Meine Suche nach guten Covers wird langsam eine richtige Herrausforderung. Ich stelle mir immer häufiger die Frage, welche Künstler überhaupt gecovert werden dürfen. Gibt es welche, deren Songs überhaupt nicht “verändert” werden sollten? Bis wohin geht ein Cover? Sind es auch Künstler die auf ihrem Sofa, in den eigenen 4 Wänden eine ganz neue Version, mit verschiedenen Instrumenten erschaffen? Das ist wirklich schwierig, aber ich habe da noch ein paar gute Sachen auf Lager und stelle sie auch bald mal hier vor.Vielleicht gibts ja nächste Woche eine “No Name Interpret- Original versus Cover Week”  Was haltet ihr davon?

Heute gibts nochmal ein gutes Cover von einer auch hervorragenden Sängerin: Katy Perry covert Electric Feel von MGMT

Christmas is coming ! One month and a half

We’re gonna celebrate it in advance !

and what is the perfect gift ?

> A list of wonderful cover songs, of course !!!

If you remember well, we introduced a cover of Umbrella by Coeur de Pirate at the very beginning of the blog

• Here is a new one :

Coeur de Pirate – Étienne d’Août @ Hillside Music Festival (Malajube Cover)

• Then some scandinavian artists :

Astrid Swan – When you were young (The Killers Cover)

Carolina Wallin Pérez – Ingenting (Kent Cover)

• Daft Punk reworked :

Alphabeat – Digital Love (Daft Punk Cover)

La Pompe Moderne – Plus dur meilleur plus rapide plus fort (Daft Punk Cover) (do you remember our former post about them ?)

• 2 of my favourite covers : for once Katy Perry does not sing like the girly girly girl she likes to play.

Katy Perry – Electric Feel (MGMT Cover)

Ellie Goulding – The Wolves Act I & II (Bon Iver Cover)

Cam.

Forgive the COMPLETELY non-sequitur picture of The Mighty Boosh above, but I am 1. completely infatuated with them 2. currently writing a research paper on them and 3. clueless as to what else to make the picture! So YAY! for the Boosh! Anyway, there are a plethora of cover artists on Youtube. Just as there are a multitude of people with webcam shows and sketch comedy troupes (who would do THAT?). But below is a list of the few that have stood out to me in my internet surfing. Becca Cole (or Becca de la Musique as she so likes to be called) is a lovely little British thing with a lovely little voice to match. I listed her first as I absolutely ADORE her version of Bloc Party’s Flux (Did I mention I have a thing for British girls?). It helps in this instance that she is covering one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite artists, but if you go to her Youtube page, she has a PLETHORA of covers that are just as magnificent, just not my particular genre. Pomplamoose (sounds like a Dr. Seuss villain) is an INCREDAMAZING No-Cal-based duo that crank out wonderful covers/videos of “performances” that encompass a mastery of the visual and audible arts. Their cover of Beyonce’s Single Ladies is so good it actually improves upon the original (a LOT). Below the Single Ladies video I have included Jack Conte’s (the male half of Pomplamoose) rendition of Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc. The maestro pays great homage to the song while adding in a bit of his own element. And finally, ZanyClo is another acoustic cover artist much in the vein of Becca Cole with a beautifully spirited voice. The girl conveys so much with just her magnitude and strength that she puts into every song. Her cover of MGMT’s Electric Feel is fabulous.

There, I feel better. Nothing like an obsessive-compulsive listing of random endeavors to brighten my day! The interwebs can feel like an inundation of content at times, but if you just dig, you can always come up with chunks of gold. For instance, I hear there’s this group called Bears With Sparklers…

Becca Cole: Bloc Pary’s Flux

Pomplamoose: Beyonce’s Single Ladies

Jack Conte of Pomplamoose: Gorillaz’s Feel Good Inc.

ZanyClo: MGMT’s Electric Feel

CocoRosie are a French, freak folk sister act. They were born and raised in the States, but their stomping ground is definitively in France. Children’s toys, harps, synth and beat boxers (particularly live) are all at their musical disposal. I found them while Wikipedia hopping other freak folk acts. I am pretty sure I started with Devendra Banhart, and though the musicians are both under the same genre banner, they could not be more different.

