Fans asked for it, and Flatland Cavalry delivered it.
Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” is a song that I will never get sick of hearing, ever… and Flatland Cavalry’s version of the classic tune instantly shot to the top of my list when they performed it from the Ryman Debut earlier this year.
Written and performed by singer Stevie Nicks, the song originally debuted on the the band’s self-titled album Fleetwood Mac in 1975. It was also famously covered by The Smashing Pumpkins in 1994, and then, perhaps most famously, the Dixie Chicks in 2002.
Frontman Cleto Cordero put on his acoustic guitar and slowed things down during the electric debut at the Ryman Auditorium, and took fans to church with this one. After the moment, videos across social media surfaced, prompting the band to put out a live performance video after social media users ate up the content.
However, a YouTube video would not satisfy the hunger of fans who wanted this stellar cover at their fingertips. Soon, the Texas band’s comments flooded with fans begging them to release the song to streaming platforms.
And as Koe Wetzel once said, “Ask and you shall receive.”
Today, Flatland is making fans’ wishes come true by sharing their beautiful version of the song across streaming platforms. The studio cut of the cover is somehow more magical than the live performance. The whole band aspect of this version adds so much depth to the song while still keeping that stripped-back feel. But as listeners pick up on the steel guitar, fiddle, or soft roll of a drumstick on a snare drum behind Cleto’s airy twangs, it makes the song pop as it comes through your speakers.
“Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?Can the child within my heart rise above?Can I sail through the changin’ ocean tides?Can I handle the seasons of my life?”
Flatland Cavalry does not miss; this cover screams that statement from the mountain tops. Turn this one up to max volume today.
While you’re here, if you haven’t seen their performance of the track live from The Ryman, check it out.
