AV Undercover

Since 2010, AV Club has been inviting artists to cover songs from a list chosen by our readers. Once a song has been chosen, it’s crossed off the list for that season, leading to fewer and fewer options as the season goes on. We’re in the process of restoring our archives on The AV Club YouTube channel and will add links as they’re republished. After seven years, we’re bringing AV Undercover back, so stay tuned for Season 9.

Season 9 (2024)

GWAR cover The Barbie Soundtrack‘s “I’m Just Ken”
Ducks Ltd. covers They Might Be Giants, “They’ll Need a Crane”
IAN SWEET covers Sharon Van Etten, “Seventeen”
TBD cover The Modern Lovers, “Roadrunner”
TBD cover Pulp, “Common People”
TBD cover Carly Rae Jepsen, “Cut To The Feeling”
TBD cover INXS, “Don’t Change”
TBD cover The Beta Band, “Dry The Rain”
TBD cover Interpol, “Evil”
TBD cover Billy Idol, “Eyes Without A Face”
TBD cover Tom Tom Club, “Genius Of Love”
TBD cover Wilson Phillips, “Hold On”
TBD cover Toto, “Hold The Line”
TBD cover Leslie Gore, “It’s My Party”
TBD cover Big Black, “Kerosene”
TBD cover Sixpence None The Richer, “Kiss Me”
TBD cover Iron & Wine, “Naked as We Came”
TBD cover R.E.M., “Radio Free Europe”
TBD cover Dusty Springfield, “Son Of A Preacher Man”
TBD cover Fountains Of Wayne, “Sink To The Bottom”
TBD cover The Walkmen, “The Rat”
TBD cover The Zombies, “This Will Be Our Year”
TBD cover Til Tuesday, “Voices Carry”
TBD cover Glen Campbell, “Wichita Lineman”
TBD cover Tone-Loc, “Wild Thing”

Season 8 (2017)

The Regrettes cover “Fox On The Run” by Sweet
Phantogram covers Hole’s “Violet”
Lee Fields covers Neil Diamond’s “America”
Passenger covers “No Scrubs”
“Austra go-goes for broke, covers ‘Heaven Is a Place on Earth'”
Crying covers of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Run Away With Me”
Xiu Xiu covers ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man”
Cloud Nothings cover Coldplay’s “Clocks”
Judah & The Lion cover the Foo Fighters’ “Monkey Wrench”
Minus The Bear covers Fugazi’s “Waiting Room”
Oozing Wound hate-covers Blink-182’s “Dammit”
“The Old 97’s pay homage to T. Rex’s ’20th Century Boy'”
Charly Bliss covers Len’s “Steal My Sunshine”
Jerrod Niemann covers Paramore’s “Ain’t It Fun”
Fastball covers Dolly Parton’s “9 To 5”
Tigers Jaw covers Outkast’s “Hey Ya”
Dirty Dozen Brass Band covers Beck’s “Debra”
Priests covers Rod Stewart’s “Young Turks”
SWMRS covers Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation”
Lake Street Dive covers A-ha’s “Take On Me”
Cap’n Jazz and Hop Along cover Sonic Youth’s “100%”
The Big Moon covers Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”
Gogol Bordello covers Natalie Imbrugulia’s “Torn”
Pile covers Radiohead’s “The Tourist”
Atlas Genius covers Hootie and the Blowfish’s “Only Wanna Be With You”
Filthy Friends cover Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know”

Season 7 (2016)

