Unlike Pluto & Joanna Jones and Postmodern Jukebox

Today I have an absolutely incredible song for you all. Often times we hear covers of songs get done, with multiple covers of popular songs. And a lot of these times, the covers a wonderful tribute to the original song. The notes are beautifully reached, the melodies a beautiful flow like the original track. But what the single dimensional covers do, is create an extremely similar rendition of the original song. And then we get some rare covers which are stunning pieces of work. These covers tend to be extremely non-conventional and can change everything about a song. Today's track does just that.

The original version of this song is incredibly popular, the girls' anthem for all the 90's and 00's girls out there. TLC is a musical staple - everyone knows them and at least one of their songs. This one is their most popular and it has been covered by many people. But no one has been able to turn the original into a completely new work of art the way Unlike Pluto has. Teaming up with the slinky jazz vocalist, Joanna Jones, Unlike Pluto has turned the R&B track into cool and seductive song.

From the beginning of the track, we can already tell that we are in for a ride. Starting us off with soft piano trills and smooth jazz, the opening grips with a sense of prohibition and seduction. The opening of the song introduces us to a scene as if we are walking into a smoky jazz filled bar from the 1920s.  Unlike Pluto takes a timeless track and reimagines it with a different era in mind. Every part of this song creates that old school jazz scene which used to rule underground bars and speakeasies. That classic sound is met with an extremely modern twist, especially during the chorus. Subtle horns and rolling bass line crescendo to a great and bombastic finish. An electronic-based buildup reaches the climactic high, treating us to horns blaring, bass dropping, and intensity of epic proportions. If James Bond is looking for another theme song, this would be a fantastic choice. There is a seamless blend of genres and titles, time periods and sounds. The entire soundscape on this track is filled with dramatic highs and waves of power.

Adding to that powerful and grandiose sounds is Joanna Jones' voice. She has the voice of a seductress or temptress, silky smooth and sensual. This only adds to that classic jazz sound, but the authority and strength with which she sings, allows the track to continue to be an anthem. She brings a fiery presence to the song, softening and brightening as the track requires. She starts the song off with a gentle stage presence, what you would normally expect to hear from a slow jazz singer. But as the song continues, her voice grows and growls at us until Joanna Jones becomes a powerhouse of vocals. Every word is dripping with authenticity and meaning, and are performed with a sense of temptation in mind. Her voice is sensual and inviting while also commanding power, respect, and her own self. She is untouchable despite the more bewitching nature of her voice. It is absolutely incredible to hear her with the instrumental soundscape produced by Unlike Pluto.

This song feels like it contains the brilliance, majesty, and presence of so many great films like The Great Gatsby and James Bond. This song takes bits and pieces of different eras and styles and results in a truly striking track. If Unlike Pluto's additional work follows along these lines of creativity, I cannot wait to start exploring!

Today's instrumental song had to be along the lines of jazz. There is a group I have been following for quite some time now by the name Postmodern Jukebox. Now I love these guys because they take modern songs and turn them into incredibly jazz renditions. These covers are just as creative and genius as Unlike Pluto's, but one thing I find incredibly impressive is their ability to do all of this while performing with live instruments only. The compositions are always on point, and they aren't afraid to shake up some of the melodic components. In this track, the signature bassline remained, but there is a lot that also changed. And I love it! These kinds of directions are always so interesting. The unexpected directions and genres which have people confused, they tend to be some of the most incredible. I hope you enjoy the music and please feel free to comment!




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