The YouTube video I have posted is a live performance by CocoRosie on French television. I recommend skipping the first 38 seconds of dialogue. Their live rendition of “Werewolf” is much more of a rap compared to the studio version, but it is still entertaining. The voice of one of the sisters sounds a lot like a female of version of For He Who Hung the Moon — a local Gainesville folk singer: http://www.myspace.com/forhewhohungthemoon. There is his MySpace if you would like to compare and tell me how wrong I am.

The lead vocals are so harsh and high pitched. The music is essentially a conventional mix of dance beats and punk sensibilities, but it is infectious as hell. I never realized I liked so many French all girl bands. I found them on a friend of a friend’s music blog. I particularly like the chorus of the song “Bloody Bloody Whiffy Scuzzy.” The Decibelles guitarist sounds like a seagull crying at my old Elementary school on free popcorn day while the drummer coos playfully in the background. Warning: if you faint at the sight of blood, particularly fake menstrual blood, do not watch this video.

Waylong Thorton and the Heavy Hands are a husband and wife duo from Gainesville. Waylon plays guitar and contributes yelping garage rock vocals and Meg is the “heavy hands” drummer. It doesn’t get much heavier than this. They can be described as a blend of surf rock, garage rock and just plain rock n’ roll. Throw some punk and folk in there and you have the Heavy Hands. On a side note: they are really nice people as well. Meg is going to have a baby soon. A miniature pair of heavy hands, if you will. They just came out with a new album called “Evil.” It is one of the strongest they have produced. It opens up with a very biblical (the angry old testament mind you), Ennio Morricone flavored rant riff. If you contact them on any one of the many venues they are represented (Facebook, Myspace, etc.), I am sure they would be more than happy to lead you to a copy of the album online somewhere.

My girlfriend told me I would have to live under a rock to not have heard this song by MGMT. I guess I live under a rock. I only discovered this song a few weeks ago. I have known the band for a few years, though it was “Kids” that solidified their status as kings of psychedelic synthpop (a very specific title indeed) in my book. I was introduced to them in a period of time when I would “Tivo” blocks of music videos and rummage through the videos almost daily. “Time to Pretend” was my introduction to MGMT: a video where they jump around a fire on a beach and show trippy images of the repeated images of band members. I felt the song was kind of dull, although it did grow on me. Overall, I felt the duo was trying to be bombastic and bigger than life, but managed only to be a blip on the heart monitor of hippy acid dance music. The Michael Jackson tinged ”Electric Feel” gave me renewed hope in them, although I was not totally convinced of the glory and praise they were receiving from critics. “Kids” is the song that changed my mind. It is a manically happy, yet depressing piece of art. It is a brilliant piece of music, lyrically as well as in its simple, catchy instrumentation. I read somewhere the lyrics in the chorus could refer to “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein, which is a perfectly presentable theory and a bonus.

Controversy aside, the music video perfectly portrays a child’s perspective on life: the scary bogey man who lurks around the corner, the fears which are more concrete and ugly at that age. It fits the lyrics like a glove. As a child I always wondered how adults did not fear imaginary monsters. It turns out they just fear different kinds of monsters than kids.

I keep introducing Spark is a Diamond to friends, but so far I am the only one who enjoys them. One friend claimed the music was fine until the vocals came in. I am pretty sure that is most people’s train of thought. I can only imagine what my dad would say after hearing their songs. For the record, I think the exact opposite of everyone else. The expert mash up of  in-your-face dance beats and alternating female/male vocal screams is something the world has never seen. Or has never seen done well. It is a fine line that Spark is a Diamond walks on. I do not believe any other band could mix dance and hardcore punk and achieve anything but trash. This band, however, achieves magic.

Well, that is it for now. From  the looks of the list, I guess I have been in a dance music kind of mood lately. Usually it is predominately punk and folk, so I welcome the change. That is not to say old Sum 41 and the new albums from Andrew Jackson Jihad, Monsters of Folk and The Avett Brothers have not been in heavy rotation as well. I think that last sentence has a double negative. Oh well.

