Radio Free Chicago

People Covering Songs I Love: The Morning Benders Do Girl Group Doo-Wop, Minus the Bee-Hives

Not long ago I pleaded on Facebook for someone to share some (totally legal) Morning Benders mp3s  with me, because I decided I had gone long enough living under my Morning Benders-less rock. It seemed every magazine I leafed through and every blog I clicked on had some mention of Morning Benders, so…what was all the fuss about? RFC EIC Amber Valentine quickly obliged my request and sent over a few files. What I did next was possibly sort of odd. I listened to Bedroom Covers first. So, for my first impression of Morning Benders, I listened to an entire album of Morning Benders playing music that isn’t the Morning Benders’.

There are many great, semi-obscure choices from notable artists on Bedroom Covers that I assume Morning Benders culled from their list of musical influences (however, I can’t be sure, because I still haven’t actually listened to Morning Benders’ music). I’m certain that I’m only one in a long list of people to have a mini swoon attack over the cover of Cardigans’ “Lovefool,” which has an edgy and ethereal feel akin to cloudwatching with a flask of whiskey in hand. Something warm overtakes you as Chris Chu huskily croons “say that you need me” and makes the ‘90s superhit his own forlorn ode. Similarly hushed versions of Roy Orbison’s “Crying” and The Smiths’ “I Won’t Share You” flank the release. However, no cover nailed it for me quite like the revamped “Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love?,” by The Ronettes.

Why don't they let us fall in love? - Morning Benders (The Ronettes cover)

Rocking beehives, heavy eyeliner and mini-dresses with the best of ‘em in the heyday of the sultry ‘60s girl group, The Ronettes are a band that you may think you have never heard but have probably heard over and over again in your lifetime. In fact, Eddie Money’s semi-ridiculous superhit “Take Me Home Tonight” features lead Ronette Ronnie Spector belting out the female vocals, and even references Ronnie herself and The Ronettes’ hit “Be My Baby” within its chorus.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the original, and I wouldn’t necessarily say that I prefer the Morning Benders’ version. However, this column is all about people covering songs we love, right? And there’s a lot to adulate about “Why Don’t They Let Us Fall in Love?” The lyrics are cheeky and smart, and the harmonies are to die for. The Morning Benders version nicely complements and updates the tune, and brings its evergreen musings about people trying to steer the course of young love against the grain to a new audience. The Benders’ version has a slightly pop-punk feel to match its nose in the air lyrics, and I cannot stop crooning along at home.

In my opinion, an album full of covers is not for every band, and a cover album may get a big ‘ole thumbs down from many critical listeners, as well. However, I think Morning Benders artfully sent a nod to the bands they adore without mutilating the songs we already know, and I am pleased to listen.

 

People Covering Christmas Songs I Love!

Those who know me even vaguely probably won't be surprised to learn that I'm kind of a Scrooge McDuck when it comes to holiday songs. It was just the other day that I was driving with my roommate, listening to Detroit's premier peddler of Holiday "cheer", 100.3 WNIC. Shocked at my grinch-ly attitude, she asked me, aghast, "What's better to make you forget how cold it is outside other than a doo wop group singing Christmas songs?!"

So, as a rebuttal, I have prepared a list of five things that are better than a doo wop group singing Christmas songs...

- The sobs of one thousand colick-y infants.

- Foxes engaging in sexual intercourse.

- Kesha... Oh, I'm sorry, I meant "Ke$ha".

- People with lung cancer coughing.

- And, finally, a doo wop group NOT singing Christmas songs.

Okay, maybe that's a little harsh but it gets my point across, right? Christmas music can suck it. But, that being said, even my "Bah Humbug" heart can't help but be warmed by Detroit natives The Kickstand Band taking on Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer's "There's Always Tomorrow".

The Kickstand Band - There's Always Tomorrow

JUST LISTEN TO IT! From start to finish, that song is so damn cute that not only do I want to cuddle their cutie pie lead singer but I just want to cry because I did not think that much "adorable" could be packed into two minutes. You know when the Grinch's heart grew three times in size from Christmas cheer? Well, thanks to The Kickstand Band, that's what just happened to me.

 

 

People Covering An Arcade Fire Song I Love... And Arcade Fire Covering A Song I Love, Too!

I'll be the first to admit that the slick, grandiose melodies of Arcade Fire took a while to grow on me. In fact, it wasn't until last autumn when I finally took a shine to Win Butler and his crew of avant garde Canadians. And, interestingly enough, very little of my introduction to Arcade Fire had to to with Arcade Fire themselves.

