apropos of nothing

Mariah Carey Startled by Indie-Rock Fan Base

Carey photo by David Livingston/Stringer/Getty Images, Oldham photo by Danny Fontaine/Retna

Will Oldham will cover Mariah Carey’s “Can’t Take That Away” on a new compilation called Guilt by Association, due August 7. Pitchfork reports that the album, a collection of covers of “guilty pleasures,” will also include such indie-rock luminaries as Luna (covering Paula Abdul’s “Straight Up”), Superchunk (covering Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name”), Jim O’Rourke (covering the Spice Girls’ “Viva Forever”) and Devendra Banhart (covering Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger”).

Of course, indie stars have often cheekily covered pop music; past examples include Ted Leo’s cover of “Since U Been Gone” by American Idoler Kelly Clarkson, the Flaming Lips’ spacey remake of Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head,” and of course the Mountain Goats’ gorgeous cover of “The Sign” by Ace of Base, to our ears still the most perfect song John Darnielle has ever recorded. Guilt by Association should provide new fodder for the excellent cover-specializing MP3 blogs, such as Copy, Right?, where we first heard many such tributes.

Maybe if they need a bonus track, Guilt by Association will consider “More Than a Feeling,” by Of Montreal feat. Paul Rudd and David Wain?

Banhart, Oldham, Superchunk Cover Guilty Pleasures [Pitchfork]
Related: Sing Along With Of Montreal

Mariah Carey Startled by Indie-Rock Fan Base