In the Spotlight: Arcade Fire

 Posted by at 3:30 pm  4 Responses »
Nov 272013
 

In the Spotlight showcases a cross-section of an artist’s cover work. View past installments, then post suggestions for future picks in the comments!

Arcade Fire has a new album out. Reception: a trifle mixed, shall we say. But don’t let that stop you from engaging in a little cover love.

Their songs can be sweeping, epic, with almost a cinematic quality about them. Indeed, “Wake Up” was heavily featured in the trailer for Where the Wild Things Are (which was arguably the best thing about that film). We thought we’d invent some movie and television synopses to go with the covers below, both widely featured on the internets and by some newer unknown artists. Coming soon to a delusional theater in your mind…
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Quickies: The Wooden Birds, Nightlands, Mario Rossi, Clare Burson, The Wild Mercury Sound

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May 262011
 

Quickies rounds up new can’t-miss covers. Download ‘em below.

• The Wooden Birds’ new single Two Matchsticks contains a couple bonus covers. They take two very disparate sources – Hall & Oates and Kenny Rogers – to an indie-folk-pop middle ground. Download “Maneater” below, then get “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town” here.
MP3: The Wooden Birds – Maneater (Hall & Oates cover) Continue reading »

Clare Burson Grooves and Croons through Magnetic Fields and INXS (Cover Me Premieres)

 Posted by at 2:30 pm  4 Responses »
Sep 292010
 

Clare Burson first crossed our radar with her swooning cover of the Arcade Fire’s “We Used to Wait.” We fell instantly in love with the Brooklyn songwriter and now she’s back with a couple cover premieres. This woman is on a roll. Just last week the New York Times compared her recent cheese-inspired album Silver & Ash with Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising. High praise.

Today’s tunes continue the string of successes. Burson first grooves through the Magnetic Fields’ “With Whom to Dance?” and then layers on the spooky tenderness for INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart.” We checked in with Burson to tell us more about the tunes. Give ‘em a listen and read what she had to say below. Continue reading »

“We Used to Wait” Frontrunner for Arcade Fire’s Most Coverable New Song

 Posted by at 2:00 pm  5 Responses »
Sep 092010
 

Even if The Suburbs had sucked, Arcade Fire‘s latest would have made a splash. After 2004’s Funeral and 2007’s Neon Bible, saying the follow-up was anxiously awaited is like saying John Lennon’s return would be surprising. The fact that the album ended up being terrific – well, it may not have broadened the splash that much yet (the Internet’s attention span doesn’t allow for much reflection), but just wait for the year-end lists to arrive.

The early frontrunner for most-coverable tune is “We Used to Wait.” Given the song’s recent Google Earth-driven concept video, this shouldn’t be surprising. Two well-executed covers have popped up in the inbox so far and I expect more will follow. Until then, we have the Drums and Clare Burson. The Drums’ lively bounce may be the more bloggable, but Burson’s subdued lament takes more risks. Continue reading »