Full Albums: Wilco’s ‘Yankee Hotel Foxtrot’

 Posted by at 5:00 pm  2 Responses »
Feb 272015
 

Full Albums features covers of every track off a classic album. Got an idea for a future pick? Leave a note in the comments!

yankee hotel foxtrot covers

Writing about Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot seems a little like eating at a buffet right before closing. There may be a few good things left, but it is pretty well picked over, and what’s left has lost its flavor. Few rock albums of the past 20 years have been discussed and analyzed as much as YHF. Yet we proceed, undaunted, because what we do is different. And maybe, just maybe, listening to a full set of covers of each song of this great album will allow you to hear it anew. Because you never know when the buffet is going to get restocked with something fresh.
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Tobias Jesso, Jr. Delivers Plaintive Big Star Cover on the BBC

 Posted by at 12:00 pm  No Responses »
Feb 272015
 

Last night Tobias Jesso Jr. gave a commanding performance with the Roots on The Tonight Show, justifying the insane hype that has built up around the L.A. songwriter. He sounds most similar – and has been most often compared – to Harry Nilsson, but Alex Chilton isn’t too far off either, and that’s who he honored for a cover this week for the BBC. Continue reading »

John Statz Does Country Cover of Radiohead’s “Motion Picture Soundtrack” (Premiere)

 Posted by at 10:00 am  1 Response »
Feb 262015
 

A lot of songwriters call themselves “Americana,” but John Statz the geographical credentials to back it up. He’s from Wisconsin, lives in Colorado, recorded his new album in Vermont, and titled it Tulsa. On one track he looks across the pond though – to Britain’s Radiohead, whose “Motion Picture Soundtrack” he turns into a hushed country lament. Continue reading »

LVL Up Covers Adam Sandler’s ‘Wedding Singer’ Standout

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Feb 242015
 

Say what you will about Adam Sandler‘s recent film offerings, but The Wedding Singer is still a solid comedy. Not only did the movie have a killer ’80s soundtrack, but it also boasted an original song by Sandler’s character Robbie Hart. “Somebody Kill Me” is an oddly endearing song, despite the subject matter. LVL UP has taken The Cure-inspired track and covered it for the Father/Daughter compilation Faux Real II. Continue reading »

love+war Mashes Up Sam Smith and Tom Petty

 Posted by at 10:30 am  1 Response »
Feb 242015
 

At the beginning of the year, Sam Smith quietly settled a copyright dispute with Tom Petty over the striking similarities between Smith’s three-time Grammy-nominated “Stay With Me” and Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down,” co-written with ELO’s Jeff Lynne. Both parties have claimed that there are no hard feelings and have moved on since the incident, which wasn’t even supposed to be made public. In an odd way, it is fortunate for us, because we have been able to hear a myriad of mash-ups of the two songs, including this rerecording by love+war. Continue reading »

2:54 Deliver Haunting Rendition of The Doors’ “Take It As It Comes”

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Feb 232015
 

“Take It As It Comes” was originally recorded and released by The Doors on their debut self-titled album in 1967. Jim Morrison was only about 23 when he penned the lyrics that offer deep wisdom inspired by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, AKA “Giggling Guru”.  In the original version, Jim Morrison sings the lyrics with the conviction and confidence of someone who has deep, and maybe even innate wisdom about life. He was a shaman and The Lizard King after all. Continue reading »

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