Brandi Carlile covers "The Chain"
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs cover "Trouble"
Res - Refried Mac
Soul singer RES and producer Tim Spiker rework Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks classics: Rhiannon, Dreams, The Chain, Little Lies and Edge of Seventeen on this 5 track EP that was released late last year.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day comes Sweetheart 2014, a collection of indelible, handpicked covers from a remarkable group of modern musical dreamers who artfully grapple, in one way or another, with that most vexing of subject to ever befall mankind, L.O.V.E. Sweetheart 2014 is an adventurous Valentine’s Day collection featuring Jim James, Vampire Weekend, Fiona Apple, Phosphorescent, Brandi Carlile, Beck, The Head and the Heart, Ben Harper, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Valerie June, Blake Mills, Bahamas and Thao & The Get Down Stay Down.
Sweetheart 2014 (Hear Music/Concord Music Group) will be available on CD exclusively at Starbucks and all digital outlets beginning February 4th, 2014. Sound clips available (including Brandi Carlile's cover of "The Chain") at the Sweetheart website.
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs cover "Trouble"
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs tackle the 80's in volume 3 of their cover albums series. Lindsey Buckingham's "Trouble" is included on this one with Susanna taking the lead. Sounds great and close to the original. Check out the sample at Amazon and get the album if you like. Also available at iTunes.
You may recall that on Volume 2 back in 2009 Matthew and Susanna covered Fleetwood Mac's "Second Hand News".
Res - Refried Mac
Soul singer RES and producer Tim Spiker rework Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks classics: Rhiannon, Dreams, The Chain, Little Lies and Edge of Seventeen on this 5 track EP that was released late last year.
Res has a beautiful voice and really takes these four Fleetwood Mac tracks, plus one solo Stevie Nicks track to a different place injecting a funky vibe, a lush chorus (Rhiannon) and infectious beats (Edge of Seventeen and The Chain) that harkens back to early '90's Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I especially love the stripped down reinterpretation of Dreams driven by a what sounds like a ticking clock and a finger popping bass line.
THE CHAIN
I am sorry to the artist, but I just find these covers to be aweful. I have really liked some other covers of Stevie and FM songs, but these just dont do it for me.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately all of these covers are just dreadful.
ReplyDeleteAnother crapfest full of production gimmicks and a shocking disregard for the actual notes and spirit of the songs...why the hell bother? Plus, she's quite a mediocre singer.....
ReplyDeleteShe clearly has a fondness for FM and SN and I think she did a nice job. She is opening FM and SN up to a broader fanbase and I thank her for it!
ReplyDelete"Crapfest of production gimmicks?" Really? This is about as stripped down as you can get--an absolute bare minimum of production. Just say you like the original better and leave it at that. Res is an amazing singer. I suggest listening to her original music before judging.
ReplyDeleteSide note: Yes, she's Black. No, she's not a "soul singer" and has spent her whole career trying to escape that stupid label. Putting artists in boxes based on skin color, clothing style or any other superficial thing is just retarded.
Um....yes, it is a crapfest of production gimmicks. You write as if these were unplugged acoustic/piano versions. It's ALL processed and computerized and for you to claim otherwise is just a lie. I'll accept that they were thrown together fast and without much care or thought, but a "minimum of production?"
ReplyDeleteI don't care what label you place on her - she's mediocre - the voice isn't a "show voice" and the phrasing isn't subtle or sophisticated enough that it works as a thinking person's song.
They're all bad - and sorry if you represent her - it must be frustrating.
Yea these are horrible. I do appreciate the fact that someone young is doing Fleetwood Mac hits. I am young also (25), but I know when someone does some crappy covers. These are so boring!
ReplyDelete