Eric Bachmann covers David Bowie’s “Heroes”
Wye Oak covers Pat Benatar’s “We Belong”
Colin Hay revisits Men At Work’s “Overkill”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Red Money”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Repetition”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Boys Keep Swinging”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Look Back In Anger”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “DJ”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Red Sails”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Yassassin”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Move On”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “African Night Flight”
Shearwater covers David Bowie’s “Fantastic Voyage”
Shearwater covers Bauhaus’ “Kick In The Eye”
Tacocat covers Katy Perry’s “Roar”
Julien Baker covers Death Cab For Cutie’s “Photobooth”
Rob Crow covers Men At Work’s “Overkill”
Le Butcherettes covers Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball”
Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra covers Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back In Town”
The Falcon covers The Georgia Satellites’ “Keep Your Hands To Yourself”
Operators cover Nena
Sean Watkins covers The Left Banke’s “Walk Away Renee”
HXLT covers Ginuwine’s “Pony”
Har Mar Superstar covers Prince’s “When You Were Mine”
Har Mar Superstar covers Built To Spill’s “Big Dipper”
The Infamous Stringdusters cover The Killers’ “When You Were Young”
Trashcan Sinatras play “Best Day On Earth”
Bleached covers Misfits’ “Skulls”
Mothers covers Glenn Frey’s “The Heat Is On”
Napalm Death does not cover Motörhead
Bully covers Sum 41’s “Fat Lip”
Brass Bed covers Van Halen’s “Why Can’t This Be Love”
Trashcan Sinatras cover Wye Oak’s “Holy Holy”
Trashcan Sinatras cover “Weightlifting”
PWR BTTM covers Counting Crows’ “Mr. Jones”
The Wombats cover Goo Goo Dolls’ “Iris”
Luna covers Motörhead’s “Killed by Death”
Deerhoof covers Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes”
Touché Amoré covers Pearl Jam’s “Courduroy”
GWAR covers AC/DC’s “If You Want Blood”
Joyce Manor covers The National’s “Mistaken for Strangers”
Chrissy & Hawley covers Erasure’s “A Little Respect”

Day of the Dead Series (2016)

AJJ covers David Bowie’s “Quicksand”
Shovels & Rope covers Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day”
Robbie Fulks covers Freddy Powers’ “Little Hotel Room”
Adam Torres covers the Drifters’ “This Magic Moment”
Local Natives covers David Bowie’s “Teenage Wildlife”

Holiday Undercover 7 (2016)

Shonen Knife covers “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”
Wild Beasts cover Madonna’s “Frozen”
Cheap Girls cover Counting Crows’ “A Long December”

Guardians of the Galaxy 2 Series (2016)

Dude York covers “Brandy” in honor of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
Crystal Fighters cover “Hooked On A Feeling” just in time for Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2
Close Talker covers “Fox On The Run”
Pet Symmetry rockets “Come A Little Bit Closer” into space

Season 6 (2015)

Laura Jane Grace covers Michael McDonald (and The Cure)
Colin Hay covers The Velvet Underground’s “She’s My Best Friend”
Andrew Jackson Jihad and Jeff Rosenstock mash-up 16 Undercover hits
Punch Brothers cover The Strokes’ “Reptilia”
Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn cover Europe’s “The Final Countdown”
Philly Boy Roy covers Styx’s “Renegade”
Screaming Females cover Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off”
Leighton Meester covers The Cardigans’ “Lovefool”
Sylvan Esso covers Gillian Welch’s “Everything Is Free”
Flock Of Dimes (and Sylvan Esso) cover Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”
They Might Be Giants cover Destiny’s Child’s “Bills, Bills, Bills”
The Minus 5 covers The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb”
Local H covers Peter Gabriel’s “Shock The Monkey”
Benjamin Booker covers Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight”
La Dispute covers Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom”
Palma Violets cover James’ “Laid”
San Fermin covers Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck In The Middle With You”
Josh Rouse covers Blind Melon’s “No Rain”
Chumped covers The Crystals’ “He’s A Rebel”
Hippo Campus covers Electric Light Orchestra’ “Don’t Bring Me Down”
Barenaked Ladies cover Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight”
Barenaked Ladies cover themselves in this Undercover bonus track
J Fernandez covers Enya’s “Orinoco Flow”
Wild Throne covers Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson’s “Say Say Say”
The Weather Station covers Joy Division’s “Transmission”
Ceremony covers Oasis’ “Rock ‘N’ Roll Star”
Troubled Hubble covers Howard Jones’ “Things Can Only Get Better”
Natalie Prass covers Slayer
Mikal Cronin covers The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “The Impression That I Get”
GWAR covers Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop”
Steve ‘N’ Seagulls cover Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage”
Here We Go Magic covers the Fixx’s “One Thing Leads to Another”
Iron & Wine covers GWAR’s “Sick Of You”

Holiday Undercover 6 (2015)

Craig Finn and Esmé Patterson cover Low’s “Just Like Christmas”
Laura Stevenson covers Elliott Smith’s “Angel in the Snow”
Ashley Monroe covers Joni Mitchell’s “River”
Drive-By Truckers cover Greg Lake’s “I Believe in Father Christmas”

Season 5 (2014)

