Sister to a Father of Thought

"The best a Pavement cover can hope to be is good and interesting and bring out something that was hinted at in the original, but not made explicit.”
- Fluxblog

The bar is so high most are smart enough not to try. Those who do - in this case, Zooey and Los Campesinos - escape blasphemy charges by bringing whimsical innocence and a deep-rooted appreciation for Malkmus and team's slacker catalogue (Zooey has been singing this song in the shower for a decade, and LC unanimously declare Pavement to be the band's favorite band).

Both artists also recontextualize Malkmus' wildly abstract lyrics to suit a female perspective - Zooey's lighter, big-city sibling slinks instead of sulks ("I'm just a woman, you see who I am"); and when Aleksandra Campesinos halts the seven-piece violin/glockenspiel march to quietly whisper "She the only one who always inhales," we know she can empathize.


Zooey - Father to a Sister of Thought (Pavement cover)


Los Campesinos! - Frontwards (Pavement cover)

Side note: Zooey's interpretation of "You Gave Your Love To Me Softly" is less of a win unless you're also a big fan of Ladytron/The Rentals.


Zooey - You Gave Your Love To Me Softly (Weezer cover, from Pique-nique et jeux dans l'eau)