Project Alpha 03

Okay, now we’ve had a mashup and a remix. It’s time to explore the magical world of the cover song. Now, there are two ways to completely screw up a cover–one way is to do a version that sounds almost identical to the original (Exhibit A is, let’s just say, not dissimilar to the original); the other way is to do a version that sounds completely, unredeemably awful (Exhibit B makes the overplayed original sound like an absolute work of art; Exhibit C takes one of the greatest songs in the history of rock & roll and makes it awful). But if you take some aspect(s) of the original and integrate them with what makes your music worthwhile, this can work well. The cover song is analogous to the sonnet: it is the inherent restraints of the form that makes the artist’s work creative and interesting.

Even if it weren’t a logical paradox, I wouldn’t wish that every song were a cover. But the form has its place, and it’s not at all unusual for a cover to improve upon its source material or amplify something that had been a mere undercurrent in the original. Either way, I like it.

So let’s discuss today’s selection. Some of you may remember that Kanye West^* used to be a producer, first gaining notoriety for his work on Jay-Z’s album, “The Blueprint” (most notably on the single, “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)“). Well, deep down Kanye really wanted to be a performer, and when he got his chance he hit it big pretty much immediately with his first single, “Through the Wire“. The song tells the harrowing (and at least semi-true) story of Kanye’s life-threatening car accident (more details about the song here). The song was characterized by its clever wordplay and the sped up sample, a hallmark of Kanye’s production work at the time.

So, naturally, a minimalist electronic pop band in Austin that sounds like Le Tigre‘s cousins decided to cover it. (Sidenote: the now-defunct Le Tigre recorded a cover of their own, but I think it pales in comparison to their original work, which I highly, highly recommend.) Belaire‘s version of “Through the Wire” infuses Kanye’s words with an uptempo buzzy background melody, a driving drumbeat, and a homemade sung version of the original single’s sample. I’m not sure exactly why this works so well, but over the last few years I think I’ve listened to Belaire’s rendition 10 times as often as Kanye’s. I love that this isn’t a cynical, patronizing cover, intended to make listeners giggle at those wacky hip hop rappers (I’m looking at you, Dynamite Hack). I also love the low-fi, made in a basement production values. At any rate, if you don’t enjoy this I’m pretty sure you’re not going to like many of the songs I’m posting in this series.

Here it is: Through the Wire

Final note: according to Belaire’s MySpace page, they were recording an album in April of 2009. I am hoping it actually comes out at some point soon, so I can listen to it.

^*Full disclosure: I love Kanye West.