London Grammar Covers “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak

London Grammar covered “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak.

London Grammar keeps the clean open guitar riff but replaces Chris Isaak’s rockabilly vocals with her Marina and the Diamonds style voice. Her cover keeps the song in a very clean and trip-hop-influenced sound.

It’s really hard to not like any cover of “Wicked Game” though. Giant Drag’s overdrive-filled cover has been a favorite of mine for years.

[ALBUM ALERT:] “Learn to Exist” by The Jungle Giants

Brisbane, Australia’s garage rock revival wunderkind The Jungle Giants have their album “Learn to Exist” on pre-sale.

The Jungle Giants are a cheery response to America’s The Strokes and join the San Cisco as part of the Australian Invasion of happy garage rock.

[VIDEO ALERT:] “The Mother We Share” by CHVRCHES

CHVRCHES released the music video for the single that put them on the map: “The Mother We Share.”

Just like their video for “Gun” and “Recover” – CHVRCHES features the band performing but with a touch of electric magical realism – with the main character of the video for “The Mother We Share” transforming into energy and the electronic ether and connecting with the whole city – almost like Tron.

“Thinking About You” cover by Typhoon (orig. Frank Ocean)

Self-proclaimed “post-pop” Portlandians Typhoon released a cover of R&B star Frank Ocean’s “Thinking About You.”

While Frank Ocean’s original is synth-filled and bass-driven, Typhoon takes their guitars, drums, string ensemble, female vocal harmonies and the occasion synth and trashcan-bang combo to give their cover an indie folk / indie rock feel.

“Bump” by Be the Bear

Scandinavia shows no end in sight when it comes to producing great electropop acts – another example of which is Be the Bear – a duo created by Denmark (and England’s) Christina Wehage and Sweden’s Mattias Bolin.

“Bump” by Be the Bear is a cute, upbeat track about being in-like with someone – borderline obsessive infatuation, but the beat and Wehage’s high-pitched vocals make it cute instead of creepy. Continue reading “Bump” by Be the Bear