Brother Bird covers Nada Surf…

Photo by Chris Bauer

As we eagerly await the March 8 release of Brother Bird’s record, another year, she has given us not one, but two Nada Surf covers. And while we generally do not feature cover songs on our blog, her versions of “inside of love” and “blonde on blonde” are each truly magnificent.

A bit janglier and polished with a modern production, Brother Bird provides an otherwise near note-for-note performance of “inside of love.” Her vocals are, of course, a touch dreamier than the original stylings of Matthew Caws, which is to be expected since their voices are so heterogeneous; however, this contrast is very balanced and it would not be surprising to see the two artists sharing the stage for a gloriously intimate duet.

With “blonde on blonde,” Brother Bird has teamed up with Kevin Devine in order to churn out a reimagined version of the tune. Where Nada Surf once left a more open and ambient arrangement, Brother Bird has utilized a stripped-back, lo-fi, and pulsating guitar rhythm. The layered deployment of Devine’s vocals, at times, give us a bit of a Sufjan Stevens and/ or Elliott Smith vibe and we are totally here for it.

Something to keep in mind is that you need not be a fan of Nada Surf in order to enjoy these tunes; Brother Bird has made them completely her own, breathing new life into one of her favorite bands and honoring them in the process.

-HD