Glen Hansard is a great singer.  However, the Once Soundtrack is all original stuff, so that cover isn't on it (just wanted to clarify so people didn't get confused).  If you want that version of "Everytime," it's by two members from the Frames (Glen Hansard and Colm Mac Con Iomaire), and it's on "Even Better Than the Real Thing, Vol. 2."  

I think anyone doing a Britney Spears cover sounds good by default, because you can't get much worse than the source material. I will freely admit that several of her songs are masterfully composed pop music, but her infantile delivery pretty much destroys them. But all it takes is a real artist with the ability to strip away all the synthesized layers of crap and break the song down to its simple roots to reveal some of the songwriting genius present in some of these tunes. Travis demonstrates this best with their acoustic only breakdown of "Baby, One More Time."

It's just too bad that Britney got ahold of these songs first, because true musicians could have done some great things with them.

That being said, Blackout was the best album of 2007! OMFG, I love it sooooooooo much!!! Can't wait to see Britney on "How I Met Your Mother" tonight! All you h8terz need to recognize! Leave Britney alone!!!1! LOLOMGWTFBBQ

Thanks, Priestess!

Here's a link to the full version of the Nickel Creek song. Tt's a slide show, so you don't get the full visual of Chris Thile's pelvic thrusts, which is probably just as well, really.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIsBIRb5bHU&;NR=1

No, I'm not saying that Glen Hansard's version of Everytime is in the movie Once, I'm saying that the version I posted is by Glen Hansard, who is from the movie Once.

I like Mark Ronson's version of "Toxic" although it's kind of kitschy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ga-eIzPM2U

If you want a good quality version of Nickel Creek's "Toxic" then check out NPR's "All Songs Considered" feature, they have an entire show from their farewell tour.

Well put, Laura! I enjoyed that blog!

I love the Nickel Creek version too. Toxic is really a great song. Even Britney and her production team couldn't damage it too much. For a version with a bit harder edge, check out the version by Local H.

http://www.myspace.com/localh

Britney is a shitty singer with great songwriters. That's why covers of her songs are so interesting.

I loved the first two, but the last guy reminds me of when Dwight does karaoke on the office. Great post, though!