Wye Oak covers Kate Bush: “Running Up That Hill”
Wild Cub covers Beyoncé: “Crazy In Love”
Lydia Loveless covers Echo & The Bunnymen: “The Killing Moon”
The Men covers Devo: “Gates Of Steel”
Howler covers .38 Special: “Hold On Loosely”
PUP covers Buzzcocks: “Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn’t’ve)”
Eagulls covers The Stone Roses: “I Wanna Be Adored”
The Coathangers covers The Go-Go’s: “We Got The Beat”
Tokyo Police Club covers Wheatus: “Teenage Dirtbag”
Andrew Jackson Jihad covers Stone Temple Pilots: “Plush”
Cheatahs covers Big Country: “In A Big Country”
Hamilton Leithauser covers John Cougar: “I Need A Lover”
Real Estate covers The Cranberries: “Linger”
Ben Watt and Bernard Butler cover Wang Chung: “Dance Hall Days”
Courtney Barnett covers the Breeders’ “Cannonball”
Braid covers T’Pau: “Heart And Soul”
New Politics covers Vampire Weekend: “A-Punk”
FancyBread covers Coyote Shivers”
Strand Of Oaks covers Asia: “Heat Of The Moment”
American Football covers Elvis Costello: “Allison”
The Apache Relay covers Pulp: “Babies”
Honeyblood covers Green Day: “When I Come Around”
Split Single covers TV On The Radio: “Wolf Like Me”
OK Go covers Squeeze: “Tempted”
Trampled By Turtles covers Yes: “Owner Of A Lonely Heart”
GWAR covers Pet Shop Boys: “West End Girls”The Weeks covers Arrested Development: “Tennessee”
Absolutely Free covers The Jam: “Town Called Malice”
Sebadoh covers Rush: “Limelight”
Nathaniel Rateliff covers The Mountain Goats: “The Best Ever Death Metal Band In Denton”
Stars covers PJ Harvey: “O Stella”

Holiday Undercover 5 (2014)

Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets cover “I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday”
Gruff Rhys covers “If I Had The World To Give”
Harry Shearer and Judith Owen cover Spinal Tap’s “Christmas With The Devil”
Into It. Over It. covers “Assassination On X-Mas Eve”

Season 4 (2013)

Yo La Tengo covers The Supremes’ “Come See About Me”
Frontier Ruckus covers Third Eye Blind’s “Semi-Charmed”
ZZ Ward covers Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You”
Night Beds covers Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own”
Frightened Rabbit covers Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”
Mac DeMarco covers Weezer’s “The Sweater Song”
Houndmouth covers Billy Bragg & Wilco’s “Joe DiMaggio Done It Again”
Basia Bulat covers Bruce Springsteen’s “Glory Days”
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down covers INXS’s “Need You Tonight”
Blessed Feathers covers Paul Simon’s “Me and Julia Down by the Schoolyard”
Coliseum covers Eddie Money’s “Shakin'”
Xenia Rubinos covers Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer”
JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound covers Blackstreet’s “No Diggity”
Savoir Adore covers New Radicals’ “You Get What You Give”
Alpine covers Radiohead’s “Just”
Milo Greene covers Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire”
Manchester Orchestra covers Faces’s “Ooh La La”
Mac McCaughan and Kelly Hogan cover Jonathan Richman’s “That Summer Feeling”
Matmos covers Bow Wow Wow’s “I Want Candy”
Rick Springfield covers Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well”
Telekinesis covers Donovan’s “Sunsine Superman”
Rogue Wave covers Duran Duran’s “Rio”
Ezra Furman covers Wilco’s “Heavy Metal Drummer”
…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead covers The Kinks’ “Sunny Afternoon”
Metz covers The Damned’s “Neat Neat Neat”
“Mac McCaughan and Kelly Hogan cover Nick Gilder’s “Hot Child in the City”
Ted Leo And The Pharmacists cover The Ramones’ “Go Lil’ Camaro Go”
Melvins covers Butthole Surfers’ “Graveyard”
Charli XCX covers Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way”
Wang Chung covers Modest Mouse’s “3rd Planet”
Kurt Vile covers Nine Inch Nails’ “Down In It”
Free Energy covers Sleater-Kinney’s “You’re No Rock n’ Roll Fun”
Disappears covers U2’s “New Year’s Day”
Richard Marx and Matt Scannell cover Tom Jones’ “What’s New Pussycat?”
Mannequin Men covers Dinosaur Jr.’s “Not You Again”
GWAR covers Billy Ocean’s “Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car”
The Dismemberment Plan covers Heart’s “Barracuda”
Ben Sollee covers Rollins Band’s “Low Self Opinion”

Holiday Undercover 4 (2013)

Os Mutantes covers John Lennon’s “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”
Joseph Arthur, Mike Mills, and Bill Dobrow cover John Denver’s “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)”
Mike Doughty covers Run D.M.C.’s “Christmas In Hollis”
The World Is… covers “What Child Is This?”

