By most accounts, 2011 has been a backward-looking musical year.  Whether it be the 80s lite-FM love of Destroyer, the new-wave stylings of Cut Copy, the R.E.M. worship of The Decemberists, or the Pavement-envy of Yuck, much of the year’s best music has been unabashed in announcing its influences.  Such a year may disappoint some, but it does provide one pleasant bonus: a surfeit of awesome covers.

With the onset of Spring, we are about to see an absolute outpouring of new covers, from the new “Franz Ferdinand Covers EP” (yes, it’s that time already) due out on April 16th to the Our Band Could Be Your Life Show at Bowery Ballroom May 22nd (in honor of Michael Azzerrad’s classic book), everything old is set to be new again.  So, before you get submerged in songs you’re sure you’ve heard before, we’ll catch you up on what’s hit the airwaves so far.  Below, our top 5 cover songs of Winter 2011.

5 (tie). Bat For Lashes – “Strangelove” (Depeche Mode Cover)

Despite significant commercial success, Depeche Mode never really fit in.  As a result, they were largely forgotten during the post-punk revival that dominated the beginning of the last decade.  But, with the steady advance of dance sensibilities into indie music, they are undergoing something of a rediscovery.  This cover of 1987′s “Strangelove” by the criminally enchanting Bat For Lashes captures the perfect balance of respect and re-interpretation. 

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5 (tie). The Decemberists – “Cuyahoga” (R.E.M. Cover)

It’s no secret that Athens, Georgia’s finest provided a great deal of inspiration for The Decemberists latest LP, but if there was any doubt Michael Stipe’s influence on Colin Meloy, it’s put to rest on this deferent cover.  The original is from Life’s Rich Pageant, perhaps the most under-appreciated LP in R.E.M.’s singular canon.

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4. Hercules and Love Affair – “Shelter” (The xx Cover)

Without exaggeration, it is safe to say that The xx’s 2009 eponymous debut was an instant classic. (I know what you’re thinking: that’s always an exaggeration.  You’re right.  Except here).  It is therefore a display of both affection and bravado that Hercules and Love Affair would choose to cover one of the record’s best songs only two years later.  To their credit, the performance is remarkable, and it stands comfortably beside the best work on the group’s 2011 LP Blue Songs.

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3. Iron & Wine – “One More Try” (George Michael Cover)

Prior to performing this song for The Onion’s AV Club, Sam Beam denied any irony in his choice of song, stating “there are a lot of songs from the ’80s that are great tunes that are masked by production.”  If you doubt the sincerity of this claim, just listen to the impassioned performance below.

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2. Dum Dum Girls – “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out” (Smiths Cover)

We love The Smiths.  We love Dum Dum Girls.  So, when this song came up for the first time unexpectedly on the author’s car stereo, it nearly caused a twelve-car pileup on the BQE.  Now that’s a sign of great music.

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1. James Blake – “A Case of You” (Joni Mitchell Cover)

Many a sensitive, open-hearted, open-minded loverboy has done his research over the years, and he has almost invariably come to the following conclusion: Joni Mitchell is for girls.  But even the most skeptical tough guy may shed a tear after hearing this heart-rending version of one of Mitchell’s greatest songs by British wunderkind James Blake.  Listen, marvel, stand in awe.

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L.V. Lopez is co-editor of Frontier Psychiatrist.  He has reviewed and previewed numerous records this year.  He has a poster of Samuel Beckett on his wall.  Seriously.