"Sweet Pea" by Suntrap

 

Suntrap are a five-piece UK based band that has toured the country extensively for the better of two decades, hitting major folk festivals from Folkestone to Cambridge to Tadley and everywhere in between.  

Here, they throw down some rich harmonies on their live version of "Sweet Pea," a short and, well, sweet ditty from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artist Amos Lee.

I love how they belt out these angelic harmonies while performing in front of a banner with an artist's rendering of a ram that looks like it's taken directly from the Paramount Plus exclusive television series "Evil."

"I Held Her In My Arms" by Alkaline Trio

 

Chicago, Illinois punk emo band Alkaline Trio paid homage to Milwaukee, Wisconsin folk punks Violent Femmes with this reboot of "I Held Her In My Arms," found on their 2011 album "Damnesia."

Fun fact: According to this science lesson for kids, anything with a pH over 7 is considered alkaline.

This page shows that humans have a very narrow range of pH values, between 7.35 and 7.45.

So.... The Police, Rush, Primus, Cream, Peter Paul and Mary?  ALL are alkaline trios.

You aren't special, Alkaline Trio.

For a cover by Violent Femmes, their take on "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley can be found here.

"I Feel Love" by Curve

 

Donna Summer's 1977 Euro disco Hi-NRG song "I Feel Love" was covered by London, UK shoegaze electronica band Curve for a charity release in 1992.

With the original track widely regarded as the birth of electronic dance music, it would stand to reason that Curve's remake is the teenaged version, definitely a bit more mature, but likely rebellious and probably sneaking cigarettes behind the shed.    

"Girls and Boys" by Wang Chung

 

Soap operas are notorious for developing giggle-worthy story lines that range from outlandish to ridiculously outlandish.

Take long-running CBS daytime drama "Guiding Light," where a character named Reva Shayne was presumed dead for six years before it was discovered that she had amnesia and was living in an Amish commune.

God, that's asinine.

Anyway, here's London, UK dance pop band Wang Chung, who emerged from a seven-year hiatus (over twenty years between studio albums) to lay down their version of "Girls and Boys," the 1995 NME Award winning track from Britpop band Blur.

For a Blur cover, check out their version of Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" here.

"Save Your Tears" by VONALTUM

 

VONALTUM are two American sisters (at least, their YouTube channel is based out of the states.  I can't find any biographical information, so I'll just say that they're from Minot, North Dakota... which has a .0005% chance of being accurate.)

Here, they tackle Toronto, Canada artist The Weeknd's 2020 synthwave breakup song "Save Your Tears" in a stripped-down version that matches the forlorn lyrics.  

Even better, this was released at the height of quarantine lockdowns, so it's like a beautifully decorated melancholy cake with sorrowful frosting.

"In Too Deep" by Alex Melton

 

Chester, South Carolina audio engineer and musician Alex Melton adds some small town rural to "In Too Deep," originally a pop punk song from Ontario, Canada skate punks Sum 41. 

Bonus points to Sum 41 for the not-so-subtle nod to 1986 Rodney Dangerfield romantic comedy "Back to School" in their official music video. 

"Lightning Crashes" by Jenny and Tyler

 There was a series of advertisements for Heinz ketchup in the '80s with the tagline "The best things come to those who wait."

Jenny and Tyler, a contemporary Christian folk duo originally from Newark, Delaware (go, Blue Hens!) released a 2017 cover of York, Pennsylvania post-grunge band Live's 1994 single "Lightning Crashes."

The first couple minutes of their version aren't exactly excreta, but they're pretty meh.

Then, at the 2:07 mark, they start harmonizing.  And it's otherworldly.

Definitely worth holding out for.

"Arthur's Theme" by Fitz and the Tantrums

 

"Arthur," the classic 1981 Dudley Moore and Liza Minnelli romantic comedy, was rebooted by Russell Brand in 2011.

