MP3: Passion Pit Covers Smashing Pumpkins' "Tonight, Tonight"

The year was 1995. Doc Martens, babydoll dresses, and plaid were in, and grunge was the music flavor du jour. Then alternative rockers the Smashing Pumpkins released their double-dosc, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which would top the Billboard charts and spawn one of their most popular songs to date,...

By Christine Borges

June 24, 2010

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The year was 1995. Doc Martens, babydoll dresses, and plaid were in, and grunge was the music flavor du jour. Then alternative rockers the Smashing Pumpkins released their double-dosc, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which would top the Billboard charts and spawn one of their most popular songs to date, "Tonight, Tonight."

Passion Pit frontman Michael Angelakos has a thing for unexpected covers, a fact to which those who went to the Fillmore show just a few weeks ago can attest. Then, we were all a bit surprised and delighted when he covered the Cranberries' "Dreams." (If you missed it, the band is now now streaming a version on its MySpace page).

Now the next great mid-'90s song on his radar is the aforementioned "Tonight, Tonight."

Passion Pit is celebrating the return of SP by teaming up with Levi's for "Pioneer Sessions" -- a collaboration wherein musicians pick the bands that have inspired them most and recreate their favorite songs.

Angelakos and company have reconstructed "Tonight, Tonight" and replaced the 30-piece string quartet with their own trademark keyboards and synths, giving the single a Passion Pit makeover that works best with Angelakos' "sonic palette" (hey, his words, not ours).

Check out the just-release, making-of video footage, and download the song for free, below.

Download: Passion Pit - "Tonight, Tonight" cover

Christine Borges is an award-winning writer and editor from Miami. She has over a decade of experience reporting on music, fashion, and the arts. When she’s not exploring new scenes and cultures, she’s petting dogs.

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