Monday, January 22, 2018

22 January 2018 - Florence + the Machine - The Chain

I promise you, this isn't a Fleetwood Mac tribute blog.

Florence + The Machine played "The Chain" exactly once, at the Glastonbury Music Festival in 2010. 

Once.

Once.

Florence Welch subbing in for Lindsey Buckingham.  She really gets it - the anguish, the disjointed structure, the raw energy..... how to act during that bassline...

Thursday, January 18, 2018

18 January 2018 - The Cranberries - Go Your Own Way (Live)

We don't normally post twice in one day.  However, with the untimely passing of Dolores O'Riordan this week, it's appropriate.

Rarely has there been a more obviously Irish band than the Cranberries, mostly because of O'Riordan's trill brogue.  Her raw power helps deliver Lindsey Buckingham's message in a differently angry manner.   Her unique voice will be missed.

18 January 2018 - Lissie - Go Your Own Way

If you watched the Twin Peaks revival in 2017, you might recognize Lissie from the end of Part 14.  The remarkable singer-songwriter had a minor UK hit in 2012 with this Fleetwood Mac cover that mutes some of the raw anger of the original version and replaces it with anguish.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

17 January 2018 - Smashing Pumpkins - Landslide

When Smashing Pumpkins released their sixth single, "Disarm", from the Siamese Dream album, they included a couple of B-sides.  One was this surprisingly faithful and reserved cover of this Stevie Nicks-penned classic, a stark contrast to the wall of noise bombast the band had been known for up to that point.  Billy Corgan sings the song beautifully, which isn't an adjective I would have thought to use before this to describe his voice.

The song, which got significant enough modern rock radio airplay to reach #3 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart on its own, also ended up on their 1994 compilation Pisces Iscariot, a collection of B-sides that probably wouldn't exist if not for this song.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

16 January 2018 - Nina Nesbitt - Don't Stop

This song was legitimately a minor hit for Scottish artist Nina Nesbitt in the UK in 2013.  Don't let the former model's looks fool you - she really understands the emotional depth of the song and does the Fleetwood Mac original justice, while giving it a janglier, popier sound. And, to be fair, a Scottish accent.

We don't get the guy showering in blue paint, though. 



This song was originally featured in an advertisement for John Lewis, a UK insurance company known for their Christmas advertisements.  This was not a Christmas advertisement, but it was still cute.

Monday, January 15, 2018

15 January 2018 - The Engagements - Say You Love Me

As a rule, we don't often feature wedding bands. The Engagements, from Brooklyn, NY, are going to be an exception to that rule.  Because their version of this song is fantastic.

Their website claims that they "cover.. songs that haven’t been played to death at weddings" and we believe them.  This is a bit of a depressing wedding song, but it sure sounds cheery.  If you are in New York or the surrounding area, and want to book them for your wedding or corporate event, go to their website for details.