Cover bands make my mouth taste of bile. Straight up nasty. The only credit I give bands for covering a song is when they not only make it their own, but also make it just as good, or even better than the original song, and perhaps when they are an all girl ACDC covers band called Hells Bells. In no way am I saying Nada Surf is a cover band, but they’ve become one with their new covers album If I Had A Hi-Fi, at least for now here is a covers album worth your time. The songs are all so good and catchy that I’ve listened to it over and over – that’s one of the bonuses of being part of a music site, when you get a great album you get to spend a lot of time with it. Not every song is as good as the original but the one’s that are not, come real close. They even put some sunshine and energy into Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence”, a song up until Nada Surf’s reworking has managed to depress me every time I heard it. But that’s just what Nada Surf does, they make guilt free uplifting indie rock. How many bands accomplish this without being totally lame?
I like lyrics sung in languages other than English, who listens to lyrics anyway? Two linguist gems for Nada Surf are the cover of Coral Clemente’s “Bye Bye Beaute”, I love how it defines what whimsical pop might be if there were such a thing, while Mecromina’s “Evolucion” brings the tempo down a notch, while upping the beauty with strings. And in case you are wondering, my favorite song on the album is Kate Bush’s “Love and Anger”. Sweet tears.
Enough jibberish, if you want great, guilt-free, indie rock then here it is.
Off of their forthcoming covers album if i had a hi-fi, “Electrocution” was written by Cleveland musician Bill Fox, one of the many artists covered by Nada Surf for the release. If i had a hi-fi is in stores June 8th via the band’s label Mardev Records, but fans may purchase the album in CD and Vinyl format exclusively at their upcoming us tour dates.
“Electrocution (Bill Fox)” – Directed by Eli Stronberg
Upcoming 2010 Summer Tour Dates:
MAY
24 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up Tavern
25 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
26 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
27 – Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
29 – George, WA – Sasquatch Festival
30 – Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
31 – Seattle, WA – Crocodile Café
JULY
08 – Palma de Mallorca, ES – Cultura Club
09 – Santa Pola, ES – Camelot Club
10 – Liege, BE – Les Ardentes
12 – Holland, US – Effenaar Eindhoven
13 – Luxembourg, US – Rockhal Club
14 – Amsterdam, US – Melkweg Max
16 – France, FR – La Guerre du Son
17 – Stuttgart, Germany – Tubingen Lauscht
19 – Paris, FR – La Maroquinerie
20 – Paris, FR – La Maroquinerie
22 – Luzern, Switzerland – Schuur
23 – Eberndorf Osterreich, AT – Acoustic Lakeside Festival
24 – Feldkirch Vorarlberg, AT – Poolbar Festival
26 – Aschaffenburg, DE – Colos saal
27 – Numberg, DE – Hirsch
28 – Munich, DE – Backstage
30 – Grossenfehn, DE – Omas Teich
AUGUST
07 – Messe, Japan – Summer Sonic ( Marine Stadium)
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