Next Best Alternative #4: John Mayer = Kid A

I'll be honest - I'm not much of a John Mayer fan. But Radiohead, I do dig. So when someone like Mr. Mayer decides to do his own interpretation of a song like "Kid A" and does it well, this is something I dig, too.
There's just something about this song that will keep it stuck in your head for days, whether it's the plucky guitars, John echoing Thom Yorke in saying things like, "Standing in the shadows at the end of your bed" (again, stalker-y sentiment that seems poignant in its context rather than plain old creepy). Zach Braff would love this, and (I'm betting) subsequently sneak it into the next contemplative scene of a Scrubs episode. You'd love it, too. For good reason.
So download it for a life-changing experience. Or at least something to accompany the soundtrack to a quiet night in. This isn't any "Your Body Is A Wonderland", thank God for that.


Listen to John Mayer - Kid A

Next Best Alternative(s) #3

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog as of late, but university's in full swing and this unfortunately leaves little time across the week for me to sit still and take a breather. The past two weeks have been physically and mentally exhausting, and one of the few things that have been keeping me going is good music (specifically non-crappy covers of great songs, among other things).

Here are two really great K.T Tunstall covers of two very good songs. I'm not really a fan, but I appreciate anyone who can put their own spin on a song without completely butchering the goodness of the original. Especially anyone who can do justice to the White Stripes. So give these a chance:

My Doorbell (originally by the White Stripes)

I Want You Back (originally by the Jackson Five)

(A double-treat because it's the weekend and hopefully these will get it off to a good start)

Next Best Alternative #2

I didn't think anyone could top a Klaxons cover after I heard Soko on a remix a while ago, but I'm really glad I was proved wrong.

My friend Olivia reminded me how great Goldfrapp are last night, and I was lucky enough to stumble on a session from BBC 1's Live Lounge in which the beautiful, super sophisticated and elegant Alison Goldfrapp does a hauntingly beautiful rendition of 'It's Not Over Yet'.

The band does an excellent job of the cover using acoustic guitars with classical undertones.

This song is also sort of reflective of the different direction that the band has taken with their forthcoming album, The Seventh Tree, due out later this month. Gone is the super-shiny disco-esque glamour found in the Supernature album. It's instead replaced by this refreshingly fresh, vulnerability that seems part hippie (I could easily see 'Little Bird' being featured in a scene between William and Penny Lane in Almost Famous) part fairytale, part soundtrack to an adventure involving a forest and mythical creatures. I strongly believe the album will be worth the wait, despite the disappointment of many long-time fans who appear to miss the heavily electronic beats, provocative lyrics and over-the-top disco-glam videos.

I'll have a more in-depth look at the new album soon-ish, but for now, I leave everyone with this tasty treat of a classy cover that (dare I say it) could possibly rival the original:

Listen to Goldrapp - Not Over Yet

Next Best Alternative #1

Meet John McCauley, a hard-working 21 year old musician based in Rhode Island. Not only has he been striving to build a name for himself by distributing home-made CDs, playing small festivals, bars, in your best friend's loft apartment and everywhere else possible, he's actually done us all a gigantic favour and given the worn-out 2007 summer anthem 'Beautiful Girls' by Sean Kingston, a sweet blues-y, acoustic feel that far surpasses the original. If you're like me and could hurl the nearest stereo, television or perhaps even well-intentioned person who in poor taste, begins to belt out/wail the chorus of King's infuriating sing-a-long, you will really, really appreciate this far more tolerable, tasteful version. Thus, being the first in what I hope to be a long-running series of the Next Best Alternative.

And while you're at it, give John's first officially released record, War Elephant a listen!

Listen to clips here!
Download Deer Tick's version of Beautiful Girls

Like A Version.

For those of you that don't reside in Australia, Like A Version (obviously, a parody of the Madonna song) is a segment featured on local radio station Triple J. It involves some of the country's best bands and musicians, and more recently, international ones, too, playing acoustic versions of their favourite songs. Sort of like BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, except I feel there's a lot more integrity involved in the re-interpretation of the song as opposed to seeing which flavour-of-the-week indie band will do another cover of a Nelly Furtado track.

Over the past three years, the segment has seen the likes of well-reputed indie acts such as Tegan & Sara, Spoon and The Mountain Goats to lesser-known local musicains such as Starky and Bertie Blackman. The compilation really helps both local and overseas fans appreciate the local music scene in Australia, and proves that songs are the most meaningful when stripped down to barely nothing.

If you're a sucker for covers and new takes on old favourites like me, this one's for you. For a limited time only, I'm offering up both Vol. 1&2 of Like A Version. Get it while it's hot, kids!

Like A Version - Vol. 1 (Part 1)
Like A Version - Vol. 1 (Part 2)

For a full track listing, head over to this page.

Like A Version - Vol. 2

For a full track listing, visit this page.