Pitchfork

It's OK to like...independent musicians covering oft-maligned pop hits. Engine Room Recordings' new Guilt by Association compilation features "guilty pleasures" by the likes of the Destiny's Child and Mariah Carey, performed by Schlitz-set favorites from Will Oldham to Jim O'Rourke to Superchu-- wait, wait. Dudes, if a song brings you pleasure, why the hell feel guilty about it?

Freak-folk demigod Devendra Banhart lends his fluttery voice and bossa nova vibe to a track most Rolling Stone subscribers probably didn't realize was supposed to be a guilty pleasure, Oasis' "Don't Look Back in Anger". After those familiar "Imagine" piano chords, Banhart pronounces the meaningless lyrics with a thick boho accent that gives Noel Gallagher's constant Beatles refs a clumsy ESL charm. He even squeezes in a couple of new lines about "boys dressed like girls dressed like boys who give me head...music"-- Blur and Suede references in one go! So yeah, almost as awesome as Pavement's infamous "Wonderwall" goof.

Singer/violinist Petra Haden tries out her ever-impressive a cappella chops on Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'", the quintessential power ballad that recently returned to prominence through appearances on TV, film, the World Series-winning 2005 Chicago White Sox, and the Talladega Nights trailer. Somehow she manages to capture the tune's stadium-ready hugeness with just her voice, even nailing the tricky hammer-ons where the guitar usually comes in. Haden does tone down the "strangers, waiting" section with a deadpan spoken-word delivery. But her "guitar" solo is totally Bic-worthy.

[both from Guilt By Association; due 08/28/07 on Engine Room Recordings]