Welcome back to Parsons Playlists! Today we’re featuring a collection of Indie Covers by Music Library student manager Cole (Class of 2021).

Cole says:

“I’m a huge fan of musical covers; seeing how great artists interpret one another’s work is purest joys of being a music fan. There are, of course, certain covers that everyone knows (Jeff Buckley’s cover of John Cale’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s original “Hallejulah” comes to mind). But I have a particular affinity for covers done by indie artists. I love seeing how smaller acts put their own unique spin on familiar songs, dancing on the line between fidelity and novelty. Collected below are some of my favorite covers by indie and alternative artists.”

Michael Cera Palin – “If It Makes You Happy” (originally by Sheryl Crow)

Run River North – “Mr. Brightside” (originally by The Killers)

Iron & Wine – “Time After Time” (originally by Cyndi Lauper)

Japanese Breakfast – “Dreams” (originally by The Cranberries)

Lucy Dacus – “La Vie En Rose” (originally by Edith Piaf)

Richmond native Lucy Dacus graduated from Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School and attended Virginia Commonwealth University. She is also one third of the indie supergroup boygenius, alongside Julien Baker and Pheobe Bridgers.

The Japanese House – “Landslide” (originally by Fleetwood Mac)

Day Wave & Hazel English – “PDA” (originally by Interpol)

Phoebe Bridgers – “Friday I’m In Love” (originally by The Cure)

Soccer Mommy – “Drive” (originally by The Cars)

Bon Iver – “Coming Down” (originally by Anaïs Mitchell)

Snail Mail – “The 2nd Most Beautiful Girl In The World” (originally by Courtney Love — the little-known band, not the famous Hole singer)

The Cranberries – “Go Your Own Way” (originally by Fleetwood Mac)

Best Coast – “Rhiannon” (originally by Fleetwood Mac)

Dashboard Confessional – “It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” (originally by R.E.M.)

Bonus: Punch Brothers – “Reptilia” (originally by The Strokes)
This is one of my favorite covers, though it was never formally released and cannot be included in the Spotify playlist below.

Spotify playlist:

YouTube playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU94rco57ZewHDv2qO-LL0MWM1SZ45mr0