Aún no tenemos la fecha exacta pero sabemos que el próximo año, los psicodélicos MGMT estarán lanzando su esperado segundo material “Congratulations”, el cual vienen grabando en Malibu. “Es más que nada unas felicitaciones sarcásticas” han dicho, “es una forma de lidiar con toda la locura generada por nuestro anterior trabajo “Oracular Spectacular“.

Por lo pronto son 4 los temas  fijos que ya inclusive vienen tocando en sus giras: “It’s Working”, “Congratulations”, “Song for Dan Tracey” y “Flash Delirium” (sueltos por ahí en Youtube).

Yo por mi parte, sigo disfrutando por millonésima vez con Electric Feel y Time to Pretend - tremendo viaje alucinado por la galaxia rockera el que nos regalan. Disfrútenlo Uds. también

Electric Feel – Live from Abbey road

Time to Pretend – Oracle Spectacular

MGMT…it is good to see that you are still around. I miss me some MGMT. I remember when I saw them almost 2 years ago in San Diego. The crowd was wild. Despite the bad sound they were an awesome show experience! I loved it when they did the remix of Electric Feel. Everyone went CRAZY!

If you are out in the SF area you should go see them. I hope to hear some new things soon. I know they have been touring all over the US and Europe with Oracular Spectacular. Especially now that they are being played all over the radio. Love it!

As I’m sitting here writing this post (sun beaming in my room), I thought about the songs you play late at night, or that one song that awakens you up in the morning like a fresh cup of coffee. Here is a little mix of hip-hop and indie rock remixes:

Really Doe – Mesmerized

Phoenix – 1901 (Hanssen Remix)

Xaphoon Jones – I Wanna Know (feat. Bob Marley, MGMT)

Empire Of The Sun – We Are The People (Burns Remix)

Mash-ups and remixes are spectacularly crazy and much of the time people are doing them in their own homes and getting them out to the people via youtube.  Sometimes the remix is even better than the original.  It’s not just professional djs anymore not that the pros are slacking.  Here are some of my favs pros and not.

Robin Skouteris  Madonna VS Lady Gaga VS Pitbull, Robin Skouteris VS Nirvana, Cyndi Lauper VS Missy Elliott 

LMFAO  Love LockDown Remix, Shooting Star  I think both are better than the original

SoBraLiajdyjonkt Shakira/Ciara/Justin Timberlake/Lady Gaga/Pitbull

Justice  Electric Feel, Genesis

imbastardbob Wolf Game, Love is a Circus, I kissed a girl from miles away Sometimes Songs go with other music.

I have a few more I’m going to talk about soon.  Tell me what you think about these and name some of your favs.

Kagehime

not that there’s anything wrong with that, but do we really
need another band that sounds like that. they’re not
even better, just a paler imitation.
maybe they’ll prove me wrong someday who knows?

the video is even a low rent version of a mgmt video….

After four years, Danish indie-proggers Mew return with their new album, No More Stories Are Told Today...

PREVIEW: Download “Introducing Palace Players” MP3
WE GIVE IT: 18/20 Watts

How do you follow up an album that was more or less one 53-minute continuous recording AND received near unanimous critical acclaim? If you’re Danish indie-rock band Mew, you make things a bit simpler.

The album in question is the band’s 2005 release And the Glass Handed Kites, an ambitious, beautiful and, at times, haunting magnum opus. Its songs were diverse, and flowed so seamlessly together that you’d swear all fourteen were recorded on the same take. An admirable achievement, to be sure, but not always easy to digest.

Four years later, Mew returns with, er-hem…No More Stories Are Told Today, I’m Sorry They Washed Away. No More Stories, The World Is Grey, I’m Tired, Let’s Wash Away. Yes, that’s the full title.

But despite any impressions such a title may give you, No More Stories is a lot simpler, and ultimately a lot more beautiful, than its predecessor. It’s more akin to Mew’s 2003 album, Frengers — memorable more as a collection of excellent songs (even interludes!) rather than an achievement as a whole.

