under the COVERS

Once again I am doing a theme post, which there have been a lot of lately. I promise I'll get back to just going random soon. I am going to do another "Cover Songs" post. I am a cover freak and I have a lot of them in my collection. I was inspired to do this because of a conversation about O.D.B. with a friend. She said anyone who covers O.D.B. has to be good. I'd have to agree with her. So here are more recognizable covers rather than the usual obscure music. Hope you dig it!

I am once again going to throw up my white flag of surrender to the kings of coolness by posting another Justin Timberlake song. If you have been following for a while you know I am an in the closet fan of really insanely popular radio friendly tunes. I don't hide it here so much, but if you asked me in real life I would totally deny it. However I'll admit that I like the covers. This little ditty by Tender Forever, is strummed on, what I believe to be, a ukulele. I love the lyrics to this song. This song almost makes me want to go out and buy a Justin Timberlake CD. Must...resist....urge.
Tender Forever - My Love (Justin Timberlake Cover)

I don't know a lot about Alica Keys, but I do know that whenever I see her on TV I don't change the channel. She's an amazing performer. I always wished I could play the piano. She plays the piano, right? It's obvious that I have only seen her twice and I have never heard her perform this song. Guess what I am going to do as soon as I am done writing this? This cover has quickly made it's way to the top of my most played list. I have never heard anything from The Honorary Title as well. I guess I have some homework to do.
The Honorary Title - No One (Alica Keys Cover)

I am also not a fan of The Maine or Akon (well with the exception of Smack That). They just never really appealed to my taste of music. I'm not a modern R&B enthusiast I don't go to the clubs anymore. Now I'd rather throw on some Otis Redding or Solomon Burke and get down. As much as I loved pop punk back in the day, I can't really stomach it anymore. I have tons of old CD's that just sit on the shelf because they are too emo. Although my music pallet might have grown up, my love for the immature has not. This is one of the greatest songs about falling in love with a stripper you can find.
The Maine - I Want To Love You (Akon Cover)

Since I mentioned soul singers and getting down, lets take a listen to one of the super sexy songs of Marvin Gaye. Hot Chip are Grammy nominated a electropop group who have been making music since 2000. They have gain critical acclaim for their amazing music videos, and let me tell you they are definitely worth checking out. Before you go off exploring though give a listen to this amazing glitchy cover of Sexual Healing. I can't say it's as sexy as the original, but I'd like to think it would be sexy in a future where computers rule everything.
Hot Chip - Sexual Healing (Marvin Gaye Cover)

Another future sounding song. I have no idea why I sat on this song when I did my M.J. post 5 months ago because this cover is absolutely killer. I really can't say more than that. If you want cool points when you make a mix CD. This song would be it.
Discovery - I Want You Back (Jackson 5 Cover)

Marty McFly: Time circuits on. Flux Capacitor... fluxxing. Engine running. All right! Jump in the time machine and lets go from a future of computers to a simpler past. Alvin Robinson came up in the New Orleans R&B and Soul scene in the mid-60's. His career didn't last more than a few years but he did manage to cut a few popular singles. This is a B side from his first hit 45, which both songs were covers. Although this one was not as popular as the A side single "Down Home Girl", this song is a classic. If you want to read more about him head on over to the awesome Funky 16 Corners blog. You may already have heard the Peggy Lees sexed up origianl, but I always loved this song and wished there was a male version. Frankly isn't a very manly song to begin with but there is no denying it's greatness.
Alvin Robinson - Fever (Peggy Lee Cover)

The First time I heard Seven Nation Army I felt like a total badass! I loved the punch in the gut drums or Meg and the buzz saw guitar stylings of Jack. The lyrics scream "Don't mess with me" as if it feel out of the mouth of Shaft himself. I was very impressed with this cover. Nostalgia 77 maintains the songs toughness but adds a jazzy smooth hip hop texture with soulful vocals that you can tell are mustered from the toes of Ms. Russell. Feel it!
Nostalgia 77 Feat. Alice Russell - Seven Nation Army (White Stripes Cover)

Super Sweet "delivering upon my word for a friend" Bonus Song
Say Anything - I Got Your Money (O.D.B.)

One Day I went To Ohio. It was So Insane I had to take The First Train Home

I listen to a great morning show out of Philadelphia called The Preston And Steve Show. This isn't your typical lame local morning show either. The first time I listened they were talking about how one of the DJ's didn't have toilet paper in the stall at work that morning so he had to go to the next stall and because it was so early he didn't worry about anyone coming in so he didn't really pull up his pants. Well one of the co-hosts walked in on him. Needless to say the show is hilarious and I have been hooked ever since. Besides being funny they have great celebrity interviews and have some killer bands every now and then. I listened to a show this morning and I became a fan of Matisyahu because of the show. I knew who he was before and heard a few of his songs a long time ago but never really checked him out. If you don't know much about him he's an American Hasidic Jewish reggae musician. His music is very uplifting and heartfelt. Yeah, he talks a lot about religion, which I don't mind but I know a lot of people get turned off by that. However I would say give it listen, the music is awesome, the guy can rap/beatbox, and has a sweet beard. He has a new album coming out August 25 called Light. This is the first single, One Day, from the album played live in studio on WMMR's The Preston And Steve Show.
Matisyahu - One Day (Live On WMMR's The Preston And Steve Show) (No Longer Available, But This Is)

The Low Anthem are a three piece band from Rhode Island that know how to kick out some blues influenced folksy down home jams. They just released a CD called Oh My God, Charlie Darwin which is such a clever title. The faster songs are rough stomps with vocals that are raw and remind me of a Tom Waits song and the slower songs are beautiful porch sitting back roads driving songs. The first song "To Ohio" is low key and has lyrics like a CSNY song. "The Horizon Is A Beltway" is a song that will have you tapping your toes with it's prominent drum beat and belting (pardon the pun) out the sing along chorus.
The Low Anthem - To Ohio
The Low Anthem - The Horizon Is A Beltway

Discovery is a side project for Vampire Weekend keyboardist and producer Rostam Batmanglij and Ra Ra Riot lead singer Wes Miles. The band is gaining acclaim from music critics all over because of it's synth driven electro-pop. This song is just So Insane as the titles says. It jumps from fast to slow and back again, but what makes it shine is the great sunshiny singing and melodies reminiscent of Passion Pit, and you can never have too much of that. Discovery also have a great cover of I Want You Back by Jackson 5. To check out more about them click here.
Discovery - So Insane

I love songs about going home. They make great road trip songs. I once went to a music festival many years ago where we took a school bus from Michigan to Kentucky straight with few stops. It was not a fun trip, the fest was great but the transportation to and from sucked. It was 90+ degrees and loud. Have you ever tried to sleep on a school bus? It doesn't really work. Anyway I wish I had this new single from Imogen Heap back then. It would have helped a lot. The track First Train Home is the first single from the new album Ellipse which is her third studio album and will be released on August 24th/25th. Hey, thats the same time Matisyahus album drops. Looks like thats going to be a pretty damn good week for new music. The other track I have for you is a remix of my favorite Imogen Heap song, Hide And Seek.
Imogen Heap - First Train Home
Imogen Heap - Hide And Seek (Enigma Remix)

In my effort to make things more accessible, I have decided that I am going to try and post links to the bands websites that I post about. That way if you like them you can find out information about them, upcoming shows and where to buy their albums. I don't think I'll post links for iTunes or Amazon but you can always use those great services too.