Lives Of Others, The - Various Artists

Advantages: Some very good covers
Disadvantages: Some not so good covers

...I am a huge fan of the Radio 1 live lounge. For me, i am always intrigued to hear how bands and artists interpret not only their own single, but also a chosen cover. During 2007, a whole wealth of artists took up the challenge of the Radio 1 Live Lounge, and the "best" have been compiled into this double cd offering. If you listened to the first Radio 1 Live Lounge compilation, or even Jo Wiley's radio show (the home of Radio 1 Live Lounge), then you will sort of know what to expect. Sure there are some brilliant covers and interpretations, but there are also some that just aren't my cup of tea. So lets go through what we have: CD1 1. Foo Fighters – Times Like These I've never been a big fan of this song. I don't know why, it just never really appealed to me. But the "Foos" have a massive fanbase. Unlike the original... Read review

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Advantages: Some of the best bits from Jo Whiley's Live Lounge sessions
Disadvantages: Includes some really odd ones that you might skip

...covering Gwen Stefani, or even Corinne Bailey Rae covering Munich? With a lot of pushing from the fans of the show, there was now doubt that the BBC would have to release an album of the very best bits of the Live Lounge sessions. As accomplished as such moments are, however, it’s the cover versions that provide some of the definite highlights of this particular listening experience. Other artists include The Kooks covering Gnarls Barkley, The Automatic covering Kanye West. All just very very special moments. The CD contains 38 tracks. As a live album it is very good, however, a little dissapointing when I found myself skipping tracks to get to the next "good" one. Many of the tracks are great but when I think back to all the fantastic tracks I have heard on Radio 1, I can't help but wonder why they aren't on the compilation... Read review

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Advantages: Great sense of fun and music abilty, lacking ego!
Disadvantages: The Automatic and Fiddy!

...Covers have always been a bit of a hit and miss affair. Some people do it well, some people don't. It can be commercial suicide and ruin artists' credibility. The recent trend over the years, pushed particularly by Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley, and other ventures such as Warchild, is that an artist can perform live, or record a cover and still retain their credibility and not come over as a sell-out. Maybe it's just that people have lightened up a little, or maybe it is just because there are things like the Live Lounge, that encourage well-picked songs to do as a cover. Granted that the concept is not a new one, and even Jo would not say that. But, I think the idea of the Live Lounge is maybe new. For the last couple of decades, musicians and music lovers have been concerned about what is cool and what is now. Noone would have dared... Read review

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