Friday Cover Up - White Denim Gets Young

I had to cover this set of covers for two reasons. First and foremost, my girlfriend Alison will be winging her way back to the UK on Wednesday for at least 6 months, and although I will see her in that time, it's going to be hard. So having White Denim's James Petralli play her a cover of Elvis Costello's Alison is the least I could do...

James Petralli - Alison (Elvis Costello cover)

Secondly, because I clearly have some pulling power, we have the first cut from Neil Young and Crazy Horse's first album since Greendale, called 'Oh Susannah'. Petralli thought he could pay kudos to that too, so here is a Young cover. Happy weekend people!

James Petralli - For The Turnstiles (Neil Young cover)

And that new track/video...

Predicting Another Bloody Success In The Surf

West Beach, Florida's Surfer Blood had a stellar 2010, what with their massive debut LP Astro Coast making them the new Weezer (IE when Weezer was good) and side projects such as the Jesus Lizard-heavy Weird Wives kicked some serious arse. Well they are hitting back out into new territory this month on their new EP Tarot Classics (on Kanine Records) In some ways its more of the same, esp[especially on the catchy opener 'I'm Not Ready'. However 'Miranda' is a catchy Elvis Costello meets - you guessed it - Weezer blast, whilst end-track 'Drinking Problem' is a fantastic sidestep, a bit of Deerhunter/Atlas Sound/Lotus Plaza styled airiness pervading throughout. They are great songwriters, and vocalist John Paul Pitts' voice is as clear and enervating as ever. Ive been bagged out by my interest in this band in the past, but seriously, there is something about Surfer Blood which is like drinking an ice cold beer after spending an hour mowing the lawn in summer's mid-afternoon haze. A truly enjoyable yet refreshing experience.

Surfer Blood have picked up the support slot for the run of Stateside Pixies shows - very nice! If you can, make sure you get tickets for that. For the rest of you, bide your time - rumours afoot that the touring bug continues to bite...

Surfer Blood - Voyager Reprise
Surfer Blood - Miranda