Radio 1's Live Lounge Vol.2 - Various Artists

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Not applicable
Value for Money	Excellent

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

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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, this is an accoustic version of the hit single, and it does work well. It brings it down a level into something that eases you into the CD. An excellent interpretation of their original.

2. Amy Winehouse – Valerie (Cover Track)
This is sort of a cover track. Amy Winehouse sang this track for Mark Ronson, which itself was a massive hit. This song does work well with a less "noisy" melody. Amy sings her usual self and the backing singers provide a pleasant ambience to the song. I personally don't like Amy's live singing though.

3. Biffy Clyro – Umbrella (Cover Track)
There's no doubt about it Umbrella is a massive single. Probably one of the most favoured/annoying songs of the past year. Biffy Clyro covered this for Jo, and I love it. This cover shows how great the original song is. It works both as an RnB track, and an accoustic "ballad". Definitely one of the best covers.

4. Nelly Furtado – Maneater
The original was very catchy. Nelly tried this song again with an accoustic guitar, and to me, it doesnt' really work i'm afraid. Its definitely Nelly live though, there's no mistaking that.

5. The Fratellis – Chelsea Dagger
The original was a catchy song. Some people prefer to hear a live version of the song which sounds like the single. This is one of those songs where teh band has chosen to play live "similar to the single".

6. KT Tunstall – The Prayer (Cover Track)
This song, originally by Bloc Party, caused huge controversy on the Live Lounge. Some people loved it, some people absolutely hated it. I'm somewhere in between. Its kind of a cut down version of the original with a female vocalist.

7. Mark Ronson – Stop Me (Cover Track)
I personally love Mark Ronson. His album "Versions" was his take on songs by many other artists. This song, Stop Me, is one of his own however, and just from the start, you can immediately tell its Mark Ronson. He has his own "jazzy" style to songs, and his cut down version of Stop Me is fantastic.

8. Klaxons – Golden Skans
The original Golden Skans was very "rocky". This interpretation brings it down a level, and i personally love it. Its a fantastic cover of their own original. Its a very sweet and melodic song interpreted in this way.

9. Bloc Party – Say It Right (Cover Track)
Covering Nelly Furtado Bloc Party style sort of works. If you're familiar with Bloc Party's songs, then you will know what to expect. I didn't really like it though.

10. Kings Of Leon – Fans
I didn't like the original i'm afraid, and this is very much like the original. The vocalist just sounds a bit scratchy to me.

11. Editors – An End Has A Start
I really like the Editors. They have a unique style and their accoustic version of their single works marvellously. Its a lot calmer than the single version.

12. Reverend & The Makers – Heavyweight Champion Of The World
This song is a bit odd. Sometimes i like it, sometimes i don't. i think it depends on my mood. But the band do play live well and this is an example of that.

13. Jose Gonzalez – Heartbeats (Cover Track)
I don't know why this song is on the cd to be honest. Sure its a great song, but he plays it as he always does. Its very pure, but so was his released single. You can tell he uses very little post processing.

14. Calvin Harris – Girls
Certainly not what you expect, a very good accoustic version of his "dancy" song. The song works works well in this way. Maybe you didn't like the original but this is a different light on his talents.

15. The Holloways – Generator
The ever so catchy Generator didn't live up to its expectations for me i'm afraid. It didn't sound quite so right. Sure the instrumentals were great, but the vocals seemed all over the place to me.

16. Pigeon Detectives – Girlfriend (Cover Track)
A band coverign Avril Lavigne. I don't know why but people like to cover Avril Lavigne. I really didnt' fancy this song at all, not the original or the Pigeon Detectives' version. They just seem to be shouting.

17. Avril Lavigne – The Scientist (Cover Track)
Covering the Scientist is dangerous ground to walk on. Because it is a very powerful song. I don't think she did it justice, her vocals really don't suit this song.

18. Gossip – Standing In The Way Of Control
Well, I liked the original. And this version is very much like the original, with a few improvs but other than that, its a powerful performance of a great song.

19. Paolo Nutini – Rehab (Cover Track)
Paolo Nutini is qutie unique in his style. I never did like the original, and i'm afraid i couldn't like this song. I don't think it suited his voice.

