Reinterpretation and remixing of recorded songs has long been a celebrated practice in the music industry, but the indie rockers of Deerhoof have recently raised the bar for all would-be cover artists. The locally-based band, consisting of John Dietrich, Satomi Matsuzaki, Greg Saunier and Ed Rodriguez, has been a staple of the San Francisco music scene for much of the 21st century, but recently crossed over into a more bi-coastal brand of notoriety after wooing Brooklynites with a well-received performance at the Prospect Park Bandshell.

Deerhoof's playful musical experimentations and innovative collaboration have established them as something of a critics' darling, yet throughout their prolific career, the group has refused to settle into one clearly defined genre. Although tracks from their forthcoming record Offend Maggie have yet to hit the radio, in true iconoclastic fashion the band has "leaked" an upcoming single through CASH Music, a self-described platform for creative and artistic engagement. Deerhoof's definitive version of the song, "Fresh Born," will not be unveiled until the album's release on October 7th, yet worshipers at the altar of Deerhoof have already uploaded their own interpretations to CASH's site, to surprisingly varied results.

By inviting fans to participate in the creative process, Deerhoof and CASH Music have taken a major step towards redefining the relationship of artist and audience, while creating healthy pre-release buzz for the album. Be sure to check out CASH Music's other current collaborations, including "Elizabeth June" by Kristin Hersh (former front lady of Throwing Muses) and "Headcheck" from Donita Sparks and The Stellar Moments. Here's to CASH Music for creatively turning the illegal downloading problem on its head!

- Anne Fenton

Similar Topics:cover songs, indie rock

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