Vanessa Carlton provides an eloquent cover of Elliott Smith's "Needle In The Hay"
Vanessa Carlton has already racked up props for her cover of Robyn's "Call Your Girlfriend". Now she's dished out a stark rendition of Elliott Smith's "Needle In The Hay".
As part of her cover series, Vanessa Carlton has been busy providing her takes on classics including Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams", Neil Young’s “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” and Karen Dalton’s “Little Bit of Rain".
As she reaches her penultimate week in her six-part cover series, Carlton has decided to cover one of her favourite tracks from the late singer/songwriter Elliott Smith.
Speaking to Variety, Carlton details what led her to pick "Needle In The Hay" for this month's cover, “This is one of my favorite songs, period. Elliott was a great poet and the metaphors in this lyric split me open. This song is a juxtaposition, because the song is about excruciating pain and the brutal moments of an addiction spiral, and yet it’s formed in this drone-y meditative manner. Such restraint… “
"Needle In The Hay" originally appeared on Elliott Smith's 1995 self-titled album. The Oscar-nominated musician died in 2003.
Carlton’s last release was 2015's Liberman.
Elliott Smith's music has provided guidance and inspiration for many musicians. Revisit Chastity Belt detailing Smith as their main inspiration on their latest record.
- Caribou shares full live show recording in collaboration with Boiler Room
- Falle Nioke unveils new single, "LDN Girl"
- Penelope Trappes signs to One Little Independent and unveils "Sleep" video starring Maxine Peake
- Bartees Strange shares new single, "Too Much"
- Nils Frahm announces live album and shares lead single, "Spells"
- Laufey shares rendition of “Santa Baby” with music video featuring Bill Murray
- LCD Soundsystem officially release new single, "x-ray eyes"
Get the Best Fit take on the week in music direct to your inbox every Friday