Mo Kenney flexes her expansive music taste on her latest release, the simply but unquestionably accurately titled Covers. The Dartmouth-based singer/songwriter takes a decided stripped-down approach to the ten songs she has chosen to lend her voice to.
Kenney appears to have taken a much more personal path in song selection. She forgoes a lot of the cover clichés and chooses some more obscure songs and to an extent artists as well in giving us a reflective and moving picture of some of the music that served to shape her as an artist. In an almost M.Night-esque plot twist; it results in a surprisingly intimate and vulnerable sense through these portrayals of other’s parts.
As mentioned, the roster of works given the Mo Kenney treatment crosses a wide spectrum. Tom Petty and The Kinks may register high on any list of frequently covered bands, yet Kenney’s choices of “Yer So Bad “(Petty) and “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” (Kinks) are far deeper in the catalog than “Free Fallin’” or “You Really Got Me” respectively. Personal favourite tracks for this writer come from the more niche artists that have more of a cult following, typically a cult that is also inhabited by many musicians who found inspiration from the likes of Loudon Wainwright III, Guided By Voices, and Big Star. Some fans may not be familiar with these acts but they are likely some of your favourite band’s favourite bands.
The set comes across as very cohesive as Kenney maintains a very sparse acoustic style throughout. It keeps songs like “Thirteen” (Big Star), close to the original while providing a very different take on the likes of Guided by Voices. Kenney trades in the chunky distorted guitar-driven garage rock for only piano keys and the lyrics, leaving the song sounded much more like a desperate plea than its “Game of Pricks” title would suggest. “I’d never ask for the truth but you owe that to me.”
Covers serves as a showcase of both Kenney’s immense musical talents and the music that resonates with her. How well that combination meshes into the final product will leave listeners moved as well as possibly sparking interest in some other artists, the best possible result from a set like this. Like many, Kenney is back on the road with live music making its long-awaited and hopefully long-term return, including a plethora of maritime gigs.