American Laundromat spinning it out again
From American Laundromat Records and Under The Radar Magazine comes Covers of Covers. A 19 track sensation, this wonderful album features covers from the likes of Peter Bjorn, Granddaddy and more. The various covers push boundaries with new takes on classics such as “It’s The End of The World As We Know It” and hidden treasures such as Joanna Newsom’s “’81.” Genres warp into one another as Funk melds into Indie and Indie sinks into Folk.
Grandaddy starts off strong with “Blindness.” Metric’s original seems a bit more upbeat and vocally compares to Yeah Yeah Yeah’s singer Karen O. Grandaddy’s cover is a sincere ode to the Metric’s, following similar song structures but with a tint of folky raspiness. Softer instrumentals sound like they travel long distances, allowing listeners to transport into this Hobbit landscape, but with a techno twist.
“Bourgeois,” covered by Cults and originally produced by Phoenix, takes a leap of faith and produces a vastly different cover that features an ultra-feminine and sweet vocal take. “Sha la la’s” sound soft and bubbly while “Bourgeois” sounds almost cheeky. If the embodiment of art featuring the likes of white, hazy, pink-purples with a distorted layer on top could have a song, this could be it.
“Calculation Theme” is a song that is hard to encapsulate into words. Covered by Black Belt Eagle Scout and originally produced by Metric, this track incorporates slow drums and electric guitar to create a wallowing, mystical appeal. Heavily tapping into the moodiness of voices like Mazzy Star and Phoebe Bridgers, this cover strays from Metric’s forward sound, subverting it for a gentleness that is all-embracing.
“‘81,” originally written by Joanna Newsom and covered by Strand of Oaks, is a whimsically beautiful song with a tinge of darkness. It seems like the perfect song to play when driving around in a cold, shaded forest while rays of sunlight peek through the leaves. Although the song can be interpreted as a euphemism for the writer’s birth and the religious implications it may have had for her mother, lyrical talk about “gardens” and “tea parties” bring about a cottage core feel.
“It’s The End Of The World As We Know It,” originally sung by R.E.M. and covered by Water From Your Eyes, is a perfect way to finish off the album with a bang. R.E.M.’s original is chaotic, loud and hectic while the cover is a happier, bubblier take on an almost ludicrously gloomy message. Using an acoustic guitar in the cover over an aggressive electric guitar used in the original, this cover compares to Kimya Dawson’s songs in the soundtrack for Juno.
With so much to choose from, “Cover of Covers” will appease various listeners and perhaps even inspire some new favorites as well. Fans of Elliot Smith, Beck, Angel Olsen and Mitski can find this album as a bridge to some new artists they might have previously glanced over. It’s worth a listen, and may give listeners a sudden burst of euphoria— beware.
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