As has been mentioned previously, even culture takes a vacation in summer.  For most of you, this is not a big deal: you happily clear your minds of entertainment detritus while enjoying a nice bike ride or a dip in the lake.  But, for the list-maker, the media slow-down is kryptonite; how to make a decent top 5 when only 4 things of value were released?

Luckily, the covers market never slows down.  With 87% of the world’s bands actively touring and rehearsing, odd and surprising covers are certain to emerge.  This month features  re-imaginings of radio favorites, memories excavated from childhood, and another entry in Ryan Adams’ ongoing project to cover every song ever written.

5. Robyn – “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” (Coldplay Cover)

The beauty of covering a lame band is that the cover can never be as lame as the original.  Here, Robyn has the luxury of turning this recent Coldplay raver into something much more lighthearted and enjoyable while never having to take responsibility for putting the words “teardrop” and “waterfall” in the same song title.

Robyn – “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall” (Coldplay Cover)

Coldplay – “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall”

4. Ryan Adams – “Wasted Years” (Iron Maiden Cover)

This is a solo acoustic cover of an Iron Maiden song by Ryan Adams.  Need I say more?

Ryan Adams – “Wasted Years” (Iron Maiden Cover)

3. My Morning Jacket – “Our World” (Muppets Cover)

In August, Walt Disney Records (which exists) released The Green Album, an album of Kermit and company’s greatest tunes covered by the likes of Andrew Bird, Weezer, and OK Go.  This entry by My Morning Jacket (who have appeared on our covers countdown previously) is the record’s clear highlight.  If you have anything negative to say about this, please go away and stop ruining my memories.

My Morning Jacket – “Our World” (Muppets Cover)

2. jj – “Your Love” (Outfield Cover) + jj & ceo – “Maria” (Blondie Cover)

The Swedes do a lot of things better than us, and now you can add “American and British radio hits” to the list.  Trippy coed duo jj (whose outstanding and free Kills mixtape came out just a tad to late for last year’s top 40 list) wink at the VH1 set with this pair of covers, the second with fellow Swedish wizard ceo (whose debut did make that top 40 list).  And, just for fun, I’ll throw in a ceo cover of Beyoncé’s “Halo,” released last January.

jj – “Your Love” (Outfield Cover)

The Outfield – “Your Love”

jj & ceo – “Maria” (Blondie Cover)

Blondie – “Maria”

ceo – “Halo” (Beyoncé Cover)

1. Washed Out – “Wicked Game” (Chris Isaak Cover) + Widowspeak – “Wicked Game” (Chris Isaak Cover)

This song is beginning to become for the indie world what the number 23 is for the basketball world:  everyone wants to try it on and feel like a star.  The Widowspeak version is fairly straight-forward (with the exception of the female vocals), while the Washed Out version proves that this song is so great, even chillwave can’t fuck it up.

Washed Out – “Wicked Game” (Chris Isaak Cover)

Widowspeak – “Wicked Game” (Chris Isaak Cover)

L.V. Lopez is co-editor of Frontier Psychiatrist.  He recently previewed the fall release schedule and unraveled the references on the new Das Racist album.  He loves the Muppets, and so do you.