Cover City

Cover City: Population us

While the prodigious hilltops and heightening molehills of Cover City exist only in my dreams, I believe I would be a prominent constituent of such a community. After all, my immense affinity for covers ranks among my family, Martin Luther King Jr., Walter Sobchak, Snapple Peach Ice Tea and BET as a few of my favorite things (I apologize for plagiarizing Maria’s favorite things). Sadly, it has been sometime since my last official visit to Cover City, and so I will now rectify that.

Our first stop is with Show favorite The Bird and The Bee. These choice artists were not only responsible for our seventh favorite record of the year Ray Guns Are Not Only Just Future, but also recently released an entire album of Hall & Oates covers. While the album boasts a title too long to include here, it runs just under 33 minutes long, when surely there were more timeless tracks to cover. While covering  these deserving masters presents a formidable challenge, The Bird and The Bee execute a venerable service to the mustachioed 80’s elite. Each cover balances tribute with innovation to form an exemplary homage. Although each track merits a purchase, the standouts of the album are “I Can’t Go For That,” “Rich Girl” and “Private Eyes.” Having said that, the decision of which to append to the article was extremely difficult, but I deferred to personal preference of the original, and with that, enjoy “Private Eyes.”

The next cover was bound to arrive at the Show at one point or another due to its creator. As Edward told me before I began my tenure, it is our mission to post any Vampy track or variation upon its release. And while searching for its proper home took longer than I had hoped, I think we’re all ready for it. This version of “Cousins” was laid down by rising British folk foursome Mumford & Sons in BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, also known as the capital of Cover City. Mumford & Sons initially slow down the frenetic Contra single, before letting “Cousins” become a bluegrassy delight. In the end, it’s a complete reinvention of one of the few merely adequate Contra tracks.

Finally, we arrive at music blogger darlings The Morning Benders. These San Francisco natives are already meritorious in the realm of tributes, having released The Bedroom Covers. The album includes tracks by The Smiths, Paul Simon, Talking Heads, Randy Newman and The Velvet Underground, however, the most exceptional is indubitably their marvelous rendition of The Cardigans classic “Lovefool.” Nevertheless, much like their life-altering single “Excuses,” it has already received due praise. Their cover of the Jungle Book anthem “I Wanna Be Like You” on the other hand, could use some approbation. With its funky, garage rocking and doo-wop sound, the Morning Benders admirably pay homage to the Disney classic. And if you haven’t already, definitely go buy their first album Talking Through Tin Cans and their instant classic follow-up Big Echo (in addition to commandeering The Bedroom Covers), I assure you The Morning Benders never disappoint.

Private Eyes – The Bird and The Bee (YSI)

Cousins – Mumford & Sons (YSI)

I Wanna Be Like You – The Morning Benders (YSI)