After a swirling, atmospheric introduction to No More Stories, we get the first of the album’s many “song of the year” candidates: “Introducing Palace Players,” a funky, grooving piece notable for its extended opening jam. The track conveys a band having fun doing what they do, and in listening to it, it’s almost impossible for the audience not to as well. Put money on the song becoming the “Electric Feel” of 2009, and it’s sure to pay dividends.

From here, the usual suspects of Mew’s sound — awe-inspiring soundscapes, reverb and echo effects and tasteful harmonies — come through in full force. But this time around, free of the constraints of a continuous suite of music, the band is afforded new ways to manifest them, and Mew take full advantage.

On the album’s second peak, “Hawaii,” the band gradually builds up a calm, island-inspired theme into a stunningly cathartic climax of progressive-rock heaven. It’s triumphant and beautiful, and you can’t help but marvel at the song structure and musicianship that went into it.

Simply put, if you’re familiar with Mew, get ready for more brilliance than they’ve ever shown before. But if you’ve yet to discover Danish indie-prog — and how many of us can honestly make that claim? — consider No More Stories your kick-start.

– Dan Kaplan

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

Oracular Soectacular

My Recommendations: Electric Feel, Kids, Time to Pretend.

Pinback – Blue Screen Life

Blue Screen Life

My Recommendations: Concrete Seconds, Penelope, Boo

Thriving Ivory – Thriving Ivory (SF)

Thriving Ivory

My Recommendations: Day of Rain, Angels on the Moon, Secret Life, For Heaven’s Sake

The Bird and the Bee – The Bird and the Bee

The bird and the Bee

My Recommendations: I’m a Broken Heart, Again & Again

Enjoy listening.

“…gonna teach me how to swim…”
It took so long to find a song that went with what I originally wanted to blog about
but wouldn’t you know I found myself reverting back to these thoughts.
Still, I had a moment
one where you connect things that had heretofore been separate.
My mama’s somewhat inability to see the many possibilities the world has to offer
and my inability to see what someone could see in me.
Es todo, no necesito pity.
So I guess the song’s for naught… oh wait, there you go.
Back in my mind again.
Tomorrow… tomorrow we hopefully put this to the test.
“Do what you feel now…”

I am happy to announce that the rain has left Vancouver and there is not a cloud in the sky!  It’s 23° Celsius which makes for a wonderful change.  This also means my banana tree in the backyard will finally start to grow a foot a week like it’s supposed to.  Anyways, I digress.  This post is supposed to reflect my good mood, out in the sunshine, summertime music choice.  This isn’t my all time favourite summer song… It’d be hard for me to make that choice!  This is a song that I’ve been into this summer, so here goes:

MGMT – Electric Feel

This track makes your head want to bob along with its beats and makes you want to feel that sun beaming down on the nape of your neck and just get out and dance, or at least, sway.

GiveMeLoveOverThis

Here’s a song to get down to since my blog has been lacking. Funky shit.

If you cant see the score on some of the posts the score (as of saturday morning) Yetis 174, electric feel 131

The yetis took a 18 pt because of aaron hill earning 8 points last night.

So, hello to the world of blogging!

I’ve decided to start a blog centered around indie/electronic music. I’ve recently fallen in love with this genre! The play list has been stuck on repeat

Sooooo, Where to begin?!

I’ll start with my all-time favorite:
Bag Raiders – “Shooting Stars”

Hmmm, so what else shall I share?!

Okkkk…so I am a larger than life fan of John Legend. He IS the man! He’s got soul! So, why not include a MSTRKRFT [who I absolutely adore] song featuring the one, & only…John Legend. Heartbreaker, this is my jam! I usually jam to this song while I’m getting ready to hang with my girls and what not. It gets me pumped up for the day/nite. It makes me wanna get all dolled up & paint the town with rainbow colors. Ok, so there I go again..being a bit girly haaaa. Enjoy!

Well…I must call it a nite, or should I say morning? It’s taken me a minute to get this blog thing down. Bare with me…I’ll have this blog thing down in no time [OR so I hope].

AND by the way…Feel free to make suggestions of any tunes that I should download.

Ciao!

mgmt – electric feel (justice remix)

stream available: http://rcrdlbl.com/artists/MGMT/track/Electric_Feel_Justice_Remix