KRONOS QUARTET – “HARD RAIN” (BOB DYLAN COVER)
You ready for another cover? Bob Dylan recently got the cover treatment twice over with the Kronos Quartet. The influential Seattle chamber ensemble started in 1973 and have worked with everyone from Allen Ginsberg to Björk to David Bowie. To mark the 80th anniversary of the US testing of nuclear weapons in New Mexico, the group brought in an all-star group to cover Dylan’s song about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Willie Nelson, Iggy Pop, Allison Russel, Laurie Anderson, Stephin Merritt and more join for new take on the song. They simultaneously released a spoken word edition with the likes of Tom Morello, Sleaford Mods, Sampa The Great and Ringo Starr.
Stream • Red Hot Org. • Connect: @redhotorg
ROBERT PLANT – “EVERYBODY’S SONG” (LOW COVER)
After the demise of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant retreated to the Shire. He made friends with some local musicians and would return between projects to relax by jamming on some covers together. They ended up loving the product so much that they are taking the band, Saving Grace, on the road and releasing some of the covers as a new album September 26th. The album will feature songs from Moby Grape, Blind Willie Johnson and Low Anthem. But, to promote the future tour and album, Plant released a song covering one of Minnesota’s own, Low. It’s not the first time Plant has covered the Duluth band; on his 2010 album, Band of Joy, he covered both “Silver Rider” and “Monkey.” Check out his version of the local band’s “Everybody’s Song.”
Stream • Nonesuch • Connect: @robertplant
TALKING HEADS – MORE SONGS ABOUT BUILDINGS AND FOOD (SUPER DELUXE EDITION)
Talking Heads are celebrating their 50th anniversary as a band. There’s been a new music video released to mark the date, David Byrne is releasing a new album in September, and the band is reissuing their 1978 album, More Songs About Buildings and Food. It’ll feature previously unreleased alternate studio versions, and live recordings on the 4 LPs along with a video of a 1978 New York show.
Stream • Rhino • Connect: @talkingheads
PAUL WELLER – FIND EL DORADO
The Modfather of British music, Paul Weller, knows how to craft a great song. He’s spent the last 30 years writing hits for The Jam, Style Council, and his solo work. So, it makes sense that he would put together an intriguing list of music for his second covers album. It’s as much a trip into his mind as a songwriter as it is an album; there’s a tv show theme song cover, a few eccentric songs that never hit the mainstream, and a few takes on classics from the Bee Gees and The Kinks.
Stream • Parlophone • Connect: @paulweller
