This week's Cover and Original is from two well known indie artists from the same label, Sub Pop Records. Back in 2004, The Postal Service released their first (and thus far, only) record, Give Up, with the track We Will Become Silhouettes. The video was directed by Jared Hess, who directed the somewhat over-rated movie Napoleon Dynamite. Like that movie, it's got it's own quirky feel to it that really fits with this song. Later, in 2006, The Shins covered the song (I think as a demo). They really give it their own acoustic sound, speeding it up, stripping away the electronic sound. The lead vocals here really suit the song well, and the song really fits as one of their own. They certainly make it sound that way.
We Will Become Silhouettes - The Postal Service
We Will Become Silhouettes (The Postal Service) - The Shins
As a bonus, there's another C&O that I wanted to share. For background, has anyone heard of the cult show Veronica Mars? Teenage detective drama that was on the WB and later, CW, starring Kristan Bell as the title character. Absolutely fantastic show, and one with an absolutely fantastic soundtrack to go along with it, one that's hundreds of indie, alternative rock, rock, classic rock and electronic songs. There's a complete list here. (Link to Veronica Mars Music Blog). Apparently, the creator, Rob Thomas (not the lead singer of Matchbox Twenty), is a huge fan of Spoon, because their songs are used a lot, and in one episode, Britt Daniels, the lead singer of Spoon has his own cameo during a Kereoke scene, where he sings Elvis Costello's song Veronica. I was able to rip a little of the audio from the scene, but only 30 seconds of it, as dialog kicks in for the rest of the scene.
Veronica - Elvis Costello
Veronica (Elvis Costello) - Britt Daniels
