Seth Avett’s take on “Angeles” by Elliott Smith was one of our favorite covers last year for its impressive channeling of Smith’s soft tenor and delicately intricate guitar work, but now we have a look at the Avett Brother honoring a singer with an opposing vocal approach: Tom Waits. Smoothing out the edges of Waits’ deep, weathered croon, Avett sweetens the tone of the world-weary narrator in this Alice ballad a bit, injecting the sailor’s sad tale with a kind of innocent charm. In short, he tips his hat to Waits by side-stepping attempted mimicry of an inimitable legend, all while summoning a forlorn ditty more his own. Let this tender clip of “Fish & Bird” “dry your eyes” below:
M. Ward: “Primitive Girl”
Where M. Ward’s “The First Time I Ran Away” — the lead single off new album A Wasteland Companion — recalled his trademark hushed, anxiety-quelling solo catalog, our latest taste brings Ward’s lesser-discussed pop sensibility to mind. “Primitive Girl” is a simple, piano-driven ode to Ward’s unrequited love, who simply has no need for this self-proclaimed “primitive guy.” Bittersweet, understated, and ends just a bit too soon for this complicated dude, though perhaps that makes for an even more solid single — leaving us primed to hear more come April. As with many Ward cuts, this one’s a grower; give it a stream or two below:
Bruce Springsteen: “Easy Money”
Bruce Springsteen will not only share each track off his new album, Wrecking Ball, over the next two weeks, but we’ll also be hearing all 11 cuts in the LP’s order. “We Take Care of Our Own,” the opening number, reached our ears the day of the album’s announcement, and now comes the tune that follows: “Easy Money,” a rousing folk-rock stomper with an Irish feel and gospel-meets-country outro. Between this and our first taste it’s looking like the Boss will be playing off a number of genres in the set, which should — at the very least — make this unveiling ending in early March an interesting couple weeks
Preeminent Boss fansite Backstreets.com has today’s premiere, with tomorrow’s arriving via Rolling Stone and following locations to-be-announced. Update: Each track will only be available to stream for 24 hours. “Shackled and Drawn” just went live here or below.