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Take Cover

take cover: jessie ware x bobby caldwell

April 16, 2013
Music, Take Cover
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jessie ware

The other day, I’d had a bad day at work and come home in a bad mood.  This prompted Dan, as it always goes, to sing the only words he knows from Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day”.

Yes, that means he just sings “You had a bad day” over and over because those are the only words anyone knows to that song.  I pulled up the song on YouTube hoping Dan might learn another part of the song to sing on repeat, and ended up going down a Daniel Powter themed Internet black hole.

This yielded some important findings, such as the fact that there is a Chipmunks version of “Bad Day”, and it’s just as awful as you’d expect.  But mostly it just made me sad, because major portions of Powter’s wikipedia page are dedicated to the fact that he is a one hit wonder.

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take cover: too many covers edition

February 18, 2013
Music, Take Cover
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the xx liveOver the past week, there’s been a sudden glut of covers come from some of 70/day/wknd’s favorite bands, including the xx, Purity Ring, and MS MR. Rather than separate them out into individual take cover posts, I’ve put all three songs into one mega-post (assuming three constitutes ‘mega,’ which it does).  Get ready to hear some songs you’ve probably already heard before. But different.

First up is the cover likely getting the most press, which is the xx covering the Beyonce/Frank Ocean track “Miss You.”  And this one was actually shot close to 70/day/wknd headquarters at ACL Live in Austin – the venue where the xx played back-to-back shows last week.

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take cover: kishi bashi x beruit

February 11, 2013
Music, Take Cover
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joyful noise kishi bashi

This post combines two things I’ve been crushing on pretty hard lately: indie virtuoso Kishi Bashi and record label Joyful Noise.  Joyful Noise has been putting out all sorts of alternative media goodness, from the Deerhoof flexi-book to a plethora of cassette recordings.

Now, they’re releasing a 7″ box set from Kishi Bashi – available April 2nd – featuring 3 A-sides from 2012′s 151a along with covers of Beruit, ELO, and Talking Heads on the B-sides.

And because it’s Joyful Noise, they’re keeping an eye out for the aesthetics.  Each record features two-color vinyl in a limited-edition wooden frame box set.  Each 7″ has it’s own album art, which forms “a complete triptych landscape image when all three are placed side by side.” Oh, and they’re all personally signed by Kishi Bashi.

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take cover: alunageorge x frank ocean

January 9, 2013
Music, Take Cover
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aluna george

If you’re not already familiar, AlunaGeorge is definitely One to Watch in 2013.  The London-based duo generated a ton of buzz from their first single, “Your Drums, Your Love,” released in November of last year, winning fans with their minimalist electropop.

They also came in second in the BBC’s Sound of 2013 poll, which Frank Ocean came in second last year.  So it makes sense that AlunaGeorge covered Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” on Radio One earlier this week.

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best of 2012: top five covers

December 14, 2012
Best Of, Music, Take Cover
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photo

Kicking off “Best of 2012″ week a little early with my top five cover songs from this year.  Next week, I’ll post my favorite EPs, songs, and albums, along with some of Dan’s favorites (and least favorites) of the year.

As I’ve ranted about before, covers can be a tricky thing, particularly if you’re a fan of the original song.  Too close to the original, and its karaoke.  Too far from the original, and it’s blasphemy. Here are a few I thought hit that sweet spot. Read More

take cover: zola jesus x rihanna

November 16, 2012
Music, Take Cover
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I was looking back at the archives and it’s been almost two months since a take cover has been posted.  Thank god Zola Jesus has come to end that tribute song drought.  And with a Rihanna song? It must be Christmas.

Zola Jesus posted her cover of Rihanna’s “Diamonds” this week as “a small thank you to [her] friends and followers.”  Rumor has it that she picked the song based on a fan’s suggestion via Twitter.

So, you know what that means, right?  Start tweeting Zola Jesus immediately, demanding she cover Mariah Carey, Tiffani, and TLC right away.  And don’t even try to lie and tell me that wouldn’t be amazing.

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take cover: “sure thing” – trails and ways

September 14, 2012
Music, Take Cover
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Alright, you guys – it’s Friday and I feel like it’s time for some baby-making music.  But this might not be the kind of baby-making music you’re used to.

TRAILS AND WAYS – the Oakland-based group that brought you “Mtn Tune” earlier this summer – has a new song, and this one’s a cover of Miguel’s R&B slow-jam “Sure Thing.”

Not intriguing enough?  The band redid the verses with what they’re calling “marxist romance lyrics.”  Yeah, now you wanna click play.

Fair warning: I’ve already played this for a few friends and they were singing it all night.  It’s got a groove that’ll stick with you.

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take cover: talking heads x buxton

August 14, 2012
Music, Take Cover
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In any music scene, cover bands are usually a source of derision.  And I think most of the time that’s completely accurate.  Making music should be about creating something new, not recreating someone else’s sound.

But, as you may know, I feel completely differently about bands doing the occasional cover song.   Part of what makes cover songs so great is that the bands always seem to be having an amazing time doing the cover, and that enthusiasm transmits to the crowd.

I got to experience that feeling recently when Buxton, who I wrote about a few weeks ago, closed their set with a cover of the Talking Heads’s “Psycho Killer”.

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take cover: fleetwood mac x lykke li

July 5, 2012
Music, Take Cover
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Covering a beloved band like Fleetwood Mac is a challenging feat for any band.  There’s always the possibility of mangling a song held dear to so many.  But there’s also the possibility of breathing new life into vintage tracks.

A collection of indie darlings, from The Kills to Gardens & Villa, are giving it a shot on Just Tell Me That You Want Me, a tribute album to Fleetwood Mac. Below, hear Lykke Li doing her take on the track “Silver Springs.”

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take cover: ariel pink x dam-funk x emerson

June 11, 2012
Music, Take Cover
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As we enter the summer mixtape season, I’ve been thinking a lot about mixtapes.  Like so many of you, mixtapes dot my life.   I have mixtapes that pinpoint certain times in a relationship, certain roadtrips, certain moments in my life.   Hearing a song from one of those mixes will take me back to that time instantly.

And this song, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti & Dam-Funk covering Donnie & Joe Emerson’s ’70s classic “Baby,” seems perfectly made for your next mixtape.  This isn’t the song to drop on a mix for someone you’re crushing on, but it could work wonders when you’re trying to take things to the next time.  Less cliche than “Let’s Get It On,” but sensual enough to get the point across.

Stream it below, then grab the mp3 over at Gorilla vs. Bear and find the perfect spot for it in your next mix:

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