Pioneering Series (2013)

Pioneering New Jersey: Sharon Van Etten covers “Drive All Night” by Bruce Springsteen
Pioneering Seattle: La Dispute covers Nirvana’s “Polly”
White Fence covers Gram Parsons’s “Lazy Days”
Shakey Graves and Eef Barzelay cover Jefferson Airplane’s “Somebody To Love”
Pioneering Nashville: Those Darlins Cover Dolly Parton’s “Jolene”
Pioneering Ann Arbor: Protomartyr cover The Stooges’ “Down On The Street”
Pioneering NYC: The Mountain Goats Cover “Danny Says” by Ramones

Season 3 (2012)

Sharon Van Etten and Shearwater cover Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty’s “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”
Young The Giant covers R. Kelly’s “Ignition (Remix)”
Memoryhouse covers The Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic”
Punch Brothers cover the Cars’ “Just What I Needed”
The Head and the Heart covers Fleetwood Mac’ “Go Your Own Way”
Cursive and Cymbals Eat Guitars cover Gin Blossoms’ “Hey Jealousy”
Lucero covers David Bowie’s “Modern Love”
Trampled by Turtles covers Arcade Fire’s “Rebellion (Lies)”
Nada Surf covers New Order’s “Bizarre Love Triangle”
Screaming Females cover Sheryl Crow’s “If It Makes You Happy”
Hospitality covers Steely Dan’s “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”
Portland Cello Project and Alan Sparhawk of Low cover Suicidal Tendencies’ “Institutionalized”
Reggie Watts covers Van Halen
The Hood Internet covers The Pretenders’ “Back on the Chain Gang”
The Polyphonic Spree covers Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold”
Grouplove covers Andrew W.K.’s “Party Hard”
Father John Misty covers The Flaming Lips’ “Do You Realize??”
Mariachi El Bronx covers The Decemberists’ “Los Angeles, I’m Yours”
Deer Tick covers Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta”
Ceremony covers Violent Femmes’ “Kiss Off”
Glen Hansard, Lisa Hannigan & John Smith cover The Band’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down”
The Spinto Band covers Chris Stamey’s “Summer Sun”
Eef Barzelay & Chris Otepka cover Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69”
Chris Otepka & Eef Barzelay cover Roger Miller’s “In the Summertime”
Destroyer cover Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci’s “Face Like Summer”
Kelly Hogan covers the Hold Steady’s “Constructive Summer”
The Dandy Warhols cover Eddie Cochran’s “Summertime Blues”
Scott Lucas & the Married Men cover Bananarama’s “Cruel Summer”
The Wood Brothers cover Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
Liturgy covers Shellac’s “Prayer To God”
Jukebox The Ghost covers Lana Del Rey’s “Blue Jeans”
Calexico covers Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone”
The Promise Ring covers Adele’s “”Rumour Has It”
Field Report covers Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago”
GWAR covers Kansas’ “Carry On Wayward Son”

Season 2 (2011)

