Pitchfork

When not "accidentally" releasing a single and "amicably" leaving EMI, Art Brut's Eddie Argos has been blogging, as he previously showed he could do better than most of us 'bags in a stint typing for London's The Guardian. Along with Keith Totp, a former colleague from Art Brut predecessor band the Art Goblins, Argos has also been listening to songs and covering them. If Bang Bang Rock & Roll was a distinctly Art Brutian take on the Modern Lovers' first album, then Argos and Totp's cover of Eels' sprightly 2000 Daisies of the Galaxy track "I Like Birds" finds Argos moving closer to the Jonathan Richman who would later sing "I'm a Little Dinosaur" and "Hey There Little Insect". With lo-fi acoustic strums, chiming percussion, backing harmonies, a noisy guitar solo, and farty sound effects, Argos speak-sings, "I've got a feeder for you to perch on." Blender said it first: "Best unsigned band in Britain the world," folks.

Stream:> Eddie Argos and Keith Totp: "I Like Birds" (Eels cover)
[original track from Daisies of the Galaxy; out now on Dreamworks]