Take Cover! Jay Reatard Vs. Beck

When is a cover song better than the original? Only you can decide. This week Jay Reatard takes on Beck’s “Gamma Ray.” MAGNET’s Edward Fairchild pulls the pin. Take cover!

It’s a fucking shame that we’re not going to get any more new music from the late Jay Reatard. (His final album, Watch Me Fall, made MAGNET’s list of the 20 best albums of 2009.) Two years ago, Beck asked Reatard to re-record “Gamma Ray” for the single’s b-side. Frantic, multi-tracked vocals and a jolt of adrenaline were all he needed to make you forget who wrote the song in the first place. You will be missed, Jay.

The Cover:

YouTube Preview Image

The Original:

YouTube Preview Image

Whose Version Of “Gamma Ray" Is The Best?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

This entry was posted in TAKE COVER!. Bookmark the permalink. Post a comment or leave a trackback: Trackback URL.

One Comment

  1. Jennie
    Posted February 16, 2010 at 2:40 pm | Permalink

    Reatard’s version makes my foot tap and my head nod just a little bit harder.
    It rocks.

Post a Comment

Your email is never published nor shared. Required fields are marked *

*
*