Single Minded: The National, Fugees Remix, M83, Santigold
Photo: Fazio/FilmMagic
The National feat St. Vincent, “Sleep All Summer” [Crooked Fingers Cover]
We’ve never heard the original version of this song but, knowing the rest of Crooked Fingers’ oevure, we’re pretty sure it’s stark, sad and searching. So it’s not really a shock that The National’s cover has all of those qualities in spades.
Fugees, “Ready or Not” [Drop the Lime Remix]
Remember when there was going to be that Fugees reuinion a few years ago? Everyone got all excited, and they recorded that terrible song for that cell phone commercial and then… nada. Also included on this page, a wild-eyed remix of Cutting Crew’s “Died in Your Arms.” So, bonus.
M83, “Run Into Flowers” [Midnight F*ck Remix]
If there is one adjective M83 generally runs sceraming from, it’s “subdued.” They’ve got all the subtlety of a birthday clown lit on fire, running through a funeral. So getting the chance to hear them tamped down and simmering instead of going-off-all-at-once is a rare treasure.
Santigold, “Hometown Glory” [Adele Cover]
Well, this is unexpected. Santigold upends soul chanteuse Adele’s “Hometown Glory” completely, draping shadows over everything, making it roil and bubble and churn. It’s a drive in midnight thriller on a humid Thursday night.
The Antique Toys, “Joey” [Concrete Blonde Cover]
The Antique Toys don’t screw much with the original on this cover, but why screw with perfection? True fact: S-M’s aunt may or may not have sung this to them as a little kid. Which, if you step back from it for a second, is a sort of screwed up thing to sing to a little kid.
