So, cover songs? It’s almost a taboo term in the music blogosphere. It almost goes without saying that everyone who makes a post about them has to start with ‘I’m not usually a fan of covers but…”. I don’t see the big problem; I’m a massive fan of remixes and covers. I know the standard arguments: lack of personal originality, lazy musicianship etc., not to mention the horrible Pop Idol style covers you can hear on the radio all day. That being said, I think it’s just as easy to criticise a horribly derivative artist under the same banners, just because they’re changing the words doesn’t mean they’re making altogether different music.
There’s recently been a slew of great covers I’ve noticed and there’s a bunch of fucking ace ones out there. Some take an innovative new approach to an already good song, some just showcase excellent vocal talent without changing too much. Most of my favourites tend to be ones that take a song with a big sound and strip it of its bombasticity (real word, honest). There’s often too much pressure for a cover to be ‘better’ than the original, often leading to disappointment when you compare them. I’m just happy to think of the cover as a different entity, a new sound, regardless of my previous feelings on the original song.
Sure, there are plenty of awful covers, but there’s plenty of awful music. I don’t think there should be such an inherent dislike for covers. Anyway, check out these ones, a few old, a few new, I think there’s plenty to be said of the original talent on show here.
Editors – “Road to Nowhere” (Talking Heads cover)
Scala & Kolacny Brothers – “Creep” (Radiohead cover)
Warpaint – “Ashes to Ashes” (David Bowie cover)
Toots and the Maytals – “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (John Denver cover)
Florence and the Machine – “Addicted To Love” (Robert Palmer cover)
C.C. Sheffield – “Lust for Life” (Girls cover)
First Aid Kit - “When I Grow Up” (Fever Ray cover)
Placebo – “Running up that Hill” (Kate Bush cover)
Iron Horse – “New Slang” (The Shins cover)
Blackbird Blackbird - “Float On” (Modest Mouse cover)
