listen closer

like a bird without a song.

stereophonics "nothing compares 2 u (prince cover)"
this famous song was written by prince, though i'm pretty sure the most famous version was done by sinead o'conner. those versions don't speak to me, but this one i lovvvvvvvve. his voice wraps around it, raspy and echoed, with a simple acoustic guitar chugging along. and a few quiet keyboard accents. but the tone he hits in this version if what makes it for me. the melody matched with his voice on the lines like "since you been gone i can do whatever i want." the voice hits a pleasure center in my brain somewhere i think, because it just sounds SO GOOD. it came from a 2002 charity compilation of cover songs from various #1 hits. not sure if it's still available but the group that made it has a website here.
--from 1 love [2002] // lyrics

john vanderslice "nikki oh nikki"
the first thing you notice about john's music is how clear everything sounds. his production is immaculate. the chain sound in this song goes straight to the back of your head. maybe it comes from owning his own studio, or maybe he's just an incredible producer. either way by the time his voice cuts into this song you should be addicted. his voice is grating in that good way, almost bad good, like if it was prettier, none of it would work. each "... going to die" gets a little better. one of these days vanderslice will go down in history when he finally records his perfect album.
--from life and death of an american fourtracker [2002] // official site // lyrics