Bandcamp Archives

Maple Glider Vamps on Folky “You’re Still the One” Cover

Posted by Riley Haas at 11:56 am No Responses »

Jan 252023

“You’re Still the One” is probably Shania Twain’s most covered song though it’s not her absolute biggest hit. That likely has something to do with how classic the melody seems. And the song seems to attract a certain type of performer and performance. Only a few months ago, we were talking about one stripped-down version of this ballad. And now we’ve got another one for you.

Maple Glider is the pseudonym for Australia’s Tori Zietsch, who released her debut album in 2021. On her new version, Zietsch starts out with a subdued, sedate approach. There are actually more instruments here – drums, bass, organ, backing vocals, one or more guitars – than it sounds like at first, but the song has that stripped-down feel because of the mix and aesthetic. Zietch’s voice is right up front and more than once everything but her voice and her guitar drop out. Continue reading »

Admiral Releases Sedate Folk “Pleasant Valley Sunday” off Monkees Covers Album

Posted by Riley Haas at 9:24 am No Responses »

Jan 202023

“Pleasant Valley Sunday” was The Monkees’ fourth Top 5 US hit and Gold Record in less than a year, helping cement their stardom. But, though it’s heavily associated with the happy-go-lucky, manufactured TV rock band, the lyrics are utterly different than any of their other big hits. Written by the legendary Goffin-King after the couple moved to the suburbs, the lyrics mock suburban life and cast a critical eye on materialism. They contrast with the upbeat music, music upbeat enough to fool listeners into thinking it’s a happy song. Continue reading »

Sondre Lerche’s Annual Christmas Cover Tackles Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero”

Posted by Riley Haas at 11:46 am No Responses »

Jan 092023

Every Christmas for well over a decade now, Sondre Lerche releases a new cover of his favourite pop song of the year. He doesn’t always follow the rules exactly – last year he covered both Lady Gaga and Bob Dylan – but, normally, he releases a distinct cover of a recent pop hit. This year, he’s taking on the biggest hit of autumn 2022, Taylor Swift‘s latest #1, “Anti-Hero.” (Apparently it’s huge on TikTok too.) Continue reading »

Check Out This Newly-Discovered J.T. IV Cover of Brian Eno

Posted by Riley Haas at 2:33 pm No Responses »

Nov 172022

J.T. IV aka John Henry Timmis was a Chicago-based punk musician active in the 1980s. He released only a smattering of music during his lifetime (and an extremely long film) that was collected for a posthumous re-release in 2008. However, a recent discovery of a tape has produced a second album, to be released in January 2023. One track on this brand new release is his cover of Brian Eno’s “The Fat Lady of Limbourg.” Continue reading »

Eyedress Goes Full 80s Synthpop on Cover of Blur’s “Song 2”

Posted by Riley Haas at 9:00 am No Responses »

Oct 192022

Like has happened to so many bands, Blur’s biggest hit, “Song 2,” is extremely unrepresentative of Blur’s sound. A parody of American grunge from the band’s self-titled foray into American alternative and indie rock, “Song 2” sounds utterly unlike their earlier songs, which arguably were the definition of ’90s Brit Pop. Because of its nature – deliberate parody of grunge or joke on their record company – a lot of people think the song is dumb. Continue reading »

!!! Chisel Out Dance-Funk Bangers from Tracy Chapman and R.E.M.

Posted by Ben Easton at 9:00 am No Responses »

Sep 172021

The music of !!! can feel confounding on first listen. The group, whose name is pronounced “chk-chk-chk,” have made a rats’ nest of dance-punk releases across two decades, and their name sets somewhat of a high barrier of entry as to what they’re all about. Beneath the blistering production (and hard-to-Google identity) though, you’ll find a band with unflagging creative momentum and, especially on their recent records, some properly funky instrumental chops. Continue reading »