The Braids - Here We Come (1998)

The Braids were, to my surprise (once again), a US based duo consisting of lifelong friends Zoë Ellis and Caitlin Cornwell (from the album cover I always assumed they were from the Netherlands for some reason...). They were sought out and brought into the studio by Stephan Jenkins, lead singer of alt-rock group Third Eye Blind, of all people. He wanted to record a hip-hop version of Queen's classic "Bohemian Rhapsody", which the label wanted for the soundtrack to the film High School High. Though he originally imagined a quartet, the ladies did such a great job that he left it as a duo. The song became a hit around the world, even almost making the Billboard Top 40. They released their only album soon after. It included a pretty diverse collection of original songs as well as a couple more unexpected covers. Jenkins produced the entire album and it seems he wanted an eclectic mix, as the songs range from rock to hip hop to funk to techno and beyond. The Braids also released their covers of David Bowie's "Young Americans" and Cat Stevens' "The Wind" as singles with dance mixes, but they were vast departures from their debut single and they went nowhere. The album was likely too diverse for mass public consumption, though it is good. The ladies recorded nothing more as The Braids, but they continued to do backing vocals together. Zoë has continued to record, releasing an independent jazz album, while Caitlin is part of conscious funk collective Bop City.

Video for Bohemian Rhapsody

Download Here We Come

1		Bohemian Rhapsody
2		The Wind
3		Giant Steps
4		Young Americans
5		I Don't Feel You Anymore
6		Something To Believe In
7		Jazzy Life
8		Static In The Wire
9		Fire Escape
10		Mine Is My Own
11		Bohemian Rhapsody (Acoustic)