Cover Mania

Everyone knows I’m a fan of unknown music; well, at least not mainstream music. That’s not because I don’t like mainstream music. In fact, I love pop and I love Britney and I love the jink that’s going down on the radio. What I hate is the ever so obsessive rotation of popular songs. It does ruin the mood if you’re hearing the same track gazillion times in a row.

So that is why I like discovering new stuff, preferably by artists who’re never going to make it to the surface, no matter how good their music is. I like to call them “my precious”, and I hate sharing (unless I get to take the credit for my great discovery, which never happens, so I quit that too). I will share with you though.

Today’s theme is: famous songs covered by unknown artists OR known artists who’ve made absolutely awesome acoustic covers. I’ve already picked some in my last posts, but I’m sharing them again for the sake of it. Have fun! (Links are all Mediafire).

I Call Shotgun – Ride With Me (Nelly Cover)
Yeah, I found this one by accident and guess what, it’s awesome. I still remember when I first heard the Nelly track on MTV. It’s one of the rare hip hop/pop songs that still makes me smile (probably also induced by the use in one of my favorite TV shows, Scrubs, in a really light-hearted scene). The singer messes things up by the end, he starts doing the chorus to “Cupids Chokehold” by Gym Class Heroes. I do like that song, too.

Bat For Lashes - totally missed her concert last month

Bat For Lashes – Use Somebody (Kings of Leon Cover)
I will make an individual entry for both Bat For Lashes and Kings Of Leon soon, but for now enjoy this glorious combination of awesome singer and awesome lyrics. Use Somebody is probably going to hit the Top 10 of the most inspiring songs of my twenties (mind you, I’m not even 21), and this cover does it. Still not hitting the original mark, but good enough.

Lykke Li – Hustlin’ (Rick Ross Cover)
The transition of rap song to a hyped indie track seems to be very popular these days. This one’s especially charming because I’ve seen the video to it (which I’m too lazy to look up right now, google it), and I love how Lykke Li starts posing like a bonafide rapstar.

Goldfrapp – It’s Not Over Yet (Klaxons Cover)
Awwww. This is a cute one because I don’t like the original song that much (correct me if I’m wrong, but I think even that one is actually a cover of another song), but Alison Goldfrapp does some magic with her voice and voilá… although, I suppose the reduction of those scary keyboard sounds that Klaxons have overused on their album(s) might also be a reason.

The Gossip – Are You That Somebody (Aaliyah Cover)
A tribute post-mortem is not always the best option to go, especially when you’re a lesbian indie-rock band attempting to cover one of the greatest R’n'B songs created to this day. But what can I say? It’s a good cover, it’s not too much, not too strong, goes with the flow and gives it a different, yet subtle new touch. I approve.

Cat Power – Wonderwall (Oasis Cover)
I won’t dare comparing anyone to the genius of Oasis (well- Oasis from “back then”, anyway). This song is untouchable. I’m a huge skeptic when it comes to Cat Power, which adds to my opinion about this cover. Yet I wouldn’t mention it if it wasn’t something great, good enough at least. Cat Powers songs might sound almost the same, but sometimes I find a pick like this and remember why everybody loves her so much. She makes me want to die inside, a little bit.

Klaxons – No Diggity (Blackstreet Cover)
What is it with the hip hop covers, again? Now that Klaxons have been done, they’re probably taking on that cover-level, too. I don’t know how old this cover is, but it’s a good change to the even older (but still good!) and classic Blackstreet track (I’m ashamed to say it’s also the only one I know or remember). They really hit it on the second verse!

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)
There she is again, our beloved Katy Perry. Seriously, I love her. She rocks at covering music, I’ve mentioned that in my post from a week back- “Hooked on Katy Perry“. She kind of jumped on the acoustic-cover-of-hyped-bands bandwagon, but I don’t mind as long as she stays fresh.

The Kooks – Crazy (Gnarks Barkley Cover)
Oh damn, that one’s seriously old. I know I heard it first before I heard the actual Gnarls Barkley, which then became crazy famous. I still prefer this cover over the pop-track with the terrible video. It’s also pretty much the only song by the Kooks that I like (except for Naive, also one of the greatest tracks I’ve ever heard).

Hot Chip – Wearing My Rolex (Wiley Cover)
Not an acoustic cover, I know, I cheated. But I suppose it’s unplugged so that makes it fair again. Also, I can’t think of another theme that I would put this one in, I saw this fit. There you go.

Radiohead - Greatest Band Alive

Milow – Ayo Technology (50 Cent & Justin Timberlake Cover)
This one’s relatively new and going through German radio station’s like swine flu through Mexico. This one, you don’t listen to the lyrics very much, because if you would, it wouldn’t sound so grown up anymore. I have never heard a mommy-track like that. It’s for grandmothers, seriously! … I dig it.

Katy Perry – Black & Gold (Sam Sparro Cover)
… and there she is again! Black & Gold, a very intruiging (what the fuck I won’t even try to spell that) song, can’t be beat in it’s original version, but give this one a shot for more KP love.

