In late May, Levi’s launched Pioneer Sessions: The 2010 Revival Recordings, a music project in which artists were invited to “recraft the classic songs that inspired their sound” (and thereby help the brand sell more jeans). Though I’m skeptical as to how closely those parameters were hewed to in the song-pairing process, I’m all about cover tunes and even more so when they’re (legally) free.

Among the 13 entries in what Levi’s assumes is the inaugural series (note the ‘2010’ in its title), there are some definite keepers. The first is Passion Pit‘s cover of Smashing Pumpkins‘ soaring 1996 hit, “Tonight, Tonight.” Now for those who believe Billy Corgan’s voice can be hard on the ears (to say nothing of his band-management skills), Michael Angelakos’ falsetto is probably also best in small doses. But hearing Passion Pit matched against the Mellon Collie track, I find only infinite happiness. Hear (a bit) here:

The second “Pioneer Sessions” standout worth spotlighting is The Swell Season‘s take on Candi Staton‘s 1976 disco single, “Young Hearts Run Free.” Glen Hansard changes not a single lyric (it remains “my man and me”), and delivers a emotionally charged performance (with Marketa Irglova on contrastingly hushed harmonies) that connects quite strongly with the song’s theme of remaining romantically untethered. Here (a bit) here:

Among the remaining 11 tracks, I also like Colbie Caillat‘s cover of Blondie’s “Maria.” I’m not a huge Caillat fan by any measure, and while I love me some “Maria,” calling it an ‘old, classic song’ is stretching history a bit. Still, her cover is worth putting on repeat. And Bomba Estereo‘s Spanish-language revision of Technotronic’s “Pump Up The Jam” is a left-field (by way of Colombia) surprise.

Here’s the complete tracklisting for Levi’s Pioneer Sessions: The 2010 Revival Recordings, with the original artist indicated in parantheses. Each song is available as a free dowload, once you give up an email address:

Nas – “Hey Young World” (Slick Rick)
The Swell Season – “Young Hearts Run Free” (Candi Staton)
She & Him – “Fools Rush In” (Ricky Nelson)
The Dirty Projectors – “I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine” (Bob Dylan)
Colbie Caillat – “Maria” (Blondie)
The Shins – “Goodbye Girl” (Squeeze)
Bomba Estero – “Pump Up The Jam” (Technotronic)
Jason Mraz – “Spirit In The Sky” (Norman Greenbaum)
Raphael Saadiq – “It’s A Shame” (The Spinners)
Passion Pit – “Tonight, Tonight” (Smashing Pumpkins)
John Legend & The Roots – “Our Generation” (Ernie Hines)
The Kills – “Pale Blue Eyes” (Velvet Underground)
Ryan Bingham – “That’s How Strong My Love Is” (Otis Redding)

Download Levi’s Pioneer Sessions: The 2010 Revival Recordings here.