Lest We Forget...
Oh! What crimes are committed by the words "tribute album"? That is a tribute by many artists covering songs by one artist, rather than the covers albums by artists.
For instance, I'm Your Fan, the Leonard Cohen tribute featuring the likes of Tori Amos and other such muesli-worriers, which while alright isn't actually worth buying. Then there was that Gram Parsons one with Beck and a few alt-countryers (yawn) and numerous tributes to the Sex Pistols and The Damned. The very worst one, and one that sealed my dislike of a former transient housemate, was that fucking rap/RnB tribute to Phil fucking Collins, Urban Renewal. One word: Urrrgh!
Remix albums should have the highlights downloaded off iTunes or burned from a friend.
So tribute albums: none thanks.
Covers albums can be OK: Bowie's Pin-Ups is pretty good; Duran Duran's Thank You had potential but was fucked up by the rap covers. The rule would seem to be - and I don't generally hold truck with this, but in this instance it's very necessary - if general consensus says that it's a *must* own, then I say it's a *may* own.
For instance, I'm Your Fan, the Leonard Cohen tribute featuring the likes of Tori Amos and other such muesli-worriers, which while alright isn't actually worth buying. Then there was that Gram Parsons one with Beck and a few alt-countryers (yawn) and numerous tributes to the Sex Pistols and The Damned. The very worst one, and one that sealed my dislike of a former transient housemate, was that fucking rap/RnB tribute to Phil fucking Collins, Urban Renewal. One word: Urrrgh!
Remix albums should have the highlights downloaded off iTunes or burned from a friend.
So tribute albums: none thanks.
Covers albums can be OK: Bowie's Pin-Ups is pretty good; Duran Duran's Thank You had potential but was fucked up by the rap covers. The rule would seem to be - and I don't generally hold truck with this, but in this instance it's very necessary - if general consensus says that it's a *must* own, then I say it's a *may* own.
posted by Marc at
9:42 AM
2 Comments:
I have only one covers album in my collection. The Nouvelle Vague album of new wave covers in a bosanova stylee is well worth a listen. Two french house dj's and some bird with a fab voice. Shouldn't really work but I think it's brillian.
It's been moderately successful in the UK but don't know if it's really reached beyond europe or not. Anyway worth a listen if you haven't heard it though it is definitely a love it or hate it one.
Try this URL http://hype.non-standard.net/search/nouvelle%20vague/1/
for a good selection for your listening pleasure. May I recommend the too drunk to fuck - dead kennedys, guns of brixton and bella lugosi is dead covers. Bella lugosi one is infinitely better than that god awful Bauhaus original.
Dave
It's slightly interesting, I grant you, and the Love Will Tear Us Apart cover is fabulous, but I don't think it's essential. I think it's something that's better to be owned in a burned CD-R form. Or even better, tape copy.
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