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

under the covers: Cat Power

"Honey Let Me Be Your Salty Dog"

Indie-folk chanteuse Chan Marshall, aka Cat Power, just announced a release date for her highly anticipated follow up to 2000's Covers. The record, coincidentally titled Covers II will see the light of day on January 22nd, 2008 by way of her longtime label Matador. Not only does Chan have one of the most enchanting voices I've ever heard, she is one of the most beautiful women I've ever laid eyes on (Chanel kingpin Karl Lagerfeld thinks so too, he featured her in Chanels Spring runway show). In the spirit of giving I hereby share two of my favorite Cat Power covers, the hauntingly beautiful, albeit abridged, version of the Velvet Underground's "I Found A Reason," and Chan's version of the traditional tune "Salty Dog." She's also on the I'm Not There Soundtrack doing one of my favorite Dylan songs "Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again" (Chan has covered the Bard before. "Kingsport Town" appears on Covers and "Knocking on Heavens Door" on Speaking for Trees). Catch the lovely Ms. Marshall in the 'sick' video for "Lived in Bars" below.

Cat Power- I Found A Reason
Cat Power- Salty Dog

Under the Covers: These Days

"I've been out walking..."

Let's all thank Wes Anderson for turning us on to old, almost forgotten tunes. The guy sure has a knack for it. The Royal Tennenbaums, my favorite film of all time, introduced me to Nico's fantastic version of "These Days." While this was the first "real" recording of the song, most people don't know that it's actually a cover, written by a wise-beyond-his-years 16 year old Jackson Browne. At 16 I didn't even have a learner's permit, meanwhile Browne is writing one of the most introspective songs of all time. The guy even dated Nico. And then wrote and released "Running on Empty." He's cool.

While Nico's version, from her classick Chelsea Girl, is considered by most to be the definitive, Ms. Annie Clark, who records as St. Vincent, does her own take on the tune and I'd be ignorant to say she doesn't give Nico a run for her money. For me it's become a toss up. I will say I've been on a St. Vincent bender recently. Regardless, make up your own mind down below where you can grab both tracks. Also be sure to check out St. Vincent's Marry Me, which hits stores July 11th via Beggars Banquet.

Nico- These Days
St. Vincent- These Days

Under the Covers: The Beatles

"It's Been A Long Cold and Lonely Winter"

It's not easy to cover the Beatles. Proof:I Am Sam Soundtrack . While every teenage boy with a guitar has taken a stab at Blackbird, it takes a truly unique voice of wonder to interpret the Fab Four's mystique. Luckily there are a few people more than up for the challenge.

Nina Simone didn't get the name the "High Priestess of Soul" for nothing. She was born with the title, divine right, and she proves that on this version of the Harrison classick "Here Comes the Sun." Listen close and you can actually feel the sun creeping out from behind the clouds.

Soul Music, to me, is simply music that reminds you that underneath layers of cold hearted bitterness, you do indeed still have a soul. Wilson Pickett will make you feel that way as he tears through the Beatle's anthem "Hey Jude." The story goes like this: Brother Duane Allman was doing session work at Muscle Shoals Studios, where Wilson Pickett came to record. The locals would go into town to eat lunch every day, leaving the flamboyant Pickett and Skydog (Duane) behind. Duane prompted Wilson to cover "Hey Jude" by The Beatles. Pickett said "Skyman, that ain't for me. It's too weird." But Duane persisted and the version recorded is a classic in the same way as Joe Cocker's version of The Beatle's "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window." The outro, which Pickett and Brother Duane both absolutely CRUSH, is one of those windows down, volume max'd out, rave ups that will make the proverbial "IT" better. This song screams cathartic salvation. RIP Wilson and Brother SkyDog.

Nina Simone-Here Comes the Sun
Wilson Pickett- Hey Jude

Under the Covers: The Magnetic Fields

"Hey?!? Am I Making Any Sense At All?!?!"



The Magnetic Fields are a folkie synth pop band (if that makes sense) fronted by Stephin Merritt. Merritt started the group as a bedroom project, but it quickly grew to include childhood friends Claudia Gonson, Sam Davol and John Woo. While the group has held a cult following since 1991, they gained notoriety in 1999 with 69 Love Songs, a triple album of, yep, love songs.

Today we've got two The Magnetic Fields covers. The first is from one of our favorite Norweigan's (we've got many), Erlend Oye. You may know of him as a DJ, a King of Convenience, Feist & Royksopp collaborator, or, possibly, the Whitest Boy Alive. Regardless, this guy's got the midas touch and his vocal on "the Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side" is as genuine, clever and witty as Stephen Merritt's. Download the Kings of Convenience and Magnetic Fields versions below.

!!! If you've seen this puzzling string of exclamation points and were wondering what the hell it means, well it's pronounced 'chk-chk-chk' and it's punctuation for kick-ass drrrrty disco dance punk funk. Think Chili Peppers Meets LCD Soundsystem and My Bloody Valentine. A few years ago they released one of our favorite bangers "Me & Guiliani Down By the School Yard," which they followed with the aptly titled "Take Ecstasy With Me," a song off the Magnetic Fields record Holiday. They couldn't have picked a more appropriate song.

Magnetic Fields- Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side
Kings of Convenience- Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side (live)

Magnetic Fields- Take Ecstasy With Me
!!!- Take Ecstasy With Me

Under the Covers

"Lose Your Dreams & You Will Lose Your Mind"

Our "Under the Covers" feature aims to bring you cool, possibly unknown, versions of your/our favorite songs, or at least some good ones we've discovered along the golden road.

This week's tracks come by way of the Rolling Stones. First is Franco Battiato's cover of the Stone's classik "Ruby Tuesday." KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic turned me on to this and I couldn't be more appreciative. The operatic background vocals and string arrangements on this are both bone chilling and hauntingly beautiful. Imagine how perfect this would've been in The Royal Tennenbaums, when Margo and Richie are in the tent. Regardless, it gets the cinematic treatment in Children of Men.

The second is another Stones classik, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" which is performed here by Ananda Shankar, nephew of world renowned sitarist Ravi Shankar. Ananada is famous for his fusion of Eastern and Western musical stylings, as well as his collaborations with Jimi Hendrix in the late 60's.

In case you can't remember the original "Ruby Tuesday," we've dug up a video of the Stones playing it live on Ed Sullivan circa '67. Keith on piano looking karazee as ever, sitting next to Brian Jones, on recorder! Cue screaming girls!

Ananda Shankar- Jumpin' Jack Flash
Franco Battiato- Ruby Tuesday