And, though the movie was a full point lower in the IMDb rankings than the Oscar worthy original, I'm all about this update on "Arthur's Theme," originally a Golden Globe winner for San Antonio, Texas soft rocker Christopher Cross, performed by Los Angeles, California neo soul group Fitz and the Tantrums.

For a cover of Fitz and the Tantrums, Stereo Avenue's version of "The Walker" can be found here.

"Give it Away" by Funky Rhythm Affair

 Funky Rhythm Affair are labeled as a Bossa Nova/Chill band on their profile at Secondhand Songs. They're likely from Brazil, inferred from their inclusion on a Lounge Essentials album with some of the Bossa heavy hitters, as it were.

Their Spotify account has only two songs uploaded, one of which is this take on Los Angeles, California funk fusion superheroes Red Hot Chili Peppers' 1992 single "Give it Away."

Their version is neither Bossa nor Chill... but has Funk and Rhythm aplenty.

And, now I want to find their entire music catalog, which must span more than a couple of songs.

Come on, Funky Rhythm Affair, time to deliver...

"Africa" by Love Canon

 

Charlottsville, Virginia quintet Love Canon are a rare, if not completely unique, melding of classical training, bluegrass roots instrumentation, and '80s pop rock sensibility.  

Here, they cover the 1982 soft rock stroke of genius "Africa" by Los Angeles, California rock/pop/jazz fusion band Toto.

"Young Dumb & Broke" by Kelaska

 Danbury, Connecticut's own Kelaska has been regaling her YouTube followers with screwball ukulele covers for eight years and change.

Here, she adds pre-recorded vocals to create autonomous harmonies on "Young Dumb & Broke," the certified 9X platinum 2017 hip hop release from El Paso, Texas RCA artist Khalid.

For a different take on Khalid, Crashing Atlas's version of "Eastside" can be found here.

"Basket Case" by Bastille

 

London, UK indie pop band Bastille added orchestral swells to Green Day's anxiety laden 1994 pop punk hit "Basket Case."  Their version of the song was featured in the 2016 Amazon Prime streaming series "The Tick."  

Looking for covers of Bastille?  Hallasen's version of "Pompeii" can be found here, and Juke Ross's version of "Happier" can be found here.

For more Green Day covers, "She" by Imaginary Bill can be found here, and SuRie's version of "Wake Me Up When September Ends" can be found here.

"And She Was" by The Smiffenpoofs

 In 2006, Northampton, Massachusetts all female collegiate a capella ensemble The Smiffenpoofs united their collective voice boxes to remake Talking Heads' 1985 melodious acid trip "And She Was."

For another Talking Heads cover, Wet Leg's version of "Psycho Killer" can be found here.

"Zip-Lock" by The Wonder Years

 

Lansdale, Pennsylvania emo band The Wonder Years do a pretty decent job covering Orange County, California pop punk group Lit's 1998 mainstream hit "Zip-Lock."

That is, until their drummer goes totally rogue at some point during the second verse.

Dude.... you're covering a Lit song.  Relax.

"Highway 61 Revisited" by PJ Harvey

 

Winning the dubious "Worst Mixing Job Seriously What The What?" award is Bridport, UK singer/songwriter PJ Harvey on her 1993 tribute to legendary Duluth, Minnesota tunesmith Bob Dylan, a remake of his 1965 twangy folk track "Highway 61 Revisited."

The first 28 seconds of the song are barely audible, but if you make the mistake of turning the volume up, your eardrums will shriek in protest at the 29 second mark, like when you're watching a show on Amazon and that commercial break hits.

"No One Knows" by The Vaccines

 West London, UK indie rock band The Vaccines covered the 2002 stoner rock song "No One Knows" by Palm Desert, California group Queens of the Stone Age.

Considering that undeniably captivating jazz organ hook, I can't figure out why half of the country seems so vehemently opposed to The Vaccines.

"Tainted Love" by Holy Wars

 Los Angeles, California dark pop band Holy Wars cover Cincinnati, Ohio Queen of Northern soul Gloria Jones's song "Tainted Love."

