...

I have a thing for bands covering songs, i have an even bigger thing for bands covering unexpected songs that you never knew you missed and/or never knew you liked the first time round... you can spot these gems thus-ly - when you hear the cover version you'll most likely be singing along, maybe not enthusiastically at first, but there'll definitely be a little self conscious lip syncing to start with. Secondly you'll most likely be frantically asking the good folk around you "what is that?!".

example no. 1 - Frightened Rabbit covering N-Trance's 'Set You Free' (1995)


example no. 2 New Young Pony Club cover Technotronic's 'Pump Up The Jam' (1989)


ps. my love for that last one is unparalleled, if anyone has an mp3 of the cover please send it this way...

WHITE ON WHITE

Nothing like a bit of Bauhaus to get a Monday well and truly started...and for kicks, a cover by nouvelle vague.


Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead


Nouvelle Vague - Bela Lugosi's Dead (Bauhaus Cover)

BUTTER FOR MY PIECE OF BUN

It's a Lykke Li extravaganza of sorts, first up is the alternate version of the Breaking it up video, truly can't go wrong with bare bulbs, a bull horn and some crazy dancing...



Secondly comes Dance Dance Dance with some back up from Bon Iver, randomly live somewhere in LA (it's just crazy dancing and a water feature here, but it still works.)



and last but not least, a cover of I'm Good I'm Gone from Friendly Fires, Lykke Li's support on her UK tour I believe. It's starting to slightly overtake the original with me.... excellent stuff. Check out more from Friendly Fires over at their myspace, including the very cool and recently re-released Paris.


Friendly Fires - I'm Good, I'm Gone (Lykke Li Cover)

MEN IN LOVE

Released on Monday, Music for Men is out. Did you buy it? Did you like it? current favourites are Love Long Distance, and this, Men in Love.


Gossip - Men in Love

also keep an eye out for their recent cover of Kanye West's Love Lockdown from BBC1's Live Lounge, floating about all over.

I'M BEGGING YOU NOT TO GO

I was a slow convert to Anthony and the Johnsons, but after seeing him play live a couple of weeks back I am wholly convinced of his greatness... This one's for anyone with a love for the unexpected cover version and anyone else who's found themselves still awake at this hour.

Crazy In Love will be released on the back of new single Aeon on August 3rd in Europe and August 4th in the US and if you get a chance to see Anthony and the Johnsons live I highly recommend it.

HEY HO LET'S GO

Warchild's 5th album, 'Heroes' will be released on February the 16th with all profits going to the Warchild.org.uk charity. If you have not yet seen the lineup, head on over to the Warchild website and take a look at a highly impressive list of names and covers, including Hot Chip covering Joy Division's 'Transmission', Yeah Yeah Yeah's take on The Ramones' 'Sheena is a Punk Rocker', TV on the Radio cover David Bowie's 'Heroes', and last but by no means least Peaches doing 'Search and Destroy' by the Stooges. Perfect.

MY LOVE WAS BORN ON A RAY OF SOUND

My love for a good cover remains strong with this one, St. Vincent's ridiculously good version of The Pop Group's She is Beyond Good and Evil - if you care for the excellent abuse of a good guitar, this one is quite clearly for you. If you just plain like St. Vincent like me, you should take some time to listen to her newast album Strange Mercy or at very least hit play below. You will not be sorry.

WHEN YOU'RE THE ONE THAT I'VE KEPT CLOSEST

When they describe their influences as Aaliyah to CocoRosie, Rihanna to The Cure, Missy Elliott to Chromatics, The Kills to Ginuwine, Pixies to Mariah Carey and Justin Timberlake to Tracy + the plastics ... you know it can't be bad.

For more on The xx, be sure to check out their myspace even if it's just for quite possibly the best aaliyah cover since gossip did Are U that Somebody, and for more on how to purchase their debut single 'Crystalised' head in this direction ... You won't be sorry.

I WAS HOPING WITH CHANCE YOU MIGHT TAKE THIS DANCE

Daughter - Perth (Bon Iver) v Ready for the Floor (Hot Chip)

My love for a cover is well documented, my love for two covers stuck together is unparalleled, also, Daughter. Performed on Zane Lowe's Radio 1 show a couple of weeks ago and pretty much as close to perfect as you can get.