classic: Francoise Hardy

"And Jesus Was A Sailor"

Francoise Hardy is the prototypical bohemian French icon. The essence of all things cool, Hardy is sort of the equivalent to the French Nico, equipped with a better voice and an almost preternatural beauty. She simply exudes cool, and does so no better than on her 1968 record Comment Te Dire Adieu, which features covers by Leonard Cohen and Serge Gainsbourg, both of which are available below.

Francoise Hardy- Suzanne
Francoise Hardy- Comment Te Dire Adieu

under the covers: Marissa Nadler

"I Met You In The Belly of a Whale"

In the 19th century, an entire generation of kids in rural farm towns across America were raised on opium infused elixirs; cough syrups sold to their mothers by traveling salesmen and mail order catalogs. Imagine what it'd be like to walk a mile in those kids shoes; mind aimlessly wandering, constant out of focus/blurry vision, and that God foresaken opium itch. Must've been tough.

Marissa Nadler's Espers infused trance-folk is the musical equivalent to the ethereal opiate state. She loves covers and, coincidently, we love her covers. When she does her thing with Leonard Cohen and Neil Young (twice) numbers, you almost forget that you're listening to someone else's song (from a long time ago). Down below you'll find a video of Marissa covering one of my all time favorite Radiohead songs, "No Surprises." In other Nadler news, Peacefrog just released Marissa's majestic Song III: Bird On The Water on limited edition vinyl (500 to be exact). Don't sleep on that shit. Also be sure to keep an eye out for a new record from Marissa in 2008.

Marissa Nadler- Cortez the Killer (Neil Young)
Marissa Nadler- Clairaudients (Bright Eyes)
Marissa Nadler- Expecting to Fly (Neil Young)
Marissa Nadler- For the Good Times (Kris Kristoferson)
Marissa Nadler- Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen)

Marissa Nadler covering Radiohead's "No Surprises"

under the covers: Leonard Cohen

"Cause You Touched Her Perfect Body With Your Mind"

Whether or not you realize it, you know and love Leonard Cohen. No, not the old jewish librarian at your middle school, rather the Canadian poet, novelist and musician who has written and recorded some of the most unabashedly honest pop songs ever to grace the canon. Cohen's most famous piece, "Hallelujah", has been covered by JJ Cale, Rufus Wainwright and Jeff Buckley, and still gives me goose bumps after a couple thousand listens. If your interested in covers of "Hallelujah" My Old Kentucky Blog has an absurd collection here.

One of my favorite Cohen songs of late has been "Suzanne" from Cohen's first record, Songs of Leonard Cohen. Lines like "you know shes half crazy/ but thats why you want to be there" make the tune personal, while Leonard fleshes out the story of "foresaken, almost human" lovers. His imagery is so vivid that you can actually see Suzanne "wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters."

The same afternoon I began revisting Cohen's debut album Aquarium Drunkard (here) posted on iconic Francophile hipster Franciose Hardy. Coincidently, AD pointed out that Francoise covered Cohen's "Suzanne." Compare and contrast below.

Leonard Cohen- Suzanne
Francoise Hardy- Suzanne