Chicago (Sufjan Stevens Cover) by Fort Frances

With Sufjan Stevens' Chicago, any city could be substituted for the windy city and any individual coming to age, starting over or finding themselves would be able to listen to and understand the complexities behind lyrics. I've always loved Stevens' approach here - upon first listen, the song almost sounds upbeat and peppy. However, peeling back each verse as a layer, the song grows progressively melancholic and any hope for a story to aspire to goes out the window. While some of us can relate here, none of us should really want to.

Fort Frances' cover wears the song's emotion right on the sleeve. From the beginning, anyone will know this story does not have a happy ending. At the very beginning of the song when "I fell in love again" appears, it's predictable by the end of the song a point will be reached where "I've made a lot of mistakes".

I can imagine myself streaming Fort Frances' cover over and over again the minute I decide the district isn't the place for me anymore. I've fallen in love with DC over the past two years, but as flighty of a person as I am, there will likely an incident that propels me to run. With every city there's this cycle one experiences where you: recreate your life, grow as a person, fall in love with the city and everyone within it but inevitably make mistakes and leave.

Within this cycle, I'm somewhere in between falling in love and making mistakes. Sometimes, I'm not so sure how much longer DC will have a hold on me.

You can listen to and download Chicago, as covered by Fort Frances, on Soundcloud. As an additional note, their new EP, Breathing Room, was released last week and is truly fantastic.

Weekend Video: Life is a Highway as covered by Folly and the Hunter

Folly and the Hunter is a criminally underrated folk band out of Montreal. While I need to devote an entire post to why Tragic Care is my favorite album of 2013 (despite White Lighter, despite The Hurry and the Harm, etc), now is not the time. I spent a few minutes of my afternoon excitedly discussing Folly with a new friend and I'm inspired to post something.

For now, enjoy this cover of Tom Cochrane's Life is a Highway. I adore how quiet the cover is. The original song and Rascal Flatt's versions embody this upbeat vibe, where the "highway" is nothing but an adventure. Here, we have a much more reflective take, where I can imagine this song accompanying me on a late night drive as I'm pondering where my life has been and where it is heading. It's honest to the intent of the original song and pulls it off in a much different, but appropriate way.

I'm convinced this band can do no wrong.