Though, nobody paid the tune an ounce of attention until 1981, when Leeds, UK synth pop duo Soft Cell released their version.

Once I ran to you/now I run from you

I can't pinpoint the exact time that the singer started running from their tainted lover, but I'd guess it was close to the time that her partner started wearing gas masks constantly.  Because that's just super weird and throws up a ton of red flags.

"Back in N.Y.C." by ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead

 

Progressive post-hardcore is how the music of Austin, Texas rock outfit ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead is described.

Here, they take on "Back in N.Y.C." -- a tune from the 1974 Genesis double album "The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway."

It's a fitting song for our family's day trip into New York City.  Well, sort of fitting.  Yes, we're back in New York City.  No, we're not filling up Molotov cocktails and engaging in turf wars.

Sorry to disappoint.

For another Genesis cover, Disturbed's version of "Land of Confusion" can be found here.

"Laid" by Better Than Ezra

 

New Orleans, Louisiana bayou rockers Better Than Ezra covered the 1993 yodel along "Laid" by Manchester, UK band James, supplementing it with approximately three million times the reverb.

"We Belong" by Denmark + Winter

 

Denmark + Winter are an indie music duo that have been uploading cover versions of pop songs to their YouTube channel since 2014.

Their bio on Twitter and Spotify reads simply "On your screens and in your dreams."

So, I set out on a Carmen Sandiego type mission to find out where in the world Denmark + Winter hail from.

I started with the too obvious choice of Denmark, but could find no evidence substantiating that they are a Danish band.

So, I started internet sleuthing.

A Facebook post from July of 2020 had a comment from the band that said that their latest release was mastered at Spitfire Mastering.  The only production company I could find with that name was based out of Italy.  

But, I could find no other evidence that they are an Italian band.

Their profile at allmusic.com lists their music label as De Novo.  De Novo Music Group is located out of New Hampshire.  So, I thought there was a strong possibility that they, like Grand Funk Railroad before them, were an American band.

But, again, no.

Finally hit jackpot when I looked through posts mentioning the band, and found one from Of Verona, who indicated that they were involved with Denmark + Winter.  

A search of "Of Verona" led to Mandi Perkins and resolved the mysterious whereabouts of Denmark + Winter.

They're based out of Toronto, Canada. 

 I think.

Here is their version of 1984 new wave love song "We Belong," originally from New York, New York singer songwriter Pat Benatar.

"I Want a New Drug" by Glen Phillips

 

Happiest of posthumous birthdays to Albert Hofmann!

According to this article from Scientific American, the Swiss chemist was the first to synthesize and ingest LSD, tripping his face off on the compound while biking through the streets of Basel back in the 1940s.  

In his honor, here's toad the wet sprocket front man Glen Phillips, with his 2006 cover of Huey Lewis and the News' 1983 dance club chart topper "I Want a New Drug."

For a cover of toad the wet sprocket, The Double Denim's version of "Walk on the Ocean" can be found here.

For another Huey Lewis cover, Lovers League's version of "Hip to be Square" can be found here.

"Shake it Off" by Against the Current

 

If I'm being perfectly honest, I wasn't into Poughkeepsie, New York youngsters Against the Current's cover of West Reading, Pennsylvania country folk star Taylor Swift's 2014 foray into dance-pop "Shake it Off" on the first listen.  Or the second.  Probably not the third, either.

But, with repeated plays, it grew on me.  Unlike their lead singer, who doesn't look like she grew since the midway point of fifth grade.

"Right Here Waiting" by Chase Holfelder

 

Raleigh, North Carolina YouTube star Chase Holfelder gained celebrity status with his "Major to Minor" project, where he takes popular songs, changes them to a minor key, and makes them sound absolutely sinister.

Take this remake of 1989 adult contemporary hit "Right Here Waiting," originally recorded by Chicago, Illinois soft rocker Richard Marx.  

Wherever you go/whatever you do/I will be right here waiting for you.

