You Know That They Could "Use Somebody"

Nashville-based Kings Of Leon have been toiling away for ten years, with little success in the US. The UK started embracing them last year and at last they have a few US hits, including the rock ballad "Use Somebody" which has been growing on me for the last few months of it's chartlife.

"Use Somebody" will probably be the band's signature song, but that hasn't stop three artists from place their own stamp on the hit. Below:
The always brilliant Kelly Clarkson has been performing a mash-up of the single with Alanis Morrissette's "That I Would Be Good" on tour.
Emo/punk-poppers Paramore stopped by BBC Radio One's Live Lounge in September and did a fairly faithful acoustic version.
Bat For Lashes also dropped by the Lounge in the beginning of the year and added a spooky organ and tamborine to the haunting melody.
American Idol's Brooke White covered the track for her recent release, High Hopes & Heartbreaks, and did it a sunny, 1970s FM Radio way.
One Tree Hill star and singer Tyler Hilton uses a piano to give the song a little gravitas.
Kings On Leon perform live.

REVIEW: Bat For Lashes - “Two Suns”

The first, most obvious evolution from Bat For Lashes’ debut album to this lush sounds cape is evident on the opening line of the opening track. “Glass” begins with a quote from the Song Of Solomon, and Natasha Khan’s voice soars in a striking falsetto without backing music. Her vocals were sometimes a bit staid and almost boring on that first album, now they are alive and going places I didn’t expect. “I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and broadways I seek him who my soul obeys” she sings as the drums join her eerie chorus. That’s one good thing Bat For Lashes has retained from the uneven Fur & Gold, an uncanny feel for unusual percussion, often sounding like beats lifted from the ritual dances of native peoples and warped into this futuristic blend of beauty and pain.

The drums play an important role in the synth-heavy stand out (and lead single) “Daniel” which sounds like a lost track from the Labyrinth soundtrack. The synths and drums underscore another emotional and lovely vocal and brilliant viola solo. The lyrics seem like they were also lifted from ancient sources, lines like “Khia took me to the darkest place she knew and set fire to my heart” seem tribal and raw. “Two Planets” also plays with this Twilight Zone concept of the future meets the ancient.

“Pearl’s Dream” is a new-wave kind of slow dance number and the first obvious indication of the theme and characters of this concept album. Apparently Pearl is the Sasha Fierce to Natasha’s Beyonce, but I wouldn’t worry my pretty little head about this story line. It doesn’t play into the music much, just enjoy it for what it is, a blend of ancient sea shanties (most notable on “Sleep Alone” ), futuristic synths and spooky vocals and drums.

Closing the album is the best, most haunting song on this musical journey. “The Big Sleep” doesn’t explore new lyrical territory, the metaphors of curtain call as death and sleep as death have been done again and again. But an icy piano is the only background to a spiraling duet between Natasha’s lilting soprano and Scott Walker’s quavering, almost Dracula-esque tenor and the two create magic in three minutes.

Since I Can't Find The New Bat For Lashes Anywhere In Harrisburg...

Bat For Lashes' newest disc, Two Suns, has been out since last Tuesday. But I've checked the usual shops in the 'burg, (Best Buy, Borders and Target) and nobody has it. Same thing happened with Marianne Faithfull, I had to wait a week before I could find it. I don't know what the deal is with that, if it wasn't for the fact I greatly prefer to have the booklet and all that, I'd just hit the iTunes. They love the Natasha Khan's ethereally spooky chamber pop and have MP3's stocked and ready for download.

While I wait for Two Suns, I stumbled onto a BBC Radio 1 performance by the lovely Ms. Khan. She covers "Use Somebody" (by every Brit's favorite rockers, King Of Leon) with her delicate vocals, an organ and tambourine. It's very pretty, and a great follow up to her Lo Fi mix of my current favorite song, "Daniel." Of course, if I had the album, perhaps I would have a different favorite song. Download both MP3s at Stereogum, and listen to "Use Somebody [Live Lounge Cover]" below.



Ah, what the hell. Enjoy my Favorite Song Of 2009 (So Far) too...

Bat For Lashes VS The Shadow People In "Daniel" Video

"Daniel" is the crazy new single by crazy Natasha Kahn (aka Bat For Lashes.) It has a brilliantly moody dance floor sound, like a lost track from the Labyrinth soundtrack, so I was pleased when the video was equally dark.

Natasha is attacked by black shadow people with balloons on their heads. She runs from an swing dance performance/attack by a punch-happy crowd of the the shadow people in the smoldering wreckage of a school play. She makes it to her station wagon and drives to meet Daniel, but the shadow people are calling from inside the car! Luckily she isn't killed, because then she might get blood on her fly cropped hooded sweatshirt with the BFL logo on the back. That would be sad. Will she meet her lovely Daniel before the video ends?

Seriously, I could not make this stuff up!

Daniel - Bat For Lashes

Bat For Lashes' New Songs Are Spooky, Haunting, Moody, Basically Your Stereotypical Bat For Lashes Songs.

I was deeply attracted to the haunting vocals of Natasha Khan on Bat For Lashes breakthrough single "What's A Girl To Do?" The parent album, Fur And Gold, had several other haunting tracks, like "Sad Eyes" or "The Wizard" - bizarre experiments on the edges of folk and world music highlighted by the spooky pagan ritual-esque lyrics.

Well, Bat For Lashes is back with a new disc in April and few songs have leaked. Songs like an album closing collaboration with Scott Walker the moody piano track "The Big Sleep" and delightfully synth-heavy "Daniel" is a standout slow jam. Did I just say slow jam? Yessir, new-New Wavers. The lead single sounds like a lost cut from the Labyrinth soundtrack, "Daniel" is equal parts dance-floor friendly and scary. The album opener, "Glass" is also stunning. Everything I've heard so far is like Fur And Gold to the nth power, more power and pizazz. I can't wait for it come out, add it to my list of CDs that will make 2009 worth living! Listen to the tracks at Bat For Lash's MySpace. Or click below... Two Suns is available 4/6 on SheBear/Parlaphone.

"The Big Sleep" (feat Scott Walker)



"Daniel"