20. Robyn – With Every Heartbeat
I loved this song when it first came out. Robyn has a trick up her sleeve - using it not as a dance track but a powerful ballad. And it works ever so well. Robyn with the pianist shows a different side to the song. The song could've been released as a piano ballad and it would've done just as well in the charts.

Disc: 2
1. Arctic Monkeys - You Know I'm No Good (Cover Track)
The first Live Lounge CD was compiled with more fun tracks, but this one seemed to be compiled with more "serious" performances. After laughing their way through their cover of Girls Aloud's Love Machine last time round, the Artic Monkeys do quite a good rendition of Amy Winehouse's hit single. I prefer this version than the original.

2. Mika - Grace Kelly
The ever so random Mika never fails to disappoint with his live version of Grace Kelly, all you would expect really. Funky piano playing and the unique voice to match.

3. James Morrison - You Give Me Something
The original I really liked, very chilled out and sweet. This accoustic version provides the same sort of feeling from a different angle that works just as well.

4. 30 Seconds To Mars - Stronger (Cover Track)
This is a brilliant version of a cover which uses a fantastic sample. You really couldn't expect such a hip-hop/dance song could be transformed into a psychadelic chillout version like this. Great stuff.

5. Keane - Dirrtylicious (Cover Track)
Keane are no strangers to the Radio 1 Studios. They opted to go for a "fun" track. Short at under 3 mins but if you enjoy listening to Radio 1, then you will like this song for its twist on Beyonce's megahit.

6. Corinne Bailey Rae - Sexyback (Cover Track)
JT's song Sexyback has been reworked into a jazz version by Corinne Bailey Rae. It kinda works, but then the chorus doesn't sound quite so right.

7. Jack Penate - Minute, Second Or Hour
Jack Penate does a solo accoustic of his single Minute, Second or Hour. I quite like it, very stripped back.

8. The Fray - Hips Don't Lie (Cover Track)
A second "fun" track on the compilation. This song amused me more than anything else, worth listening to just for comedy value

9. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder
Maroon 5 returned last year with an album and this single. Apart from his voice, they had quite a different style compared to their first album. They seemed to have matured, and it comes through with this accoustic rendition of the single. Nothing special to me though.

10. The View - Same Jeans
The View had quite a funky single with this odd song. It works just as well with this accoustic version, lively and funky.

11. The Enemy - Hung Up (Cover Track)
The Enemy are a very young band and were quite adventurous in the Live Lounge, and came out with the Madonna Cover. It sort of works, i loved the original as a dance track. Worth a listen though, good effort.

12. Kasabian - Empire
A stripped down version of the original single, its a very good accoustic version, very raw.

13. The Zutons - Valerie
The second Valerie single on the album. Very different to Amy Winehouse's version, but this version is what you expect the song to sound like if done accoustically.

14. Damien Rice - Cannonball
Another oldie that has sneaked into the compilation. When it first came out, it was a very powerful song. I don't particularly like this though, it sounds a bit empty.

15. Maximo Park - 500 Miles (Cover Track)
You wouldn't recognise this cover at all if you heard it from the radio. Versions like these are my favourite, it shows the artistic side of the band and I like to see how songs would sound if they were done differently. This is a good example of that.

16. Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp
I'm not that big of a Dizzee Rascal fan, but I can hear that he is a good artist that can perform hiphop songs live well.

17. The Streets - Never Went To Church
The Streets never did impress me i'm afraid. This was no different, just sounds like their normal stuff.

18. Elbow - Forget Myself
I've not really listened to Elbow, so i couldn't really comment on this in comparison to the single, but it sounds ok.

19. Natasha Bedingfield - Chasing Cars (Cover Track)
Natasha is a very good vocalist, there's no doubt about that. Her raspy voice may not be the tune to everyone, but you can feel her heart and soul when she sings. Its far better than the Scientist she covered on the first CD.

20. Coldplay - Yellow
I never did like this song, but i'm sure Coldplay fans will like this.

Phew, 40 songs is definitely good value for money on any compilation. The Radio 1 Live Lounge series is one of a kind in the whole world, there's no doubt about that. It brings together some of the world's best artist (that come to the UK) and have them strip down their songs bare. There is a huge variety of genres on teh CD, and a huge variety of talents. You will find at least one that you will like, that is for sure.

Right...that took a while...don't know if i can be bothered to review the Radio 1 Established in 1967 CD now! >.<