23 May, 2011

Cover Me

I am a huge music fan. Like, seriously, mega huge. But. When it comes to cover songs, I could pretty much take 'em or leave 'em. All to often, I find them bringing nothing new to the table. Just re-hashings of perfectly listenable songs in their original form (the recent onslaught of sing-song voiced girls-with-guitars covering The Cure comes to mind).

Of course, every now and again, somebody comes along with a version that completely transcends the original, like Sinead O'Connor's version of "Nothing Compares To You", or Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah". And  these two fabulously wonderful, blue grassy Radiohead covers:


Gillian Welch has the ability to pretty much turn everything she sings into pure perfection. This is no exception.


I first heard Sarah Jarosz's incredible version of "The Tourist" on my car radio, and was smitten from note one. It was a stay-in-the-car-until-it's-over moment. And it's been in constant rotation on my iPod since.


Happy listening, Dear Readers. I hope the week ahead holds for you many delights to be enjoyed in new and exciting ways!
xo

5 comments:

Lena B, Actually said...

Have you seen this cover of Adele's "Someone Like You"?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U0NFgoNI7s

Beautiful!

Unknown said...

Gillian Welch can do no wrong. I love her voice!

Kristin H said...

Thanks for the Sarah Jarosz tip. I am going to download her now:)

Sister Golden Air said...

Perfection!

Talking about bluegrass ladies doing covers.... I saw Alison Krauss and Robert Plant live a few years ago, and on all the Led Zeppelin songs she stole the show. Especially on Battle for Evermore. I have tried to find a good live version on YouTube, but can't. They should definitely release a dvd from that show.

Hilary Grace said...

You should listen to The Books and Jose Gonzalez cover Nick Drake's "Cello Song". I truly prefer it to the orig, sorry Drake. Also I really like James Blake covering Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You".

Thanks for sharing those two..now listen to mine and tell me what you think!