Stream: Versionists, Vol. 2 — a Buzz Bands LA playlist of covers
Kevin Bronson on
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When we shared our first edition of Versionists earlier this summer, it was met with rousing choruses of “That’s Cool” and “Huh?” Because cover songs can be like that. So we’ve decided to make it a semi-regular thing. And here is Versionists, Vol. 2, which features songs by Sparks, Paula Cole, Harvey Danger, Cher, David Bowie, Britney Spears and Fleetwood Mac performed by artists who are not any of the aforementioned.
The likes of Redd Kross, Sego, Kita Klane, Elohim, AWOLNATION, Illuminati Hotties, Scary Pockets, La Santa Cecilia and the Marías are repped here. Come for Nick Waterhouse’s re-imagination of a Local Natives song and stay for William Tyler’s dazzling “Go Your Own Way.” And keep going your own way.
Below, find the usual tasty factoids.
||| Stream: Versionists #2
Redd Kross, “When Do I Get to Sing ‘My Way’” — Not only is Redd Kross’ new album full of vim and vigor and delicious crunch, it ends with a cover of “When Do I Get to Sing ‘My Way’” by the legendary Sparks, who, come to think of it, are also a brother band, not to mention of the few L.A. bands to have been around as long as Redd Kross.
Local Natives / Nick Waterhouse, “When Am I Gonna Lose You” (Nick Waterhouse Dub Remix) — The track from Local Natives’ newest album “Violet Street” gets a total re-imagination from Waterhouse, whose own new self-titled album came out in March. Catch Waterhouse at the Glendale Open Arts & Music Festival on Sept. 14.
Sego (feat. Leah Wellbaum of Slothrust), “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?” — Speaking of re-imaginations, indie-rock agitators Sego (latest album: “Sego Sucks”) teams up with vocalist Leah Wellbaum of Slothrust (latest album: “The Pact”) to turn the 1996 Paula Cole song inside out. (Ms. Cole, by the way, just released a Marvin Gaye cover that will appear on her new album “Amen.”)
Elohim and AWOLNATION, “Flagpole Sitta” — If, like us, you hold Harvey Danger in high esteem (genuflects), you press play on this one with some degree of trepidation. “Flagpole Sitta” is by our count Harvey Danger’s 17th best song, far outstripped by the still-relevant “Cream and Bastard Rise,” but it was the band’s big hit. This is the closing track on Elohim’s new EP, “Braindead.”
La Santa Cecilia and the California Feetwarmers), “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out” — The legendary Bessie Smith recorded this song in 1929. Grammy-winning genre-benders La Santa Cecilia and their pals, the New Orleans-inspired jazz band the California Feetwarmers, go full-on ragtime.
Kita Klane, “Baby Mine” — The L.A. songstress was asked to make a new version of the lullaby from the original “Dumbo” movie (1941) for the new “Dumbo” movie (2019). Filmmaker Tim Burton ultimately decided to use another version, but here is Klane’s, languid and dark.
LANDROID, “Ça Plane Pour Moi”? — First, bonus points to L.A. scene veterans Cooper Gillespie and Greg Gordon (fka Mad Planet) for naming their new project LANDROID. They’re based in the Mojave Desert burg of Landers, after all. Second, we don’t think we’ve heard this 1970s trifle by Plastic Bertrand since … well, the ’70s. It gives us weird … joie.
Scary Pockets (feat. Joey Dosik), “Believe” — Scary Pockets are a merry band of USC-edumacated funkateers who release a lot of covers. Three album’s worth in 2019 alone, and something like six in 2018. If this is some kind of class exercise, they’ve aced it. Velvet-voiced Joey Dosik fronts them for this version of Cher’s 1998 anthem. What they will play Nov. 16 at the El Rey is anybody’s guess.
Sebu, “Space Oddity” — Sebu Simonian, one half of Grammy-nominated duo Capital Cities, takes the much-covered Bowie song for a piano ride.
Illuminati Hotties, “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” — This ain’t Whitney Houston, it’s principal Hottie Sarah Tudzin taking the air out of the song’s tires and turning it into a stripped-down folk song.
The Marías, “Baby One More Time” — This ain’t Britney Spears, it’s Maria Zardoya, turning “hit” into the gentlest verb ever.
William Tyler, “Go Your Own Way” — Early this year, Tyler released his remarkable album “Goes West.” He turns his guitar to the Fleetwood Mac classic as part of Aquarium Drunkard’s Lagniappe Sessions, in which he also tackled Yo La Tengo and a couple of “hitmakers” from centuries past, Dvořák and Handel. Hear them all.
[…] but since its April release the band has been kicking up dust with some well-chosen covers (see Versionists, Vol. 2). Here, in collaboration with the Moth & the Flame and Pinguin Mofex, they pay tribute to the […]