Labels: Run for Cover
Review by: MH
This is four cover versions from a band I have not heard before but have been recommended by some friends with occasional dubious taste. Although these aren’t their own songs I am guessing that these guys normally sound somewhere in between Death Cab Cutie and Good Old War. They have a clean sound and the vocals are harmonious which is where I am getting the Good Old War reference from. The first song is Billy Bragg’s “A New England” which has been covered to death in the past. It’s less sparse than the original and the vocal combination with Brianna from Tigers Jaw is nicely melodic. Ryan Adams and The Magnetic Fields also get the cover treatment – I’m familiar with them both but not these songs. Ryan Adams’ song is acoustic and pleasant on the ears. The Magnetic Fields song is a gentle pop song about girls. Finally, there is a New Order cover to finish with. It feels like a New Order song being reasonably faithful to the original right down to the synthesizer and nervy drumbeat. Perhaps not an essential release but it’s pleasant enough.