Top 10 Adele Covers/Mixes

Adele's music has a quality to it, and that quality makes you want to put your own spin on it anyway you can.  Yesterday I heard the remix "Something About The Fire," which pits the great British chanteuse against the always awesome Daft Punk, I got to thinking, huh, I've already got some good covers and mixes of Adele in my music library, so there has to be enough out there for  Top 10.  I feel like I only scratched the surface with this list, so don't be surprised if it gets updated in the future.  Enjoy!

Evergreen Terrace - Wolfbiker

I used to be a big Evergreen Terrace fan.  I still am, but usually bands need to keep my attention with new releases.  I know, I know...I ask for too much.  The Florida collective's Wolfbiker still stands as their best album in my eyes, and one of my favourite purchases over the years.  It's fun metalcore without being too fun, and rife with good songs.  There aren't any fillers here.  There's "Chaney Can't Quite Riff Like Helmet's Page Hamilton," "Where There Is Fire We Will Carry Gasoline," "Starter," and "Rip This," but the title track is in a league of its own.

"Wolfbiker" is fast-paced metalcore with growling and clean vocal parts that compliment each other, instead of competing.  Dat chorus.  OMG.  I can't start to breathe until the walls, the walls, the walls are coming down; can't make believe that this is all because what's lost cannot be found.  You've done it again, Florida.  Though the song clocks in at less than three minutes, it makes use of the short time by reeling you right into their intricate metalcore web.  Dear Evergreen Terrace, release more music soon plz.

Titus Andronicus - Upon Viewing Oregon’s Landscape with the Flood of Detritus

New Jersey's indie-alt collective Titus Andronicus (taken from the immortal bard, very nice) is responsible for getting me back into punky-sounding things since I got a hold of their mixtape, Titus Andronicus LLC Mixtape Vol. 1, via rcrdlbl.  It's an interesting collection of covers and originals that has restored my faith in the genre, and has me hopeful other bands that I can find in the woodwork.  These guys know how to have fun with their music, and despite a long title that might be a little too Fall Out Boy for me, I give my accolades to "Upon Viewing Oregon’s Landscape with the Flood of Detritus."

"Upon Viewing..." is a good three and a half minutes long of punky alternative jamming that doesn't sound like the guys of Titus Andronicus are trying too hard.  You know, some bands get that sound like they want to be alternative and punk when they're not (ahem...Simple Plan...ahem...).  Not these guys!  This is pure punk fused with an indie sound.  Think of "Upon Viewing..." as a basement performance at a small rock venue; the performance you wait until the end of the night to see.  Though I can't say I've read Titus Andronicus, or plan to in the near future, I'll still keep listening to the reverse-namesake band. 

OH ALSO: I'm going to see Iron Maiden at Bayfest this July for my twentieth birthday!  We have VIP tickets too, so I am thismuchcloser to touching Bruce and watching an instant connection pass through our lines of vision.  OMFG.  Expect a full review on their performance, as well as opener Alice Cooper's, three months from now.

Fanny Bloom - Tes Bijoux

Now and again I still like to throw a French selection your way, and today it comes from Ms. Fanny Bloom from Montreal.  Canadian?  Even better?  Though I hate to sound like a broken record, language doesn't matter when it comes to music.  Audio artists only speak in the language that is music; nothing fancy like French or whatnot.  "Tes Bijoux" which according to my crude knowledge of French translates to the jewels is a prime example of such an occurrence.

"Tes Bijoux" has a quality I like to find in music: an instrumental side that reminds me of the video games of my childhood.  This time it's the soundtrack of a good racing game, like Mario Kart or CTR.  It's poppy, a little electronic, and all fun.  At the same time, the background is a perfect compliment to Fanny's sweet and sugary vocals.  If you don't want to learn French after listening to "Tes Bijoux" then something is wrong with you.  Seek help immediately.

IamOMNI - All Over

You should know by now that there's a certain way I like my rap.  Subdued (for the most part).  Interesting.  Unique.  It just has to be something that's not out there yet.  LA's IamOMNI is definitely an artist doing his own thing, which I can commend him for.  I'll say it before and I'll say it again: it's hard to stand out in a genre where everything is slowly melding into one.  With the help of Kassia Conway on the chorus, he achieves exactly what I'm looking for in a rap artist in "All Over."  IamOMNI, I think we're a match.

"All Over" has an alternative feel to it; I know you can hear it.  It might be the electric guitar yawning now and again; though it takes a certain rapper to work their words and beats into a song with that instrument.  IamOMNI's words are spoken in a deliciously low voice, while Ms. Conway croons through the verse in a seductively dark way.  I'm a fan, obviously.  It might be all over, but you'll hope this song never ends.  Why don't more people know about this guy?  That' what I'd like to know!

Ludo - Lake Ponchatrain

You can't really go wrong with Ludo if you're looking for no-nonsense, high energy alternative that you could call "weird."  Sure, Ludo does do things their own way, but we're all a little weird, aren't we?  I'm a fan of their ability to tell stories within their songs; a skill that many bands and artists neglect to nurture in their early years.  Their You're Awful, I Love You has some fantastic examples of storytelling in song, and my favourite of the already stellar bunch just might be "Lake Ponchatrain."

"Lake Ponchatrain" tells the story of the narrator, Darius and Nolan on a road trip through the southern states, discovering the mysterious stories and circumstances that surround the lake.  And there's crawfish 'til the bitter end?  Sign me up for the next tour!  It's upbeat instrumentally, but "Lake Ponchatrain" is dark in content, and that's what I like about it.  It could be the opening number of a musical.  I have always been compelled to write a musical...after failing to make Panic At The Disco's Pretty. Odd into one.  Hmm...

Polica - Dark Star

Hailing from the wondrous land of Minnesota (I actually wouldn't mind dropping in on my way to Fargo, North Dakota) is Polica (sometimes stylized as POLIÇA, but how do you get that weird thing on the C?), and she brings some lovely indie pop with her.  And this indie pop is so lovely that "Dark Star," from the release Give You The Ghost, could quite possibly the best song I've heard in 2012 so far.  You're going to have to listen to it to get the full picture, but I'll try my best to convince you why it's a good choice.

"Dark Star" isn't your older sister's indie pop.  It's unique.  Daring.  And beautifully done.  Polica's vocals are the siren call of a mermaid; I hear something underwater-y in there.  Then there are the instruments.  The drums.  The piano.  The horns.  It's a up-tempo jazzy orchestra come to life and then thrown into the ocean.  This girl's onto something here.  Just do me a favor and listen for once, people of the internet, and listen to "Dark Star."  Some things can't be explained in two paragraphs.  This is one of those things.