18 June 2012 - Ane Brun - Jóga

A few years ago I was looking for something new to listen to while I was at work (this was when Lala.com still existed as a streaming music site). I asked a few Lala friends with similar tastes for some suggestions. As expected, I got some interesting, and some not so interesting suggestions, but the "big win" that day was discovering Norway's Ane Brun. Of course I picked up her records. How could I not? That voice is so incredible.

So that brings us to today. I had no idea what to post but for some reason had Ane Brun on my mind. I wondered if she had done any interesting covers and a simple YouTube search turned up this stunning performance from the 2010 Polar Music Prize Ceremony in Stockholm (Björk who originally did the song was one of the year's prize winners). Brun later said about the performance, “I’ve never been so nervous. It felt like my heart was leaping out of my chest...I couldn’t look at her until I was done.” (From an interview on wearsthetrousers, February 24th, 2012).

16 June 2012 - Linda Ronstadt - Blue Bayou

I grew up with a mother who loved the country-pop fusion phase of the early 70's. One of the biggest artists in that genre was Linda Ronstadt.  Trust me - there are plenty of others you DON'T want to hear.

I couldn't stand this song, a Roy Orbison cover, growing up, because I thought it was boring.  However, I have grown to appreciate it now, and its cool contrast between the quiet, mellow verses and the belted chorus.  I hope you appreciate it as well!

15 June 2012 - Dinosaur Jr. vs. Katie Melua - Just Like Heaven

Y'all up for a Friday Cover Fight? Who does the better version of this Cure classic: alt legends Dinosaur Jr. or the breathy and beautiful Katie Melua? Let's get it on!

First up is Dinosaur Jr's version. On a side note, my first college band used to perform this version of the song (I loved screaming that chorus).



And now Katie Melua's version.



So who wins? Post in the comments.

14 June 2012 - Sid & Susie - Different Drum

Sid & Susie is the stage name for the collaboration between Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs. An unlikely combination - a guy from the Athens, GA music scene, a gal from LA - but it has been a combination that has worked thus far, in almost every circumstance.  I am a fan of the two of them separately, and I am a fan of them together.

Here they are, performing the song "Different Drum", itself originally popularized as a cover.  The song was written by Mike Nesmith of the Monkees, and performed by them and others before The Stone Poneys got a hold of it and made it a classic.  Susanna Hoffs has at least as perfect a voice for these sweet lyrics as Linda Ronstadt did back then.

13 June 2012 - Concrete Blonde - Everybody Knows

Concrete Blonde had a great string of records in the 80s and 90s (1990's Bloodletting is one of my favorite albums of the decade), but I have to say that this Leonard Cohen cover from the Pump Up The Volume soundtrack may be their finest moment.

12 June 2012 - The Lemonheads - Into Your Arms

Sometimes, I learn something from my own blog.

Today, I wanted to post a cover of this song, one of the biggest and most jangly hits by Evan Dando's Lemonheads.  Here is that video.  It's a big, fun, happy, sweet song, and has always been one of my favorite Lemonheads songs.



But, in my search for a cover of this song, I found this.  This is the original recording of Robyn St. Clare's song, as done by her two-piece Love Positions. This is where it gets a little incestuous. Robyn, a bassist, was also in a band called The Hummingbirds. When she had to take a maternity leave from the band, Nic Dalton filled in for her on tour.  Nic was the other half of Love Positions.  He went on to replace Juliana Hatfield in The Lemonheads...



So, today's cover IS The Lemonheads's version of the song.  I never did find the other cover, by the band By The Tree - if you have Spotify, you can listen to it here - but I got to post the song I wanted to anyway!

11 June 2012 - Nicole Atkins - Bird On A Wire

Me, Nicole Atkins and my Mrs.

I'm going to be honest, my knowledge of Leonard Cohen is pretty much limited to his overly-covered Hallelujah and Everybody Knows (which I first heard in the movie Pump Up The Volume...Note to self: post Concrete Blonde's version of Everybody Knows sometime soon). After hearing today's wonderfully performed cover by the insanely talented Nicole Atkins, I'm convinced that I need to do some digging into Mr. Cohen's catalog...and maybe listen to Nicole's fantastic Mondo Amore record on my afternoon walk today.