In the Spotlight showcases a cross-section of an artist’s cover work. View past installments, then post suggestions for future picks in the comments!
There are some voices that speak (or sing) for themselves. You know the ones. Voices where it doesn’t matter what they sing. Voices where it doesn’t really matter what instruments support them. Solomon Burke has such a voice. Jeff Buckley had it. Allison Crowe has it too.
Born in British Columbia, Crowe has amassed a loyal following in Canada and Europe. The songwriter’s songwriter pure tones sound like a bell, no show-off acrobatics necessary. The amazing thing isn’t just that she performs the best version of Leonard Cohen’s oft-covered “Hallelujah” (sorry Jeff); the amazing thing is that she does so using the same solo piano style that everyone else does. There’s nothing particularly creative about it; her voice is just that good! So throw all those other “sensitive” covers. This one’s the keeper.
Her others are equally charming. The Beatles’ “In My Life” gets the uplifting piano too, while Cyndi Lauper’s “Time after Time” mixes it up with – wait for it – a guitar! A full band joins in for Pearl Jam’s “Indifference” and the Rolling Stones’ “Shine a Light,” but as always Crowe’s voice is the star.
Download: Allison Crowe – Shine a Light (Rolling Stones cover)
Download:
Allison Crowe –
Hallelujah (Leonard
Cohen cover)
Download:
Allison Crowe –
Time After Time (Cyndi
Lauper cover)
Download:
Allison Crowe –
Indifference (Pearl
Jam cover)
Download:
Allison Crowe – In
My Life (The
Beatles cover)