John Mayer – Kid A (Radiohead Cover)
Alright, so this one’s a no brainer. Again, I have no clue how long it’s been cruising the interwebs, but I’ve had it in my music library for a really, really long time already. I’m a day one Radiohead fan. I even bought their give-away album, that’s how much I love them. On the other hand, I hate John Mayer. Come on- Your Body Is A Wonderland? I’m this close to calling Nickelback better than that! … though, on another thought, forget that. Anyway. Kid A. Great song. Guess what? It’s even better now.

A honorable mention is reserved for Jay Brannan, who covered “Straight Outta Compton” from NWA. What a daredevil! I couldn’t find the mp3 to it, so here’s the video. Be cautious though, he didn’t censor the swearing.

If you have any more good covers to suggest, don’t hesitate dropping a line!

Welcome to Heartbreak

This one is quick add to the Kanye West Collabo Collection from a couple of days ago; I found this gold piece from upcoming artist Marv Milly, apparently promoted by Kanye West much like Kid Cudi. He took that monotone and pretty boring song, Welcome To Heartbreak, and made something actually interesting of it.

Here’s the deal (from Mediafire):
Kanye West – Welcome to Heartbreak (ft. Kid Cudi & Marv Milly)

Cave Singers

I’ll be quick and honest with you: I know crap about Cave Singers. I do know that they remind me of that Fleet Foxes stuff that’s being hyped so much. I don’t like the folksy music thing, really. It reminds me too much of young people who pretend to be old and a last leftover of the hippy regime.

Anyway, Cave Singers have produced a song of such a beautiful magnitude, it makes me want to curl up and die because I can’t be in that place, in that glorious beach house, in that life they’re singing of.

And with that said, download.

Cave Singers – Beach House (from Stereogum)

Kanye West Collabo Collection

There’s this thing about Kanye West. I love and hate him at the same time, which is probably a phenomena many people have experienced. Is it his arrogance? Hardly. He’s a jackass, sure, but he’s entitled to this kind of attitude because he compensates with his musical abilities- at least that’s what I thought. Frankly, it really isn’t. He’s not the best rapper in the world, his flow is not the greatest, his lyrics aren’t the most innovative and creative I’ve ever heard and please let’s not discuss the beats- they’re decent, but I’ve heard better.

Kanye West

Yet, unlike many other artists, Kanye West manages to do everything short of awesome. He might not be the best- but he is consistent in being good, whether it’s live shows or good videos or even the auto-tune crap he’s come up with. He doesn’t score even one No. 1 spot in any of the categories mentioned above- but he scores no. 2 everywhere, which ultimately makes him better than anyone else in the hip-hop/pop/whateveryoucallitthesedays business.

When it comes to my personal preference, I don’t like his albums as much as I like the collaborations he does with other various artists. It’s weird, really; I feel like Kanye has worked with everyone who’s being hyped on the internet. I’m still waiting for the Kanye West/MGMT feature. He’s had them all: Lykke Li, Kid Sister, Kid Cudi, Talib Kweli, Clipse, even a Thom Yorke sample among all the good stuff he produced.

In any case, I’ve picked out some of the greatest features in my eyes (and ears). You can download them from my dropbox, and here are the tracks:

Kanye West – Diamonds Are Forever ft. Jay Z
Yes, I admit, this one’s really, really old. But it still makes me goosebumpy.

NERD – Everyone Nose ft. Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Pusha T
I hated the original version of the track, this one’s rap deluxe.

Kanye West, Kid Cudi & Common – Poke Her Face (Pokerface Remix)
Yeah, this one had to be made. Now the Lady Gaga track “Pokerface” comes to it’s real meaning.

Kid Sister – Pro Nails ft. Kanye West
I don’t like Kid Sister all that much, but West made this track become one of my favourite’s of the last year (rap-wise).

Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, Pharrel – Us Placers
Awesome sample of Thom Yorkes “Eraser”. I love it for it’s simplicity and the insightful subject of rapidly vanishing fame.

Alive With The Glory Of Love

So, here’s the first song I get to present to you. I guess Say Anything are known as your typical MySpace-crappy-music-for-teenager-girls band, and yes indeed they are. Yet there is one song that I would truly add to my all time favourites. First I thought it was only because it reminds me so well of a certain Scrubs episode (last of glorious season six), where JD and Elliot are about to get it on again, and then we are interrupted by an unholy cliffhanger letting us wait for season seven.

Anyways- “Alive With The Glory Of Love” is what it’s called. Nice beat and very awkward lyrics (it was difficult enough to understand what the guy sings, and I kept thinking I had it all wrong. Then I looked it up and it was indeed about WWII and Nazi work camps, a very romantic setting for a love song, but all so more dramatic). And I know the song is old, I never said I’d only post new stuff.

Hurry up, savefile only keeps the songs up for 10 days!

Say Anything – Alive With The Glory Of Love
from the Album “… is a real boy“.