David Byrne is a Scottish-American singer-songwriter and, of course, founding member of the Talking Heads. And for this year’s Record Store Day, he covered a song that was originally inspired by his own band: Paramore’s “Hard Times.” Continue reading »
Brendan Rice made the relatively short physical journey from Warwick to New York City, but traveled an extraordinary artistic distance to become Gus Dapperton, a boy about town in the New York art and pop scene. He effects the whole package, visually arresting and aurally challenging. However, he has never forgotten dancing in the front room with his family on a Friday night, which may have inspired his choice of Bobby Caldwell’s ’70s R&B hit “What You Won’t Do For Love” for his latest cover version. Continue reading »
Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin were honored with the Gershwin Prize from the Library of Congress at the beginning of April. As part of the award ceremony, a number of big names performed covers of some of their most classic songs. Metallica might not be the most obvious band to perform at a tribute to Elton, but the progressive nature of his most epic songs, such as the 11 minute “Funeral for a Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding” which opens Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, makes some sense for metal bands. Continue reading »
Lou Reed was quite the fella. Initially a proto-Brill Building popsmith for Pickwick Records, he morphed into a leather and shades VU biker and glam-rock trans offender. And FX metal feedback noisenik, and elder statesman socio-political commentator, before closing his recording career with a soundtrack for meditation and mindfulness. Indeed, just about anything and everything, for nearly five decades, all while being a notoriously spiky literary curmudgeon, bane of any journalist trying to capture his essence. It took music, not words, to do that, and with The Power of the Heart: A Tribute to Lou Reed, it’s officially been done.
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JXDN (AKA Jaden Hossler) is a well-known internet personality and singer-songwriter from Tennessee. The artist first took off from a video he posted on TikTok in 2019. Then, his debut album, Comatose came out in 2020. JXDN primarily hovers around the emo/pop-punk and rap genres. And now? The artist has taken on the iconic, anthemic Coldplay song “Yellow.” The pop-rock fusion cover of the song was created for Spotify Singles. Continue reading »
Close harmony groups have narrow ranges within the chord and can have wide divergences in the personalities involved. Some of rock’s most beautiful music and entertaining feuds have come from the format. How are both factors enhanced when the singers are also siblings?
Taking the risk is WanMor, four New Jersey brothers with a musical pedigree from their father, Boyz II Men star Wanya Morris. They have worked with the Grammy Awards to produce their cover of “Leave the Door Open” by Silk Sonic, in tribute to the multi-award-winning song from Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak. WanMor enhance the song with their harmonies and wholesome energy. Continue reading »