Apr 112009
 

Cover News is a weekly feature where I sum up the week’s cover-related news, whether it’s new to the world or just new to me. Anything that doesn’t fit in my regular thematic posts I think my readers would enjoy, be it a youtube video, a blog shout-out, or a cool-looking new release. I also post all the submissions I have gotten from record labels and artists. Send suggestions or submissions to the email address on the right.

This Week’s News

• David Bowie’s “Ziggy Stardust” won this month’s Cover Commissions poll on the right, barely beating out Chumbawamba and Men Without Hats. Look for derpferdheissthorst’s cover in a few weeks. In the meantime, any artists out there who want to participate in the next round, shoot me an email!

• Go-to indie blog news aggregate Stereogum posted plenty of new covers this week. You’ve got Franz Ferdinand’s Britney Spears, No Doubt’s Adam Ant, The Killers’ Bright Eyes, Pattern Is Movement’s Beyoncé, Rivers Cuomo and Rainn Wilson’s Joan Osbourne, and Lemonheads and Liv Tyler’s Leonard Cohen. Enough for ya?

• In more Leonard Cohen news, turns out he’s as sick of “Hallelujah covers as you are. Read about it here, then broaden your horizon by checking out the San Fransisco Chronicle‘s top-ten list of Cohen covers here.

• From Leonard Cohen, we transition smoothly to Britney Spears. Top Ten “Womanizer” covers and remixes thisaway.

• Another pop cover for Kelly Clarkson, plus a reggae “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” and the Cure for all that ails ya compiled over at Rolling Stone.

• Speaking of music magazines (could these transitions be any smoother), in November 2005 Wiremagazine compiled a list of its favorite cover songs ever. It goes beyond just a music list though, describing them all in such detail you have to hear them. Luckily someone has compiled a torrent of not just all the covers mentioned, but all the originals as well! 186 songs, each with a description from the magazine. Unfortunately it’s hosted at Demonoid, a private site, but invites are easy to come by. Particularly if you just so happen to post your email address in the comments. Once you’re in, go here. Until then, download the article and see what you’re missing.

• A few new albums of interest released this week. First up is Score! Twenty Years of Merge Records: The Covers, a new comp of artists covering Merge Records classics like Broken Social Scene, Death Cab, Ryan Adams, etc. Indie-tastic. Read a review here.
Jazz crooner Cassandra Wilson is back with some coverage on Closer to You: The Pop Side, with looks at Dylan, Young, and Lauper.
Another new album is James Taylor’s follow-up/companion to last year’s Covers release. This one’s called Other Covers (real creative Jim) and includes his takes on Katy Perry, Snoop Dogg, and Falco. Fine, I’m jklol, but it does have some Tom Waits, so there’s that.

• Jonesing for more Tom Waits? Check out Berkley Place’s Tom Waits covers set here. Particularly recommended: the Cold War Kids’ “Dirt in the Ground.”

• Alt-rocker Matthew Sweet and ex-Bangle Susanna Hoffs are releasing their second cover album in July, and it looks promising. Stave off anticipation by picking up the first one here.

• NOFX fans, get excited for a ten-inch release of uncredited hardcore covers. As for the rest of us…next!

• Swedish indie band Love Is All have released a tour-exclusive covers EP of “Swedish classics” (those exist?). Though it’s limited to 200 copies, I’m sure it will hit the interwebs soon. They’re also planning a follow-up of “American classics,” and are soliciting suggestions. Herman’s Hermits medley!! More.

• Two quickies: 7 Shot Screamers cover the Smiths’ “Rushholme Ruffians” here and Bob Mould covers Richard Thompson’s “Turning of the Tide” here.

• And finally, in honor of Good Friday, here is a vintage clip of Tenacious D covering Jesus Christ Superstar‘s best track “Heaven on their Minds”.

This Week’s Submissions

The Dartmouth Cords – Mr. Jones (Counting Crows) [Website]

K.J. Denhert – Message in a Bottle (The Police) [Website]

Marshmallow Pop Orchestra – Puttin’ It Down (Beck) [Website]

Jacqui Naylor – Losing My Religion (R.E.M.) [Website]

Van Atta High – Afternoon Delight (Starland Vocal Band) [Website]