Indeed he will be, but this version makes him sound like he'll be right here waiting just behind the storm door, with a ball peen hammer clutched in his fist.

"Praise You" by The Wiggles

 

The undisputed world heavyweight champion of preschool musical entertainment is longstanding Sydney, Australia group The Wiggles.  

They were also widely regarded as one of the least likely bands to cover Bromley, UK big beat musician Fatboy Slim's 1998 electro dance hit "Praise You."

Yet... 

"I'm on Fire" by Bat for Lashes

 

London, UK singer/songwriter/visual artist Bat for Lashes stopped, dropped, and rolled through Long Branch, New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen's 1985 release "I'm on Fire" using a piano, a string ensemble, and a Marxophone.    Marxophones, if you're just finding out about them (like me!) are totally badass, and every band should rush out to antique music shops and pick one up, because... damn.

For another Springsteen cover, check out Andra Day's version of "Glory Days" here.

"Overkill" by Victims of Circumstance

 

Melbourne, Australia new wave band Men at Work released "Overkill" in 1983, and the song reached #3 on the Billboard charts that year, propelled by what Cashbox magazine described as a "supple sax line."

Last year, Clearwater, Florida ska punk band Victims of Circumstance kept the sax line and added trombones and trumpets and more brass than the doorknob aisle at a Home Depot.

"Set Fire to the Rain" by Echosmith

 

London, UK songwriter Adele's "Set Fire to the Rain" was one of the singles released from her 2011 sophomore album "21."  

In 2012, Los Angeles, California sibling group Echosmith unleashed a cover version.

The accompanying video was uploaded to YouTube in 2018.

If that video footage was recorded in 2018, then Echosmith must have started as a musical group comprised of two young children and a couple of musically inclined zygotes.  

"Any Way You Want It" by Rise Against

 

I misunderstood the lyrics when hardcore Chicago, Illinois band Rise Against covered "Any Way You Want It," the 1980 single from San Francisco, California arena rockers Journey.

She loves to move/she loves to groove/she loves the loving things were the original words penned by Steve Perry.

I heard "she loves eleven things," which I thought was oddly specific.

Either that, or she loves Eleven things, which is another way of saying that she's particularly fond of Eggo waffles.

For another Journey cover, Petra Haden's version of "Don't Stop Believin'" can be found here.

"Attention" by Eyes Set to Kill

 Rumson, New Jersey contemporary pop star Charlie Puth had his 2017 soft soul multi-platinum single "Attention" covered by Tempe, Arizona sister-fronted post hardcore band Eyes Set to Kill.

And, as the old adage goes, a surefire way to get attention is to put out album art with a creepy giant disembodied rabbit head front and center.

"I Melt with You" by Dingodile

 

If you are in a band or you're a solo performer that has a cover song posted on YouTube, and you want your listenership boosted by at LEAST seven or eight people, by all means, reach out to me!

That's exactly what New York City, New York plunderphonics composer Dingodile did when he collaborated with his friends neofolk duo PeachLeaf on another EDM remix, this one of Colchester, England post punk band Modern English's 1982 mainstream hit "I Melt with You."

While this version was pretty well aligned with the original, I did see some changes, and they were getting better all the time.  

One is the inclusion of many, many more synth produced quarter notes during the chorus, which may not increase the beats per minute, but certainly feels like it does.  So, if you're planning a mix tape for cardio workout purposes, this one should have a leg up on the original.

Another is the synthesizer singing parts of the chorus.  Take THAT, early '80s technology!

For more from Dingodile and PeachLeaf, check out their version of Rusted Root's "Send Me On My Way" here.

"New Year" by Philip Coates

 Happy New Year!

Here's a homemade cover of Dayton, Ohio alternative rockers The Breeders' song "New Year" by Nashville, Tennessee's Philip Coates, with a special appearance by a cat.

For a couple more Breeders covers, Tune Yards' version of "Cannonball" can be found here, and The Mayhaws' version of "Drivin' on 9" can be found here.