Arcade Fire - My Body Is A Cage

It was a cover song that did it. (This is where you can answer "Of course it was, Amber." and roll your eyes because, by now, I'm sure you've caught on to the fact that most things in my life can be traced back to a cover song.) I was on the corner of Southport and Belmont at Schubas, the best tavern in the world, seeing Sea Wolf. Opening for him were Port O'Brien and a lovely woman named Sara Lov, formerly of Devics. Sara's music is lilting and has a music box like quality to it and her voice is smooth and feminine but never borders on saccharine. Where other like-sounding ladies like Eisley get a bit too produced and darling for my own personal tastes, Lov maintains her indie sensibilities and also churns out some bad ass covers, including one of Beck's "Timebomb" and a seductive, stripped down take on a track from Arcade Fire's sophmore LP, Neon Bible, "My Body Is A Cage".

Sara Lov - My Body Is a Cage (Arcade Fire Cover)

M. Ward Covers A Joanna Newsom Song I Sort Of Love

While I hold Joanna Newsom's debut release, The Milk Eyed Mender, very near and dear to my oddball heart, "Sadie, an ode to Newsom's dog, never really grew on me. I had a white dog, though, and found the fact that Newsom loved her pup so dang much pretty endearing but The Milk Eyed Mender is a fantastic album. And, to me, "Sadie" sort of falls short.

M. Ward, my long-standing folk music man crush aside from Will Sheff, has been turning "Sadie"'s grating edge into a gentle, smoky voiced lullaby for quite some time live. Personally, I remember seeing Ward bust out a version of this with a dawning look of realization on my face when I realized the reason why I recognized but didn't really recognize the song he was playing on stage at the Vic.

Now, even agoraphobics can enjoy Ward's take on Newsom's "Sadie" because the fine folks at Oxfam have put together a 22 song compliation featuring a ton of musicians who specialize in songs under fifteen minutes long offering up versions, uh, of Joanna. I guess that's why the CD is called Versions of Joanna. Makes sense.

Joanna Newsom - Sadie

Anyhow, enjoy Ward's lovely "Sadie" below. Personally, I'm pumped to see what Ben Sollee does with "Sawdust and Diamonds".

Sadie - M.Ward by Peter24B

 

People Covering Songs I Love... With Ted Leo, Karen O. and Kelly Clarkson!

A lright, kids. I used to be something of a political activist. I'm not so much anymore ("OId age" has somewhat mellowed me out) but I was in fact discussing the prospect of RFC going political with fellow contributor Matt Roney just a few short days ago. The cons to RFC going political are many but the biggest pro, doubtlessly, would be the fact that we would get to give a lot of coverage to a wonderful man who gets alarmingly little love at RFC: Ted Leo.

I'm a lady of few regrets but never having a successful Ted Leo concert going experience is one of them, for sure. Reasons behind this range from not get listed and having no cash to shell out for a ticket to a poor concert-mate selection, causing me to miss out on Leo's opening set to, as lame as it is, traffic and after the fifth time I missed out on Leo in Chicago, I sort of came to terms with the fact that maybe I just wasn't meant to see the hipster vegan heartthrob take the stage.

Regardless of whether or not I'll ever see Leo in the flesh, I still have his recordings to swoon over and those recordings include what very well might be the best kitsch cover of all time, an acoustic mash up of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" and Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps".

Ted Leo - Since U Been Gone/Maps

People Covering Songs I Love... With Dolly Parton, Justin Townes Earle, and Dawn Landes!

There were two kinds of music I was exposed to growing up. I've talked before about how much of an influence my mom's love of Tom Petty and John Lennon was and still is to this day but something that goes by the wayside when I'm spinning tales of youthful musical discovery is the fact that when I was a wee child, my grandmother's love of country sirens like Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton rubbed off on me more than a little bit.

Now, it's not my proudest admission, but I once was forced to serve pancakes to the elderly at Cracker Barrel. My love of old country music made this time in my life slightly easier but when Parton's last CD, a collection exclusive to the Barrel or something, was released, the "country fresh" restaurant where dreams go to die damn near killed my one time adoration of Parton because, for about six weeks straight, they played nothing. Except for Backwoods Barbie. Try working a for fourteen hour shift whilst listening to nothing but the same twelve Dolly Parton songs over and over again. (Note: Don't try this. Seriously.) The results are either...

1) You go insane.

Or...

Wait, no, basically, you just go insane.

Naturally, the nightmarish experience was enough to scare me off of Parton for, well, what I assumed would be forever.

