War Child: Heroes
Cover versions are the most difficult of minefields to manoeuvre in the music world. They can work brilliantly and give an artist the chance to show their ability to make songs their own, earning them a great deal of respect. Alternatively they can open them up to a whole world of hatred from avid fans angered at the audacity to ruin a classic.
Fortunatly War Child: Heroes' album of covers fall into the first category. The concoction that comes from taking classic songs and letting fresh faced artists loose on the, is one of brilliance and this collection of songs brings around that warm fuzzy feeling that can only come from knowing you've done good.
The whole concept of the album was for legendary musicans to choose the artist who would cover their track. