Cover Girls, Vol. 18
June 20, 2007 by Robbie McCown · 3 Comments
Joan Osborne
What You Are
Some people may have lost track of Joan Osborne after her wave of commercial success in the mid-90’s began to settle. But she’s been keeping busy making some great music while spanning many genres. While 2007’s soul-infused Breakfast In Bed, is her most recent release, her country-tinged 2006 album, Pretty Little Stranger, has quite a few gems to take note of.
Known for her penchant of cover songs, there are a half-dozen to listen to on Pretty Little Stranger. One in particular is her beautiful rendition of ‘What You Are,’ a song originally penned by Patty Griffin.
| Joan Osborne - What You Are From the album Pretty Little Stranger |
Martha Berner
Sunday Morning
EPs (or extended plays) are strange things in the world of music. They’re not quite singles, but they’re certainly not records. In many ways, they’re precursors of what’s to come; something to whet the musical appetite. In the case of Martha Berner’s Ten Tiny Little Pieces, both are true.
According to the liner notes, Berner writes: “The Ten Tiny Little Pieces EP was recorded on a crisp, sunny, fall afternoon in October. October 8, 2006 to be exact. It was Sunday and all songs were, for the most part, to be recorded live and in one day. The weekend would be a whirlwind of arranging, rehearsing, rehearsing and arranging and these rough, acoustic demos had no idea what was about to happen to them.”
It would seem appropriate then that Berner would record her cover of the Velvet Underground’s ‘Sunday Morning.’ Hers is a fine rendition, bringing the classic song to a more modern setting.
Martha Berner is a terribly underrated songwriter blessed with a thick, pleasing voice. Her last record, …This Side Of Yesterday, released in 2005, has won her many favorable reviews across the country. Her next album is scheduled for release this summer.
| Martha Berner - Sunday Morning From the EP Ten Tiny Little Pieces |
MoZella
Say It Ain’t So
It took nearly three years to complete, but the latter-end of 2006 saw the release of I Will, the debut album from MoZella (n�e Maureen McDonald). Still in her early 20’s and undoubtedly poised to become a commercial success (her music has already been featured in numerous commercials and advertising campaigns), MoZella’s music tends to blend acoustic guitar, lush programming and electronic beats.
Recently MoZella recorded a surprising cover of Weezer’s ‘Say It Ain’t So,’ a song originally found on the band’s highly lauded debut. MoZella’s version is a stark contrast from the original, bringing a hint of darkness reminiscent of the tone found in Sia’s ‘Breathe Me.’
Recently heard in an episode of One Tree Hill, the track can be found on iTunes’s section for MoZella as a non-album track for I Will.
| MoZella - Say It Ain’t So From the iTunes re-release of I Will |
Dot Allison
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances
Anticipatory of her next album’s release, fans of the ethereal-voiced Dot Allison can be quelled with her interpretation of Daniel Johnston’s ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances,’ as found on the compilation, I Killed The Monster.
Released late last year as a tribute to the extraordinary songs of Mr. Johnston, the former frontwoman of One Dove lends her voice to the soft and melancholy track.
Allison’s next album, Exaltation of Larks, is due to arrive before the end of the year. For a preview of upcoming songs, be sure to visit her MySpace page.
| Dot Allison - Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances From the compilation I Killed The Monster |
Cover Girls, Vol. 5
October 25, 2004 by Robbie McCown · Leave a Comment
Performed live for KBCO radio in Boulder, Colorado in 1999, Joan Osborne sings a very groovy cover of ‘Spooky,’ a song originally performed by Classics IV back more than thirty years prior. Joan’s stripped-down, acoustic approach and her strong, rootsy voice give the classic a nice make-over and proves that a soft drum beat, a couple of guitars and a terrific singer can set a mood as easy as a full-piece orchestra.
Originally appearing on the soundtrack for Shrek 2, Frou Frou’s Imogen Heap provides her unusual and hypnotic voice to ‘Holding Out For A Hero,’ transforming the 80’s hit into an experimental swirl of programming and breathy sampling. If one didn’t know better, they would assume this to be a Frou Frou original, as it fits well into their musical mold.
I always find it interesting when an artist covers a song that isn’t more than ten years old. ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’ was written and recorded by Dot Allison for her 1999 debut, Afterglow. But for whatever reason (perhaps just because she liked the song), Juliana Hatfield covered the beautiful track on her latest album, In Exile Deo. What’s interesting here is that Juliana’s cover of Dot’s song sounds even better than most of Juliana’s original records, as if she’s less erratic and more confident.
Recently made available via Michelle Cross’ official website and taken from a live performance a couple of years ago at the Beat Kitchen, Michelle performs an aggressive piano-laced version of “Come Together.” Definitely worth a listen.
Downloads:
Joan Osborne - Spooky
Frou Frou - Holding Out For A Hero
Juliana Hatfield - Tomorrow Never Comes
Michelle Cross - Come Together (live)
