There are a lot of bands out there that have tried to cover iconic rap songs, and the results have ranged from cringe-worthy bombs, to viral hits, and everything between the two. In this specific instance, newcomers SomeKindaWonderful have submitted their take on possibly one of the most iconic tracks of them all, "California Love", and while only time will tell if it's going to be a hit, our money is on it becoming so, from the perspectives of both fans of the band, and those of the original mix. The pacing on the new version here is slowed down a bit, so the rapping-turned-singing takes on a more poetic flavor, and the hook is paired up with plenty of distortion and anthemic waves of auditory magnificence. In keeping with their other work, the tone of the track is quite dark, but you're never left with the impression that the music is overly somber or bleak. It's just the right amount of edge, and when combined with the expertly balanced synths, big beats, and eclectic textures, you'll realize that SomeKindaWonderfull has a cover here that breathes a lot of new life into the original. Their interpretation provides a textbook example of how one might going about breaking new ground while simultaneously paying homage, but it's also just a really fun listen, too, and will make a great addition to any playlist that needs that little something extra to keep it interesting. There's the added bonus of lyric familiarity, as well, so you can bet that people will be singing along to this one all over the place, and that's never a bad thing if it's 2Pac and Dr. Dre we're talking about.
SomeKindaWonderful