Cover songs are a hell of a tester

Anathem is taking all my book energies so let's talk covers. The Web continues to serve up some good ones. Here's an odd one. Bonnie Prince Billie/Will Oldham singing Big Balls. If you are in the mood for something more conventional, here is Spoon playing Panic. Britt Daniel's distinctive voice sounds great hear and he plays it straight, even getting the "hang-a the DJ" at the end. Here is My Morning Jacket playing Across 110th Street, which is fun. This will either thrill you or leave you scratching your head. Colin Meloy playing Neutral Milk Hotel's King of Carrot Flowers. If that band is unknown to you, check out this Slate piece, which describes the singer, Jeff Magnum, as the JD Salinger of indie rock.

Or just watch this video for Holland, 1945. The music is upbeat, but as you might guess, the lyrics are not.