Jay Brannan to release covers album featuring Bob Dylan, The Cranberries, Joni Mitchell and more

Singer/songwriter JAY BRANNAN announces the release of IN LIVING COVER, a 9-track album composed of 7 cover songs and 2 originals on July 7.

Some of these tracks on In Living Cover include Joni Mitchell’s “All I Want,” Ani DiFranco’s “Both Hands,” The Cranberries “Zombie,” Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind” and The Verve Pipe’s “The Freshmen.” The album isn’t only covers; it opens with a brand new original track, “Beautifully,” and closes with “Drowning,” the first song he ever wrote at the age of 19.

Brannan has always enjoyed singing other people’s songs, but never expected to release a covers album.

“Expressing myself through my songs is one of the main reasons I write music, so singing other people’s words felt a little fraudulent or ‘uncool,’” he explains. “Over time, I learned to appreciate songs that speak to me, whether I like the melody or think the lyrics are funny or ironic…or if it’s a song that meant something to me at a certain point in my life or has a personal story behind it.”

Brannan explains that the covers on this album were chosen for that reason.

“I started performing them on YouTube and at my live shows. People continued to ask for them in properly recorded form, so I decided it was time to put this album together…not just of covers, but of covers that have become a part of what my audience might consider my repertoire.”

Brannan released his debut full-length album, goddamned, last summer and followed it with sold-out dates from the US to Europe to Australia. He is most well-known for his appearance in the indie hit “Shortbus.”

"IN LIVING COVER" TRACK LISTING
1. Beautifully (Jay Brannan original)
2. Say It’s Possible (Terra Naomi)
3. All I Want (Joni Mitchell)
4. Blowin’ In The Wind (Bob Dylan)
5. The Freshmen (The Verve Pipe)
6. Good Mother (Jann Arden)
7. Both Hands (Ani DiFranco)
8. Zombie (The Cranberries)
9. Drowning (Jay Brannan original)

Pre-oder the album here.