Best Covers

The internet's a great place, for many reasons. A hugely obvious benefit is the vast amount of music online; many a hidden gem can be found nestled in the suggestions on YouTube or Soundcloud, and often these gems are not original tracks, but covers. Search for '[insert band name here] cover' and I can almost guarantee that someone will have uploaded a video or soundclip of that band doing a cover of something (mostly thanks to BBC Radio 1's live lounge). To demonstrate this, and also celebrate it, I have compiled a list (in no particular order) of some of the best covers out there, hopefully most of which you won't have heard before.

Jamie T - If I Were A Boy (Beyonce cover)



I'm just gonna go ahead and say it: this version is approximately 5000000x better than the original (which I do quite like). Although devoid of his usual rapping, Jamie's husky voice and gentle guitar melodies make this track one hundred percent listen-able. It's not widely celebrated, but I'd certainly say this is one of the best Live Lounge covers there is.

David Bowie - Waterloo Sunset (The Kinks cover)



Not so long ago, I was listening to the original of this on YouTube and miraculously stumbled across this absolutely brilliant version. The added synths and Bowie's trademark vocals make it almost as good as the original, but not quite. (While we're on the subject, skip to 5:52 here)

The Maccabees - Lonely Boy (The Black Keys cover)



The beautiful Given To The Wild aura runs all over this cover, so much so that I could imagine it being a track on the album itself. With none of the rawness of The Black Keys but all of the elegance and magic of The Maccabees, this version certainly does the original justice (and then some).

Deap Vally - Lightning Bolt (Jake Bugg cover)



With harmonica a-plenty and frontwoman Lindsey's fantastic, authentic Californian vocals, Deap Vally successfully turn this mod favourite into a country classic. I imagine that much line-dancing would ensue if this cover were to be played at any party.

Ben Howard - Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen cover)



With this cover, Ben Howard and his somewhat giggly team of musicians have managed to make the thoroughly annoying Call Me Maybe not only tolerable, but massively enjoyable. There's no bouncy girl-pop involved here; it's all depth and darkness and drama. Would definitely recommend, 100%.

JAWS - Everlong (Foo Fighters cover)



Brummie band JAWS released this entirely different version of the classic Foo Fighters song not so long ago as a free download for fans. Whereas when listening to the original you'd be inclined to let out your inner mosher, this cover just makes you want to sway and ponder about the little things in life.

Foster the People - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards (Tame Impala cover)




Foster the People frontman Mark Foster's vocals on this cover sound entirely more mature than those on their debut album; in my humble opinion, his new, deeper voice suits this song down to a tee. The psychedelic element is much less obvious than in the original, but there's no doubt that this is a great cover.

San Cisco - Get Lucky (Daft Punk cover)



This awesome cover of huge Daft Punk hit Get Lucky by Australian four-piece San Cisco features slap bass, a wonderful guitar solo and bongos - need I say more? This is a definite must listen.

I hope this post has enlightened you with some excellent covers that you may not have been aware of before, and reminded you of some which have graced your life previously. If you have any suggestions of other covers, please do comment them in the comment section below. We'd love to hear them!

Written by Molly McGrath 

Februrary playlist

Ah February, you old swine. As much as I have a limited quantity of violent feelings towards this time of year, it always feels as though it is a rather confused month. Everyone seems to recognise January as being the worst month of the 12, despite the fact that some nice things actually happen (my dad's birthday, for example). Because February often feels neither here nor there, I am personally left feeling quite melancholic, for several reasons - first of all it is still freezing cold, furthermore, it is still spine-breakingly freezing cold (I rest my slightly frozen metaphorical case). Therefore, in my frankly "mmmm lists" centred brain, I have taken it upon myself to create a playlist in order to make you feel like you could take on the world (or even go outside for the first time all weekend!) Also, seeing as Andrew VanWyngarden's birthday was yesterday (frontman of MGMT, all round good-egg) there will be a few tracks of theirs rightfully featured.

> Brian Eno // MGMT
It wouldn't be a Sunday playlist without this gem of psychedelic wonder. An ode to the synth master himself, it's quirky and energetic, with a strong beat and the odd twinkling synth to keep your desire for beautiful melodies satisfied for approx 4 minutes 32 seconds (NB: Times depend on the frequency of you replaying the last minute)

> Colours To Life // Temples
Another suitably uplifting and trippy wonder from Kettering golden boys, this track contains enough lo-fi whirring noises and spaced-out moments of glittering guitars that should at least guarantee you'll get out of bed on a Monday morning...

> Get off Of My Cloud // The Rolling Stones
"HEY HEY YOU YOU GET OFF OF MY CLOUD!" enough said.

> Best friend // The Drums
Admittedly, this isn't the most gladdening of songs for a supposedly 'cheery' playlist. Complete with tale of lost friends and a moping Johnny Pierce in full brooding mode, it seems unlikely that it would enliven even the most optimistic soul. However, the music behind the dark lyrics is quite the opposite; a jangly rhythm that pushes the song along with the aid of an angular bass line that somehow makes the emotional wreck that is my mind-set  experience a temporary window of happiness.

> Morning Crumble // Holidays
Gently whirling guitars and a strong bass line with softly delivered lyrics makes you feel like you're on 'holiday' (wow appropriate) and engaging in some romance not to dissimilar to those badly acted out in rom coms. A clear winner for making you want to get up and "do stuff" (#lifelessons).

