Quickies rounds up new can’t-miss covers. Download ‘em below.
• French songwriter Émilie Simon hasn’t released an album in two years, but she just premiered a new cover over at FILTER. It strips Bronski Beat’s 1984 hit “Smalltown Boy” down to piano and, more importantly, Simon’s incredibly rich vocals.
MP3: Émilie Simon – Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat cover)
• The Frown’s “Rock Star” starts out similarly, but angry synth squalls lurk in the shadows. A little past the minute mark, they attack, wiping out the mellow in an electronic annihilation. Eve Rakow’s unhurried vocals deftly ride out the storm. (via Howl Records)
MP3: The Frown – Rock Star (N.E.R.D. cover)
• Former Medicine frontman Brad Laner updates Chicago’s “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” for the 21st century, wrapping it in a blanket of noise without losing the delicacy beneath. This comes off a new collaborative 12” with Finnish trio Joensuu 1685.
MP3: Brad Laner – Feelin’ Stronger Every Day (Chicago cover)
• The second plaintive piano ‘80s hit reimagining adds something more: a Scottish brogue. Arab Strap frontman Aidan Moffat played this one with multi-instrumentalist Bill Wells at the BBC.
MP3: Aidan Moffit and Bill Wells – Cruel Summer (Bananarama cover)
• If you haven’t heard of Mountain Goats’ Hail and Farewell, Gothenburg, here’s the story: an unreleased 1995 album leaked to the Internet in 2007. Goats leader John Darnielle proved less than thrilled, so British musician Vasco de Gama obliged by not listening to it. Not having heard the album isn’t stopping him from covering it though! In a strange twist, he’s adding his own music to the online lyrics. He’s released four songs so far.
MP3: Vasco de Gama – Hello, Old Rabbit (Mountain Goats cover)
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