Year in Rock 2013: Black Friday Bonus Post! The Year's 10 Best Covers

As much fun as it is watching a band grow and evolve over the years and through their assorted projects, sometimes it's nice to see them take a step back, shrug their shoulders and try walking in someone else's shoes for four minutes. Whether it's a faithful reconstruction or a sonically shapeshifted alternate vision, it's always fun to hear what an artist can do with a song that's not theirs.

Here are ten artists whose interpretations of familiar songs got the biggest smiles from me in 2013:

10

SEETHER

Seether

Originally released by Veruca Salt in 1994

Knowing Seether had taken their name from the biggest hit by one of my all time favourite female fronted outfits, I figured it was only a matter of time before they paid tribute with a cover of their namesake song. That it took over a decade speaks to their restraint. This is a pretty straightforward reworking, although there is a little of the old bro-rock seeping through; then again, Veruca Salt would end up out-broing the bros on their vastly underrated sophomore album, Eight Arms To Hold You in 1997.

9

ARCADE FIRE

Games Without Frontiers

Originally released by Peter Gabriel in 1980

He may not be that big of a marquee name now, but Peter Gabriel was once one of the world's most popular artists. However, he's released only two proper studio albums since his 1986 breakthrough So; no suprise, then, that he's fallen off the radar. Regardless, he had a great idea in 2009; he recorded an album of cover songs of several current and classic favourites, with the idea being that they would cover one of his songs in return on a forthcoming companion piece. Well, that compilation finally materialized this year; sadly, it didn't come to full fruition (David Bowie, Neil Young and Radiohead don't make appearances). But, if nothing else, we get a neat take on one of Gabriel's early hits by one of the biggest bands on the planet.

8

MELVINS

Black Betty

Originally released by Leadbelly in 1939

As classic rock one hit wonders go, it's hard to think of too many songs quite as overplayed as Ram Jam's 1977 version ofBlack Betty (at least where I'm from). That Melvins could breathe new life into it for me is a minor miracle, and breathe new life they do. Sped up and fed some of that trademarked Melvins grime, Black Betty becomes an exhilarating track again, an old Camaro with the rust spots patched up and a fresh coat of paint.

7

ARCTIC MONKEYS

Hold On, We're Going Home

Originally released by Drake in 2013

An increasingly common practice among bands doing the radio interview circuit is to do a one-off cover song; hell, there's an entire top ten list somewhere on the internet dedicated to covers from the BBC Live Lounge alone. However, where most feel a bit unprepared and uninspired, Arctic Monkeys make this song theirs; turns out the song was a perfect fit for the Monkeys' newfound R&B infused sound.

6

MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE

The Logical Song

Originally released by Supertramp in 1979

First rule of Mindless Self Indulgence: don't take it so seriously. They clearly don't; fifteen-odd years into their career and their albums are still as brash and immature as ever. As a bonus track on their latest album How I Learned To Stop Giving A Shit And Love Mindless Self Indulgence, The Logical Song is given a surprising amount of respect musically; of course, Jimmy Urine's spastic vocal delivery keeps it from running too parallel to the Breakfast In America smash single.

5

HALESTORM

Get Lucky

Originally released by Daft Punk in 2013

It used to be that artists would give a song a chance to fade out of public consciousness before reworking it. Now, we're lucky if there are only a hundred versions of a song on YouTube before it cracks the top ten. Between Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and Daft Punk, somebody will probably compile a top 100 by year's end. However, of all the countless artists who covered Get Lucky this year, Halestorm got it most right by combining the song's sensual groove with their hard edged chops and (thanks to Lzzy Hale's formidable pipes) somehow managed to make it even sexier.

4

HEADSTONES

SOS

Originally released by ABBA in 1975

Punked-up versions of decidedly non-punk songs have existed since the beginning of punk. Upon first listen to Headstones' roaring return to rock Love + Fury, those unfamiliar with the original likely took it as just another fine supercharged song amongst all the other fine supercharged rock songs on the album. Those who are familiar with the original likely nodded their heads and grinned, thinking "they just reached in and took that song by the balls".

3

DEAD SARA

Heart Shaped Box

Originally released by Nirvana in 1993

Now that they've come out of the minors and signed with Epic Records, I'm still convinced that the Dead Sara takeover I predicted in 2012 will still happen; it's just a little behind schedule. In the meantime, their rising profile has landed them some pretty swank deals. If you're a gamer and have seen the trailer for the Playstation 4's upcoming Infamous video game, you likely heard a snippet of Dead Sara doing Heart Shaped Box. Well, it was released as a single on iTunes a couple weeks ago, and it's a faithful recreation that doesn't bring much of anything new to the table. However, the acoustic version found on the B-side is a total transformation, from seething rage rocker to smoldering, haunting dirge. This will bide my time nicely while they finish up work on their second album, due in 2014.

2

BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB

Let The Day Begin

Originally released by The Call in 1989

Sometimes, it's not so much about what the song sounds like as what the song means. To Black Rebel Motorcycle Club bassist Robert Levon Been, it's an eternal reminder of his father Michael who, after a near twenty year career with The Call, went on to work closely with his son's band. In addition to producing some of their album's, he acted as BRMC's sound tech when on tour. Tragically passing away during a BRMC performance in 2010, the loss was deeply felt by the whole band. So, as a loving tribute to his father, Been and his bandmates covered his dad's biggest hit and released it as a single. If that wasn't enough of a feel good ending for you, Been also joined with the surviving members of The Call for a pair of shows in April as bassist and vocalist. It's a beautiful story about a boy, his father, and a great song.

1

OLIVIER LIBAUX feat. INARA GEORGE

No One Knows

Originally released by Queens Of The Stone Age in 2002

Who, you say? That's not important. What you need to know is that someone in France got the idea to do an album of smooth versions of QOTSA songs utilizing a team of highly skilled female singers. How does it work, you ask? Shut up and listen to this shit hot amazingness.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.