 

Dolly Parton - Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?

I assumed too soon, however, because it wasn't a year after my tenure in the Parton torture chamber ended that I was reminded of my own humbling roots of listening to old country songs as my grandma carted me around the suburbs of Detroit as an adorable child (No, seriously, I was a cute kid) by Justin Townes Earle and Dawn Landes.

 

Justin Townes Earle & Dawn Landes - Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?

People Covering Songs I Love… With AP&E!

It’s not often that I prefer a cover song to the original version, but those sexy Exports have managed the improbable. Well, at least half of them did.

Last spring, Archie Powell & the Exports posted weekly videos for a month to bone up our excitement for their forthcoming record, “Skip Work” (or at least keep us at ease until its release). During this time, they laid all their talents out on the table and charmed their way into our virtual pants. All four vids were sparkling with charisma, but my fave (and judging by number of views, if it’s not just a representation of all the times I played it, the majority’s) was their take on an old tune from Tom Petty’s debut solo album.

 

Now, you may not know a lot about Archie, but he’s a big Petty fan, to say the least. It just makes sense that he’d totally nail a cover of “Yer So Bad.” He and Adam Export display random acts of silliness throughout Export HQ (aka their apartment) with ukulele, guitar, maracas and handclaps (not to mention a bit of patty cakes) that is good enough to afford itself the hearts of millions. Take note, millions.

 

As much as I love watching this adorable pair go at it in their living room, this is a song I’d even love without the visual accompaniment. Do you hear me, guys? Put this shit on a record so I can love it on a plane, on a train, in a car, at a bar, and everywhere else that I don’t have Youtube access. It is, if I may be so bold, the bees knees.

Miniature Tigers Cover Songs I Love!

Nothing says "Happy Thanksgiving!" like a full album of cover songs and were you to hop on over to Miniature Tigers' tumblr, that's just what you'd receive. This year, the indie popsters celebrated the best holiday that centers around a feast of dead bird by giving away their own take on everything from Madonna to Animal Collective and while I've been in too much of a food coma to properly give the whole disc a spin, I can say with the utmost of certainty that their long-time fan favorite cover of Abba's "Mama Mia" is quite the charmer.

If you've ever wondered why I have been known to drunkenly tackel "Mama Mia" at karaoke, this is why. Thanks for the humilation, Charles Brand!

 Miniature Tigers - Mamma Mia (ABBA)

People Covering Songs I Love… With Cee Lo Green!

Fun fact: Cee Lo Green released his solo album this month, the one responsible for last August’s single-turned-Internet sensation “Fuck You.” Furthermore, “The Lady Killer” is a bitchin’ album, and you can read all about it on my other blog.

I first took interest in Cee Lo when he and Danger Mouse joined forces to become Gnarls Barkley and released “Crazy,” an infectious jolt to the pop music scene during an otherwise flaccid year of hits. When people pair up with Danger Mouse, good things are bound to happen (“Modern Guilt” by Beck, “Attack & Release” by the Black Keys).

Cee Lo is best known for his heavy soul grooves, so when I was listening through his new album and heard him singing a Band of Horses song, I was stunned. Those unfamiliar with Band of Horses should know it’s an alt-country group that originated in Seattle. The band released its second album, “Cease to Begin,” in 2007, which featured “No One’s Gonna Love You,” the heart-breaking ballad covered on Cee Lo’s latest.

No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses

Cee Lo’s version doesn’t mess too greatly with the format. It’s actually magnificently executed with the same vocal cues but laid out on a drum track backed by violins. And just knowing that a soul machine like Cee Lo draws inspiration from folksy indie rock is an exciting thought. It’s one of those occurrences that make you feel happy about the world, like when cats and dogs cuddle.

No One's Gonna Love You- Cee Lo Green

People Covering Songs I Love: Milow Covers 50 Cent

Alright, so maybe I don’t really “love” the original version of “Ayo Technology” by 50 Cent featuring Timbaland and the ever so sextacular Justin Timberlake; however, I do enjoy it when I go into what I like to call “Gangsta Mode”. When I go into “Gangsta Mode”, all I want to listen to is the most  disgusting and vulgar rap I can find. Fortunately, “Ayo Technology” isn’t exactly something I would expect my mother, or M-Dawg, as I like to call her, to find pleasant. I will; however, make certain that she listens to it regardless!

