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 to cover an S Club Seven song, for instance. Because lots of people would say that it would be uncool for Slipknot to do Reach. Har har. Not anymore. Basic idea is that artists' come in to the maida vale studio in London, or the purpose built one in the Radio 1 HQ, and perform 2 songs. One would normally be a popular
one, or current single. Usually stripped down and done completely live. The second would be a cover.
This is where the beauty lies, for the bands are more than just stripped of their elecrtic guitars(there are exceptions), but, also their egos tend to be left at the doors as well. Take for instance the second song in on CD1. It is everyones most favoured Sheffield band, The Arctic Monkeys. Noone could question their fame and credibility. What song have they chosen to bite into, none other than Girls Alouds' smash hit Love Machine. Ironic, but also done with a gentle sense of humour and respect. It does say something for a compilation when a blistering live version of Foo Fighters' DOA is followed by a real naff-but-ok-sort-of pop gem performed by a bunch of Yorkshire lads with a drum machine and an acoustic guitar. It is so playfully performed that Alex Turner loses his cool and lets out a hardy laugh. Like I say, no egos. It's this ability to make a song your own that comes through from the cover versions.
Witness Jamelia tackling ultrawhiney Linkin Park song Numb, and giving it a glossy, soulful R n B tinged feel. Wrought with emotion and beautiful, words that few people would ever use to describe Linkin Parks Metal by numbers blandness. But, she really makes the song come to life. Another piece of beauty is Keanes stripped and haunting take on U2's classic With Or Without You. This, on paper shouldn't work and should be a complete mess. But, trust me, it works so good and transports the song into the noughties. The Editiors, who contribute an even darker-acoustic version of All Sparks, are here given a jazz tinged ballad makeover by Corinne Bailly Rae. The intensity of the original Munich, is replaced with a sense of sadness and woe. It's very bittersweet with her pretty, blissful voice.
Other highlights include The Kooks giving their hippish twang to the Gnarls Barkley classic Crazy. Strippedof that mesmerising beat and bassline and oh so insane voice, there lies underneath a really good love song. Natasha Bedingfield and Coldplay both do versions of The Scientist. Natasha does it well and makes it her own, but when you come to Coldplays' version, you realise that nothing can beat Chris Martin singing those simple, heartwrenching lyric.
That brings us back to the other side of the coin, the bands own songs. Snow Patrol gives us Run, as heartwrenching, yet hopefull as ever. The Coral with the irrepressible Dreaming Of You, Lily Allens revenge-tinged smile, Maximo Park with a masterful Gone Missing. Even The Bravery sound interesting with the slowed down Honest Mistake. No One Knows though leaves you feeling a little worried, what with Josh Homme going solo with just a guiar to back him. The song may have already had a dark grooviness to it, but here it is black and Nick Cave-with-groove.
There are a few mistakes though, The Automatic, although well meaning and definately in the right spirit of things, could have chosen a better song than Golddigger. I suppose it makes you smirk, then that's something. And In Da Club(50 Cent), Push Things Forward(Streets) and Songbird(Oasis), hardly sound any different from the originals.
I could go on and on about what a great purchase this is, it is well worth the money, and much better money than any other compliation you might be able to buy with similar tracks and artists. I will however list my own personal favourites:-
Arctic Monkeys-Love Machine Snow Patrol-Run Coldplay - The Scientist Franz Ferdinand - What You Waiting For? Keane - With Or Without You Maximo Park - Gone Missing The Editors - All Sparks Boy kill Boy - Maneater Hard Fi - Tied Up Too Tight Jameilia - Numb Razorlight - Golden Touch Corinne Bailly Rae - Munich
Go treat yourself to some entertaining and enthralling music.
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Disc 1 Foo Fighters - DOA Arctic Monkeys - Love Machine Snow Patrol - Run The Kooks - ... more
Crazy Razorlight - Golden Touch Corinne Bailey Rae - Munich The Automatic - Goldigger The Editors - All Sparks Boy Kill Boy - Maneater Queens Of The Stone Age - No O...
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Jun 7th, 2007
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