Iron and Wine covers George Michael’s “One More Try”
Baths cover LCD Soundsystem’ “All My Friends”
Dum Dum Girls cover Big Star’s “September Gurls”
The Low Anthem covers Wilco’s “A Shot in the Arm”
Titus Andronicus covers They Might Be Giants’ “Birdhouse In Your Soul”
Wye Oak covers Danzig’s “Mother”
Telekinesis covers Belle & Sebastian’s “Like Dylan In The Movies”
Rocky Votolato and Matt Pond PA cover The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me”
Low covers Toto’s “Africa”
Smith Westerns cover Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers’ “American Girl”
Of Montreal covers the White Stripes’ “Fell In Love With A Girl”
Sharon Van Etten covers Fine Young Cannibals’ “She Drives Me Crazy”
The Mountain Goats cover Jawbreaker’s “Boxcar”
Parts & Labor covers Kanye West’s “Runaway”
Surfer Blood covers Pixies’ “Gigantic”
…And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead covers Indigo Girls’ “Blood and Fire”
Sloan covers “Cars” by Gary Numan
They Might Be Giants covers Chumbawamba’s “Tubthumping”
Maps & Atlases cover ‘Summer Breeze’ by Seals & Croft
Yellow Ostrich cover In the Summertime” by Mungo Jerry
Josh Caterer of Smoking Popes covers ‘Ask’ by the Smiths
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. covers ‘Summer Babe’ by Pavement
Owen covers ‘Summertime Rolls’ by Jane’s Addiction
Crooked Fingers cover ‘Summertime’ by George Gershwin
Les Savy Fav cover ‘School’s Out’ by Alice Cooper
The Get Up Kids cover “Girls And Boys” by Blur
Matt Nathanson covers Prince’s “Little Red Corvette”
Bob Mould covers Sugar’s “If I Can’t Change Your Mind”
The Decemberists cover Sugar’s “If I Can’t Change Your Mind”
Against Me! covers The Clash’s “Janie Jones”
Basia Bulat covers Ted Leo & The Pharmacists’ “Where Have All the Rude Boys Gone”
The Hold Steady covers Huey Lewis & The News’ “The Power of Love”
Peter Bjorn And John cover Otis Redding’s “Try A Little Tenderness”
Fruit Bats cover “The Other Woman” by Loretta Lynn

Holiday Undercover 2 (2011)

Electric Six covers “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” 
Mannequin Men cover “Nuttin’ For Christmas”
Peter Wolf Crier cover “Last Christmas”
Dawes covers “Christmas Time Is Here”
Little Scream covers “Jesus” by The Velvet Underground
David Bazan covers “Just Like Christmas” by Low
Little Red covers “Christmas Lights”
Office Of Future Plans and Damon Locks cover “Holiday In Cambodia”
Wye Oak covers “Christmas Will Be Just Another Lonely Day” by Brenda Lee
The Mountain Goats cover “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (with special guest)
The Mountain Goats cover “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

Season 1 (2010)

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists cover Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”
Fruit Bats cover Hall & Oates’ “One On One”
Alkaline Trio covers Archers Of Loaf’s “Web in Front”
Cursive covers Starship’s “We Built This City”
Justin Townes Earle covers Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City”
Retribution Gospel Choir covers the Beach Boys’ “Kokomo”
Maritime covers Depeche Mode’s “Enjoy The Silence”
The Clientele covers M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes”
Ben Folds cover Elliott Smith’s “Say Yes”
Wye Oak cover the Kinks’ “Strangers”
Motion City Soundtrack covers Pavement’s “Cut Your Hair”
The Wedding Present covers the Rolling Stones’ “19th Nervous Breakdown”
Owen Pallett covers Guided by Voices’ “Game Of Pricks”
The Antlers cover Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here”
Rise Against covers Nirvana’s “Sliver”
Frightened Rabbit covers The Lemonheads’ “Confetti”
Clem Snide covers Journey’s “I’ll Be Your Mirror”
Coheed And Cambria covers The Smiths’ “A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours”
Patrick Stump covers The Wedding Present’s “My Favourite Dress”
Superchunk covers The Cure’s “In Between Days”
Mates Of State cover The Replacements’ “I Will Dare”
The Swell Season covers Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Two-Headed Boy”
Cymbals Eat Guitars cover Superchunk’s “Detroit Has A Skyline”
Tokyo Police Club covers Billy Squier’s “Detroit Has A Skyline”
The Walkmen cover R.E.M.’s “Driver 8”

Holiday Undercover 1 (2010)

The Walkmen cover Lindsey Buckingham’s “Holiday Road”
Brendan Benson covers Slade’s “Merry X-Mas Everybody”
Kate Nash covers Slade’s “Merry X-Mas Everybody”
Andrew W.K. and Rodney The Mailman cover “Silent Night”
Andrew W.K. covers “Silent Night”
Shearwater covers Randy Newman’s “Holiday in Cambodia”
Dresden Dolls cover Neutral Milk Hotel’s “Two Headed Boy”
Fran Healy covers Joni Mitchell’s “River”
The Music Tapes cover “Let It Snow”/”Zat You, Santa Claus?”
Vetiver covers The Ramones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)”
Badly Drawn Boy covers “Do They Know It’s Christmas”