50 Cent- Ayo Technology (Featuring Justin Timberlake and Timbaland)

I’ll admit that the only reason I even know about this song is because my former roommate, (no, not Amber Valentine), played it for me one night. I was honestly surprised that she was listening to something that could actually be considered “good”, as she usually listened to strictly country and/or generic pop music. However, this particular song actually impressed me. Since making this song my latest obsession, I’ve grown very fond of Milow’s clear and quite soothing vocals. So fond, in fact, that I went and downloaded his album The Bigger Picture just to see if it was worth listening to. SPOILER ALERT: it is.

Throughout the album, Milow provides his listeners with a myriad of catchy acoustic songs accompanied by a voice that, at times, is goose bump worthy. Although I do enjoy Milow’s full length album, I must admit that his version of “Ayo Technology” is probably my favorite song that he has recorded. Everything about this track is incredibly well done and, despite the somewhat offensive lyrics, actually sounds like an original song. To be honest, had my roommate not informed me that it was a cover; I probably would have just thought that Milow has a pretty good sense of humor.

Milow - Ayo Technology

People Covering Songs I Love... With More Teenage Dream?!

Sometimes, the right thing just shows up in your inbox at the right time. It's like kismet, really. You see, recently, I was giving Shani's post on her favorite guilty pleasure "Teenage Dream" a quick once over when suddenly, another cover of the undeniably catchy Katy Perry pop schlock appeared in my inbox! Fate? Well, no, I don't believe in fate, but the timing of this occurance was enough to get me to play to track and, let's face it, even if timing had been different, it's pretty well documented that I love a good cover so who am I to say no?

Katy Perry - Teenage Dream

Let's get one thing straight: I do not like Katy Perry. I think everything about Katy Perry is subpar at best. Her songs sound like every other bit of female driven bubblegum pop on the radio these days and her look, that of "mainstream bad girl" is tired. So when I say that "Teenage Dream" is catchy as heck, I want you to understand that my soul kind of hurts when it hears me admit that Katy Perry has redeemable qualities (other than her fantastic rack).

"Teenage Dream" is irrisistable and even I, with my glaringly obvious dislike of Perry and what she does, am not immune. I mean, is any girl? The lyrics are cute, plain and simple. Who doesn't daydream of the badass boyfriend that will tame their wild side, your "missing puzzle piece" that makes you "complete"? Corny? Yes! But it's a pop song! And really, that's sort of the point.

Despite my like of "Teenage Dream", the track will never make it on to my iPod, if only because I do not want Perry to appear in between Karen Elson and Kepi Ghoulie. Enter Foxes In Fiction.

Foxes In Fiction Teenage Dream (Katy Perry Cover)

People Covering Songs I Love... Teenage Dream!

In an effort to preemptively combat my usual bout with Seasonal Affective Disorder, I indulge in a guilty pleasure or two. Some people use pizza, others use reality TV. I use Katy Perry.

I had no idea who The Rescues are. My personal tastes, as we've established can be a bit wonky, typically never venture into singer-songwriter world. I've also got a little attitude about bands from LA. The Rescues are not going to become my favorite band by any stretch of the imagination. But they'll get RFC praise for the straight-faced and downright professional job they did covering someone with ridiculous blue hair who's currently got a beef with Sesame Street.

The Rescues saturate their music with sort of breathtaking harmonies. They're not fooling around, though the lyrics of this song keep me waiting for a moment when one of them bursts out laughing right before a high note. But it wont happen, they're grownups. Its refreshing to hear harmony done in an adult manner, as opposed to suffering through tweens wax on about romantic situations they're entirely unfamiliar with. You wont be skeeved out by a bunch of 14 year old boys joining voices in celebration of a homecoming dance. You'll just hear a pop queen's song redone in the manner of a Meryl Streep movie soundtrack. Guilty. Totally guilty.

The Rescues- Teenage Dream

 

 

People Covering Okkervil River Songs I Love

I don't love any band like I love Okkervil River. It's been well documented on various sites on the internet and, in fact, when I first moved to Illinois, I was given the nickname "Okkervil River Girl" and for good reason. The adoration I have for everyone affiliated with the band, from front man Will Sheff to former member and current Shearwater front man Jonathan Meiburg, is the kind of love that's hard to come by.

If Neutral Milk Hotel was my first musical love, Okkervil River is my musical soul mate.

With Will Sheff leading group with fearless and heart wrenching lyrics, it was love at first listen with Black Sheep Boy, a disc whose perfection rivals that of Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea for me. It's been a while since we've had significant new material from the Austin band. Their last CD was the second disc to their dual-discs-released-a-year-apart one-two-punch, The Stage Names and The Stand Ins and while this isn't new, it's still cool because, you see, Sheff and company had their famous pals take on their last disc track by track on youtube in something they called The Stand In's Project.

