Full Albums: Prince and the Revolution’s ‘Purple Rain’

 Posted by at 5:00 pm  8 Responses »
Nov 112011
 

Full Albums features covers of every track off a classic album. Got an idea for a future pick? Leave a note in the comments!

prince purple rain covers

The soundtrack to Purple Rain came out ten thousand days ago today. It feels like forever and that’s a mighty long time, but we’re here to tell you there’s something else…the full album, covered.

Purple Rain won an Oscar and two Grammy Awards, sold more than 20 million copies, and held the number one selling album slot in the US for twenty-four consecutive weeks (despite being released just three weeks after Bruce Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A.). The only debate that remains worth having: great Prince album, or greatest Prince album? Dirty Mind and Sign o’ the Times both have their backers, but neither of those albums tapped into the zeitgeist the way Purple Rain did. Continue reading »

Janelle Monáe Honors, Impersonates Young Michael on “I Want You Back”

 Posted by at 2:00 pm  No Responses »
Oct 052011
 

At last weekend’s Rock in Rio festival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil R&B sensation Janelle Monáe and her band launched through the Jackson 5 classic “I Want You Back,” honoring the late Michael Jackson. While Monae usually sticks to her funky, sci-fi influenced prog-pop style, she also unarguably possesses one of the most impressive voices in pop today, giving her the freedom to cover some of the most challenging and beloved songs in the rock songbook. Continue reading »

Eagle and the Worm Add Infectious Spin to Janelle Monae’s “Tightrope”

 Posted by at 3:30 pm  No Responses »
Sep 072011
 

Hypothesis: Janelle Monae’s “Tightrope” is one of those songs you simply can’t not dance to, no matter your personal taste in music. Although not completely new to the scene as individual musicians, recently formed collective Eagle and the Worm prove the aforementioned hypothesis with their upbeat take on Monae’s horn-infused jam. Continue reading »

Consequence of Sound Presents…Best Fest Covers

 Posted by at 3:15 pm  1 Response »
Aug 202010
 

If you’ve ever attended a music festival, you need to know Consequence of Sound. If you ever plan on attending a music festival, you need to know Consequence of Sound. If you have no interest in music festivals whatsoever, you need to wise up…and then you need to know Consequence of Sound. In addition to the site’s regular music news and features, their Festival Outlook has established itself as the premiere source for festival info. From lineup info (which they always seem to know before anyone else) to reviews, their coverage spans ‘em all, from the big boys (Bonnaroo, Coachella) to the underdogs (Ghoulsfest?).

Suffice to say: These guys know their festivals. So as fest season winds down, we checked in with some CoS writers (of whom – full disclosure – I am one) to hear the best festival covers they’ve ever witnessed. Here’s what they offered. Each has a review and a video so you can vicariously experience the insanity.

After you finish here, hop over to CoS’ Friday Mixtape! The covers were chosen by yours truly. Continue reading »

Janelle Monáe Lets It Rip on Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile”

 Posted by at 4:00 pm  No Responses »
Jun 222010
 

If you’re going to cover a song that’s been performed by Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Diana Ross, and Judy Garland, you better be pretty confident of your vocal prowess. Janelle Monáe has the pipes to back up the swagger and her run through Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” from his classic Modern Times, redefines soaring.

Universal acclaim greeted Monáe’s new album The ArchAndroid when it dropped last month. It melds genres seamlessly, transitioning from funk to electro to pop without you even noticing. It’s one of the best albums of the year so far and her fiery performance on David Letterman proves she’s a talent who’ll stick around.
Continue reading »

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