn’t mean that the cover is good. Corin Joel blows this generalization out of the water with his recent batch of covers: Britney Spears’ “Hold it Against Me,” Ke$ha’s “We R Who We R,” Sean Kingston and Justin Bieber’s “Eenie Meenie,” and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” Continue reading »

Amber Wilson Gives Delicate Treatment to Band of Horses’ “Detlef Schrempf”

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Mar 312011
 

Certainly one of the more enigmatic song titles of recent years, “Detlef Schrempf,” by Seattle’s Band of Horses, is not the sound of an old man clearing his throat, but the name of a basketball player. No matter, the title actually has nothing to do with the song at all, instead simply chosen as a temporary name that bandleader Ben Bridwell never dropped. Now Scottish acoustic artist Amber Wilson presents her version of the track originally found on 2007’s Cease To Begin. Continue reading »

This “Friday,” Kick It with Rebecca Black Covers from Kyle Puccia and For Orchestra

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Mar 312011
 

As the weekend approaches, you might find yourself facing some difficult questions: Are you going to kick it in the front seat or the back seat? What day comes after Saturday? Will you have fun fun fun fun? Lucky for you, two more intrepid cover artists answered those questions this week with takes on the irritatingly ubiquitous Rebecca Black track “Friday.” Continue reading »

Watch: Jamie Woon Takes Adele’s “Someone Like You” Into The Live Lounge

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Mar 312011
 

The astute Cover Me reader may have already noticed the disproportionately large number of great covers that come out of BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge. Perhaps there’s something in the air there, or maybe just a producer who knows how to bring quality covers out of all their performers. British singer-songwriter Jamie Woon recently emerged from the lounge with a cover of Adele‘s “Someone Like You.” Continue reading »

Moptop Madness: Neil Young’s “A Day in the Life” vs. Booker T. and the M.G.s’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)”

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Mar 312011
 

This March, we pit 64 Beatles covers against each other in what we call Moptop Madness.

Yesterday’s winner: Jake Shimabukuro, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”

The second Elite Eight battle looks to be a doozy. Two heavy hitters butt heads when Neil Young’s guitar on “A Day in the Life” challenges Booker T.’s “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” organ. Either could end up taking it all, but only one will make it to the Final Four.

Listen to both songs below, then vote for your favorite. For added sway, try to convince others to vote your way in the comments. Voting closes in 24 hours. Continue reading »

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