AC Newman and Sheff himself kicked it all off, churning out a version of opening track "Lost Coastlines" that rivals the perfection of Sheff and Meiburg's duet on The Stand Ins.

 

While Bon Iver's verison of "Blue Tulip" got the majority of the limelight because of Justin Vernon's popularity at the time, what gets my the most about the project is that it's credited for exposing me to David Wingo, better known as Ola Podrida, a beyond lovely indie musician who has become my number one non-Sheff-or-Berninger music crush since I was exposed to the Texan via his cover of Okkervil River's "Calling and Not Calling My Ex".

Ola Podrida - Calling and Not Calling My Ex

Honorable mentions for "Best Stand In" goes to Zykos (Who may or may not still be a band. Seriously. I'm not sure) who aptly took on "On Tour With Zykos" and David Vandervelde with his jangly version of "Singer/Songwriter".

Zykos - On Tour with Zykos

People Covering Songs I Love... With Bad Veins Takin' On Apples In Stereo

 I was never an Apples In Stereo fan. I always respected them but I never awaited their next release with fervid anticipation, I never bought their vinyl even though I already had the CD, and I never gazed upon their album art and contemplated what I could fish out of their graphics that would make a solid Apples tattoo. I think there was a cross section of indie kids that coexisted peacefully along side me while I grew up and they loved Apples In Stereo. I do, however, think they were a little younger than me and maybe that's the problem here. I was at just the right age for fellow Elephant Six-ers Neutral Milk Hotel and Olivia Tremor Control but perhaps just a few months shy of freaking out about Apples In Stereo.

Regardless, when it was announced that the latest Apples LP would feature covers... Of Apples  songs... By artists I loved... I kinda spazzed.

Apples In Stereo - Benefits Of Lying

"Benefits of Lying" is one of those songs that sincerely makes me question why exactly it is that I never cared more for Apples in their heyday. The more I listen to it, the more I love "Benefits of Lying", with its Beatles-esque overtones and slight tempo changes backed by a lovely chorus of infectious "la's". Couple these wonderful bits of Brit pop-slash-Jon Brion-esque indie pop bliss with the painfully earnest lyrics and you've got yourself a winner. 

People who know me know that I have the habit of basing my like or dislike of a song on where it would fit on the soundtrack, were my life a movie. Personally, "Benefits of Lying" seems like a great choice for that exact moment of realization when it hit me that the guy who I've spent months of my life convincing myself is "just a friend" is not even close to "just a friend". Then there could be a nice montage of my interactions with him juxtaposed with all the crazy things I do to try to get over him.

Of course, what might one up the original for this scenario would be Bad Veins' "Benefits of Lying" cover.

Bad Veins - Benefits of Lying (With Your Friend)

People Covering Songs I Love With Timber Timbre

If I asked you to name my favorite record of 2009, you might say "That's easy, Amber! Dawes was your favorite release of last year. Obviously!" There, dear readers, you'd be wrong. Dawes was my favorite debut, yes, but it was my second favorite release of 2009. The top spot went to a criminally overlooked folk noir masterpiece by Canada's Timber Timbre.

I'd never heard of Timber Timbre before the release of their third album but within moments of finishing the record, I greedily consumed all their previous work, finding each record as perfectly in tune with dark sensibilities as their much-raved about self titled 2009 release. I've always had an interest in the macabre and no band has ever made death sound as beautiful as Timber Timbre does. With references to grave robbing, necrophilia, seances, and hauntings galore, Timber Timbre is music for late nights and gloomy weather, for the days when you want to draw your own morality into question. They make music for haunted houses, for the dead and dying, or for people who feel like a part of them is dead or dying. And they do it all against a timeless background of impeccably hushed acoustic guitar, raucous gospel stomp, and old-time ragged blues. Unique? You betcha.

If you backtrack in Timber Timbre's catalog, to the band's 2007 release Medicinals, you'll find a song called "Oh, Messiah". Not a traditional cover, per se but 51 seconds into the song, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. It's recognizable by everyone, ingrained into popular consciousness by The Isley Brothers, The Beatles, The Mamas and The Papas, and countless others. Yes, I'm talking about "Twist and Shout", which is seamlessly blended into the woodwork of the roots spook of Timber Timbre's signature sound.

 

 Timber Timbre - Oh Messiah

 

 

Speaking of covers and Timber Timbre... Who the heck are these guys killing it on "Demon Host" in a field?!

 

I want to be friends with them.