> Kooks // David Bowie
Reportedly written for his son, 'Kooks' for me, is essentially an ode to childhood belonging and feeling like your parents could do anything and everything for you, until the crushing moment when you realise that they're only human, and they can't hit your ex-boyfriend in the face for you. The score has just the right tempo for a bit of head-bobbing-and-old-man-foot-tapping to occur. "IF YOU STAY WITH US YOU'RE GONNA BE PRETTY KOOKY TOO."

> Your Life Is A Lie // MGMT
It would initially seem that this song is telling you that everything in your life is done with utter distaste, but on closer inspection, it feels like an ode to getting out of a boring life. It's a bit of a self esteem booster, as though you're being told to leave your boring house in a boring street and go and do something half interesting. Deal with it, folks.

> Can't Buy Me Love // The Beatles
What could a supposedly 'happy' playlist be without the 1964 classic?

> Dreamin // Mac DeMarco
Cymbals have managed to make this song so very 60's it seems like the 60's couldn't have created this track. Although it's slow and wandering qualities give it a feeling of desolation at times, it has enough contrasting moments of light to make you feel like a hip New Yorker when you walk around school.

> Ask // The smiths
"SHYNESS CAN STOP YOU FROM DOING ALL THE THINGS IN LIFE YOU'D LIKE TO" Anything I write about this would ruin it for myself and everyone else, it is simply too pretty for human words.

> Surf Bitches // Best Friends
"I WANNA BUILD A PEPPERMINT ISLAND" Lo-Fi vocals and guitar riffs are delivered in the style of FIDLAR, while a stronger driving force behind the music to give it a pacier feel remains. A New favourite.

I hope that some of these songs will help you face February and beyond. What are your favourite tracks for this time of year?

Lots of love, Paige x x x

The 10 Best Album Artworks

The 10 best album artworks (in my opinion)

10) The Velvet Underground & Nico (by The Velvet Underground and Nico) The debut album, released in march 1967, with the iconic Warhol banana on the cover is loved by many people and is memorable for everybody. It has appeared in the Rolling Stone Magazine list at number 13 out of 500. It features the songs 'All Tomorrows Parties' and 'Sunday Morning' and other great songs.




9) Goo (Sonic Youth) The sixth studio album by Sonic Youth released in June 1990, is an illustration of two witnesses of the Moors Murders driving. It is known for the hit 'Kool Thing', 'Dissapearer' and dirty boots. A song I would recommend to check out off this album would be 'Dissappearer'.







8) London Calling (The Clash) The third album released by The Clash in December 1979. The artwork is a picture of bassist Paul Simonon smashing his bass guitar against the side of the stage at the Palladium in NY after a live performance. The album contains the songs 'London Calling', 'Clampdown' and 'Train In Vain'. My favourite is 'Lost in the Supermarket' because it's the slowest song.





7) The Smiths (The Smiths) The debut album was released in February 1984, has a picture of  American actor Joe Dallesandro's torso- a still from the film Flesh by Andy Warhol. In my opinion, this is the best album by The smiths and it reached no. 2 on the UK album chart in 1984. It contains the songs 'Reel Around The Fountain', 'Pretty Girls Make Graves', 'Hand in Glove' and 'What Difference Does it Make'.






6) Led Zeppelin (Led Zeppelin) The debut album was released in january 1969. The artwork is an image of the burning hindenburg airship. It is quite an iconic picture and most people would be able to name the album. It contains the song 'Good Times Bad Times / Communication Breakdown, which was also released as a single. My personal favourite off the album is 'Dazed and Confused'

5) News Of The World (Queen) Queen's sixth album, it was released in October 1977 and contained the hits 'We Will Rock You', 'We Are the Champions' and 'Spread Your Wings'. The image used for the artwork is a giant robot holding the dead bodies of the band drawn by sci-fi artist Frank Kelly Freas. The album went 2x platinum in the uk. 'It's late' is also a personal favourite from this album, which was also released as a single.




4)  The Rise and Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (David Bowie) The album artwork for this album is Bowie stepping out of a nightclub as his alter ego 'ziggy stardust' who could communicate as a messenger for aliens. It was released in June 1972, reaching number 5 in the british album charts. The songs 'Stardust', 'Rock n Roll Suicide' and 'Suffragette City' are the most notable on the album.




3) Abbey Road (The Beatles) The album was released in september 1969. The artwork is the iconic picture of the beatles crossing Abbey Road on the 8th of August 1969 and has neither a name nor title on the sleeve. Thealbum contains the memorable songs 'Yellow Submarine' and 'Let It Be', a personal favourite is 'Come Together' (how typical of me.)







2) Dark Side of the Moon (Pink Floyd)
The Dark Side of the Moon is the eighth studio album, released in March 1973. The artwork is a spectrum of light passing through a prism and is designed by Hipgnosis, some people say the artwork reflects Syd Barrett's mental state. The album contains the songs 'Money' and 'Time / Us and Them' with my favourite being Breathe, which is slow paced and lush.




1) Nevermind (Nirvana) Nevermind was released in September 1991. The artwork is a baby boy, alone underwater with a US dollar bill on a fish-hook just out of his reach. The idea was conceived when Kurt Cobain and Dave Grohl watched a documentary about water births. The album includes the songs 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', 'Lithium' and 'Come as You Are', with my favourite being 'In Bloom'. 


Thanks for reading- Lydia (@itslydiahall)