Vanessa Carlton performs a haunting cover of "Needle in the Hay"
Elliott Smith's heart wrenching song that was featured in a Wes Anderson movie has new life
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 makes the listener have to move in closer. And then it breaks you. I hope I did him justice. He deserves the best. - Vanessa Carlton
Nashville, TN - July 20, 2018 - Vanessa Carlton unveils the fifth of six cover songs that she plans to release over the coming months with a cover of Elliott Smith's "Needle in the Hay," which she premiered on Varietyyesterday. The video directed by Patrick McPheron, showcases what Variety calls a "haunting cover," and compliments the song's ethereal qualities with an eclectic montage of archival footage including couples dancing, a cross, a city skyline, waves crashing to shore, and flashing lights. PRESS HERE to watch and to purchase.
"Vanessa Carlton is a formidable artist." - Variety
"Carlton's version is as gentle as the original, with ephemeral harmonies that layer a gauzy romanticism over Carlton's starry-eyed vocals." - Consequence of Sound
"Vanessa Carlton keeps slaying the cover game with a gorgeous take on Fleetwood Mac" -Fuse
"The artist behind the track that has inspired an endless list of pop culture references has covered a song as coverable as her own: Robyn's 'Call Your Girlfriend.'" - Stereogum
"Vanessa Carlton has refined her voice as a songwriter." - Rolling Stone
"Carlton's voice is the key attraction on songs that register between low-key pop, rock, and folk." - Pitchfork
"...she's back, she's dreamy, there's some sort of arty thing going on here, she's moved to Nashville, had a baby girl with Deer Tick's John McCauley, and simply sounds better than ever." - Yahoo