Josh Tillman, former Fleet Foxes member that goes by Father John Misty, just released his sophomore effort I Love You, Honeybear on Sub Pop. While promoting his second album, he stopped by Sirius XMU to perform. In addition to performing a stripped down rendition of a couple of tracks off the album, Tillman also paid tribute to fellow Seattleites Nirvana with his take on “Heart-Shaped Box.” Continue reading »
Rhiannon Giddens of the Caroline Chocolate Drops just released a terrific mostly-covers album, but she’s already dropped another cover, this one a duet with Sam Beam of Iron & Wine. For the series finale of the NBC show Parenthood they took on Bob Dylan‘s “Forever Young” (a little on the nose perhaps?). They briefly appeared in the episode recording the track too. Continue reading »
Sweet Judy “Blue Eyes” Collins is still majestic at 75. Judy’s new release, Both Sides Now- The Very Best Of includes 28 beautiful original songs and interpretations of legendary songs. Her first single, “Helpless”, is a Neil Young cover, and a duet with Rachael Sage. Judy has called Neil Young a master songwriter. She has been connected to Neil and the rest of Crosby, Stills, and Nash for many years. It’s her on-again off-again romance with Stephen Stills that inspired Stills to pen the lyrics “change my life, make it right, be my lady…” on “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes”. This was a failed attempt to get Judy back in the late ’60s. But the song was a hit in 1969 and made Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of all Time. You can hear a Collins-Stills duet on the song “Last Thing on My Mind” (2010) on Both Sides Now.
Judy’s been an inspiration to musicians and politicians alike. Bill and Hillary Clinton named their daughter Chelsea after Judy’s rendition of Joni Mitchell’s Chelsea Hotel.
Judy has had her share of struggles; depression, alcoholism, bulimia, and the suicide of her son to name a few battles. She’s triumphed beautifully and is not at all helpless like the title of her first single. Judy’s graceful collaboration with a very young, virtually unknown artist, Rachael Sage, on her first duet is a testament to her humble and true devotion to music.
To read more about Judy, click here.
Some covers are more equal than others. Good, Better, Best looks at three covers and decides who takes home the gold, the silver, and the bronze.
Gorillaz, the superband partnership between Blur’s Damon Albarn and Tank Girl comic artist Jamie Hewlett, mixed up indy rock and trip-hop and became the best-known cartoon band since Jem and the Holograms. Albarn and Hewlett would keep the revolving door on Gorillaz open, working with Lou Reed, Snoop Dogg, and De la Soul, among others; Albans insists that despite rumors of a falling out with Hewlett, Gorillaz is still swinging after more than a decade. They remain best known for “Clint Eastwood,” their first single from their first album. Let’s take a look at some of the better covers of this college classic.
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In what can probably be counted as one of the most oft-covered songs in recent memory, Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” receives yet another reconstruction – this time around, courtesy of NY-based POP ETC (formerly known as The Morning Benders). Continue reading »
This week, Jason Isbell and his wife Amanda Shires dropped a surprise two-song covers EP called Sea Songs. It features sparse takes on two natically-themed tracks, Warren Zevon‘s “Mutineer” and a more unexpected choice: Lykke Li‘s storming “I Follow Rivers.” They just hit the web, stream both below. Continue reading »