Apr 202011
 

No stranger to the charity compilation game, The National (or at least bassist Scott Devendorf) confirmed to Spinner last weekend that they are working on a follow-up to 2009’s Dark Was The Night compilation. Looking again to benefit the Red Hot Organization and the fight against HIV/AIDS, the band plans to gather Grateful Dead covers by willing indie artists. Given that the lineup of the previous compilation consisted of a veritable who’s who of the indie world, the prospect of a covers record has the folks here at Cover Me giddy with anticipation.

So who would you like to see? Devendorf batted around names like Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver and Crystal Castles (?!?). How about Wilco performing “St. Stephen”? Animal Collective playing “Dark Star”? Cat Power singing “Casey Jones”? Robyn doing “Truckin'” (or maybe not!)? Let us know your suggestions in the comments below.

Photo credit: Pitchfork.

Nov 182010
 

Most musicians would find the task of covering Joanna Newsom daunting. The songs are not uncoverable, but she infuses each performance with a uniqueness and delicacy such that each track becomes almost untouchable. Fortunately, some artists possess more vision and creativity than the rest of us.

Due in December, Versions of Joanna (thumbs-up for the title) collects 22 Newsom covers to benefit Oxfam. The usual suspects turn up – if you want to compile a tribute album to anyone, you call M.Ward. That Owen Pallett takes on “Peach, Plum, Pear” isn’t shocking either; he seems to occupy similar artistic and intellectual space to Newsom. More surprisingly though, folk-punk legend Billy Bragg turns in a cover of “On a Good Day”. Continue reading »

Jun 032010
 

Pablo Díaz-Reixa calls the music he makes as El Guincho “space-age exotica.” While this may hold true for his original material, his new set feels more “old-world cucaracha.” The Piratas de Sudamérica series of EPs takes a fresh look at South American standards. You may not know these songs, but listen below to get in the spirit.
Continue reading »