Salt Lake Alley ~ Bankrobber

Continuing with the covers theme, this is Stockholm duo Salt Lake Alley - one of my top favourites of the last few years - putting their own jangly spin on The Clash. Gustav and Mikael say: 

"We tried to approach it like The Byrds approached Bob Dylan’s Mr Tambourine Man. In the end it probably sounds more like the UK circa 1989 than Laurel Canyon circa 1965." 

I say: "Certified banger!" 🏅

The Umbrellas ~ Promises

Poptastic San Francisco outfit The Umbrellas covering the Buzzcocks' classic? Don't mind if I do! 😏

This track is from Oakland Weekender 2022, an album of Buzzcocks covers which was jointly released by Slumberland and Emotional Response Records to accompany their three-day San Francisco Bay Area festival of the same name. I so wish I could have been there - the line-up looks incredible! 

Click here to download the compilation courtesy of this blog. ✨

The Hidden Cameras ~ The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Is it too early to start posting Christmas tunes? Well, I just did! 🎄🎅

Favourite Magnetic Fields covers

For many years now, I have collected covers of Magnetic Fields songs - I have nearly 100 mp3s! - and so without further ado, may I present the countdown of my top five. 🎧🎶

To kick things off, at number five it's Nallo and their wonky fuzzpop version of When My Boy Walks down the Street. 

Nallo · 69LS: When My Boy Walks Down The Street

At four, perhaps better known as front woman of 90s indie-pop group Suddenly, Tammy!, Beth Sorrentino and her lovely piano-led rendition of 100,000 Fireflies.

Third, The Shins' summery take on Strange Powers.

At number two, this is Kotomi's (composer and producer Lauren Hillman's) electro-cool reworking of All the Umbrellas in London. 

Finally, my favourite one of all: Tracey Thorn and Jens Lekman's sublime duet on Yeah! Oh, Yeah! 🔥🔥🔥

One thing that struck me whilst compiling this list, is the quality of the songwriting - it's so exceptionally good, that I daresay a Merritt cover would be pretty hard to mess up. 

The Radio Dept. ~ You're Lookin' at My Guy (cover of the Tri-Lites)

 They've still got it! I adore the Radio Dept. 🖤