Ad Absurdum (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ad00absurdum) wrote2011-09-29 02:49 pm
ad00absurdum) wrote2011-09-29 02:49 pm
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Various artists - "The Smiths Is Dead"
And now for something... not that different and yet, colossaly different. A tribute album The Smiths Is Dead. I know the grammar in the title can be correct, but it still makes my inner grammar fascist wince. Much like the majority of the album. Although the sleeve is kinda cool.
The Queen Is Dead by The Boo Radleys - if the title and the lyrics weren't the same, you'd have no idea it's a cover. I suppose there are really only two ways of going about covering any song: recording either something that's very similar to the original or something that's radically different. The Boo Radleys chose the latter, and kudos to them for that, but the result is simply not that good. Something vaguely trippy and resembling Tricky (or maybe Massive Attack). To give credit where it's due, though, it's still beter than the next song, where the band chose the same approach and completely failed.
There are some interesting samples in here: Big Ben, an angry mob for a moment... Maybe The Boo Radleys should just stick to making their own songs.
Frankly, Mr Shankly by The High Llamas - I don't know what the Smiths did to deserve such an awful thing done to this song. There's nothing left from the original (well, except the lyrics): no lovely bass line, no oomph-drumming (actually, there's no drums at all, just some lame tambourine) and no originality to the song. Yeah, it is a cover, but if it wasn't the composition would be utterly forgettable. Oh wait, it kinda is anyway.
And the vocalist can't sing.
I Know It's Over by The Trash Can Sinatras - I think they attempted to keep a bit of the original melody in here. At least the vocalist did. A little. Very little. The rest wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't a cover - sort of lazy, spacy, starry tune that brings to mind old children's rooms filled with toy flying saucers. Also, there's a saxophone somewhere in there.
The singer omitted some lyrics - I'd have to listen again to see what impact it had on the meaning of the song, but that means I'd have to listen to it again. Can you guess I'm not in a hurry?
Never Had No One Ever by Billy Bragg - well, at least most of the bass line is still there, but Bragg could have done without those trumpets and dubious orchestra. Still not entirely bad and not a total failure. Or maybe that's just my liking Billy Bragg speaking.
Cemetry Gates by Frank & Walters - not too sure what to make of that one. Obviously some young band and they probably try. Some Irish indie? Feels like it, but at least it's recognisable. Pity about the bass and the drums, though.
Bigmouth Strikes Again by Placebo - You know, I like Placebo. I really do, but this minimalistic version (thank God it's only the beginning) sucks a bit. The rest is definitely better. That is, apart from the bridge and Molko's singing. He should never attempt singing anything Mozzer's ever sung. But the bass is OK and the drumming too and even the guitars (at least to a point).
The Boy with a Thorn in His Side by Bis - Ouch, that was painful to listen to. A bit of a nightmare or if one wants to be charitable - misunderstanding. I thought they'd do more with that bass they had for a moment, but nope.
And there was also Animal Geographic at the end. WTF, Bis, WTF?
Vicar in a Tutu by Therapy? - Hmm, this band and this song. Not the greatest combination (and the cover reminds me slightly of Bloodhound Gang), but bearable. There's of course nothing of the original melody left, but compared to the previous track, this one is almost good. Also, the vocalist omitted a verse at the end, changing the meaning to waht could be a slightly darker version. Curious.
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Divine Comedy - the only cover on this album I could stand to listen more than once or twice. In fact, I'd even recommend it as a very good track. But then, it's Divine Comedy - almost anything they touch turns poetically gold. Here, you can actually hear the melody of the original, but the song is gentler, more contemplative, filtered through Neil Hannon's musical taste and given his particular touch. A midnight sweet.
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others by Supergrass - I definitely like their bassist - he had a good sense to keep most, or at least some, of the part intact. The cover is very Supergrass-like and definitely not bad. Actually, the second from the album I might listen to a few times more.
The Queen Is Dead by The Boo Radleys - if the title and the lyrics weren't the same, you'd have no idea it's a cover. I suppose there are really only two ways of going about covering any song: recording either something that's very similar to the original or something that's radically different. The Boo Radleys chose the latter, and kudos to them for that, but the result is simply not that good. Something vaguely trippy and resembling Tricky (or maybe Massive Attack). To give credit where it's due, though, it's still beter than the next song, where the band chose the same approach and completely failed.
There are some interesting samples in here: Big Ben, an angry mob for a moment... Maybe The Boo Radleys should just stick to making their own songs.
Frankly, Mr Shankly by The High Llamas - I don't know what the Smiths did to deserve such an awful thing done to this song. There's nothing left from the original (well, except the lyrics): no lovely bass line, no oomph-drumming (actually, there's no drums at all, just some lame tambourine) and no originality to the song. Yeah, it is a cover, but if it wasn't the composition would be utterly forgettable. Oh wait, it kinda is anyway.
And the vocalist can't sing.
I Know It's Over by The Trash Can Sinatras - I think they attempted to keep a bit of the original melody in here. At least the vocalist did. A little. Very little. The rest wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't a cover - sort of lazy, spacy, starry tune that brings to mind old children's rooms filled with toy flying saucers. Also, there's a saxophone somewhere in there.
The singer omitted some lyrics - I'd have to listen again to see what impact it had on the meaning of the song, but that means I'd have to listen to it again. Can you guess I'm not in a hurry?
Never Had No One Ever by Billy Bragg - well, at least most of the bass line is still there, but Bragg could have done without those trumpets and dubious orchestra. Still not entirely bad and not a total failure. Or maybe that's just my liking Billy Bragg speaking.
Cemetry Gates by Frank & Walters - not too sure what to make of that one. Obviously some young band and they probably try. Some Irish indie? Feels like it, but at least it's recognisable. Pity about the bass and the drums, though.
Bigmouth Strikes Again by Placebo - You know, I like Placebo. I really do, but this minimalistic version (thank God it's only the beginning) sucks a bit. The rest is definitely better. That is, apart from the bridge and Molko's singing. He should never attempt singing anything Mozzer's ever sung. But the bass is OK and the drumming too and even the guitars (at least to a point).
The Boy with a Thorn in His Side by Bis - Ouch, that was painful to listen to. A bit of a nightmare or if one wants to be charitable - misunderstanding. I thought they'd do more with that bass they had for a moment, but nope.
And there was also Animal Geographic at the end. WTF, Bis, WTF?
Vicar in a Tutu by Therapy? - Hmm, this band and this song. Not the greatest combination (and the cover reminds me slightly of Bloodhound Gang), but bearable. There's of course nothing of the original melody left, but compared to the previous track, this one is almost good. Also, the vocalist omitted a verse at the end, changing the meaning to waht could be a slightly darker version. Curious.
There Is a Light That Never Goes Out by The Divine Comedy - the only cover on this album I could stand to listen more than once or twice. In fact, I'd even recommend it as a very good track. But then, it's Divine Comedy - almost anything they touch turns poetically gold. Here, you can actually hear the melody of the original, but the song is gentler, more contemplative, filtered through Neil Hannon's musical taste and given his particular touch. A midnight sweet.
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others by Supergrass - I definitely like their bassist - he had a good sense to keep most, or at least some, of the part intact. The cover is very Supergrass-like and definitely not bad. Actually, the second from the album I might listen to a few times more.