Valley Drops Sick MGMT "Kids" Cover on their Album's Anniversary
Canadian indie-pop outfit Valley has released a stellar live cover of the beloved synth-pop song “Kids” by American rock band MGMT as their first album Water The Flowers, Pray for a Garden turns a year old.
The group consisting of Frontman Rob Laska, drummer and vocalist Karrah James, and bassist Alex Dimauro put a jangly and charismatic spin on the MGMT classic. The band is also touring with guitarist Feurd of Canadian indie rock band The Elwins, who lends his axe work in this rambunctious cover.
Laska’s signature crystal clear vocal delivery is tailor-made for the song’s chorus: “Control yourself, take only what you need from it, the family of trees wanted to be haunted.”
For the song’s iconic melodic line, Valley swaps out the synth lead part for Feurd’s smooth, reverb-coated guitar lead.
Dimauro and James’ respective tight bass and drum performances are as consistent as ever and drive the energy in the performance.
After wrapping up their Asia tour in June, the rock band went on a North American tour with American pop group AJR, where the Canadian group hyped up their cover of “Kids.”
The band has repeatedly described the MGMT synth-rock classic as “one of the best rock songs of all time.”
MGMT released the track as a single off of their debut LP Oracular Spectacular (2007), peaking at number 91 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Valley’s cover of “Kids,” which is out on all major streaming platforms and a consistent part of their touring set, is the type of release that would serve as a proper introduction to people who haven’t heard of the Canadian indie-pop/rock outfit.
The Toronto-based group released their Juno Award-nominated album in late August last year and have been touring the record throughout the early part of this year. The Juno Awards is often considered Canada's version of the Grammys.
Valley capped off their Asia tour in Manila last June, which was one heck of a night of music highlighted by the incredible renditions of their best songs and even an unreleased track called “In My Dreams.”
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One Year of Water The Flowers, Pray for a Garden
Valley in the studio recording the LP
“It (Water The Flowers, Pray for a Garden) was made in a season of uncertainty, change, and grief that felt impossible to put down, yet somehow became the cement we grew through,” the band wrote in a sentimental Instagram post. “Every song carries a piece of that transformation, a reminder that truth can push its way through even the hardest ground.”
The band earlier told Esquire Philippines that “Crawlspace” was the track on the record they were most proud of thanks to the infectious percussion, groovy production and how energetic the Valley gets when performed live .
At their shows, Valley always puts out special performances of “Bop Ba,” a fan favorite track that ended up being one of the tracks that just “arrived” like lightning in a bottle.
The song deals with the conundrum of grappling with codependency in a relationship and tiptoes around the need of letting it go, no matter how difficult that may be.
“Seeing these songs take root in your lives over the past year has been one of the most beautiful experiences we’ve ever been a part of,” the Canadian indie-pop outfit wrote.
Valley on tour with AJR
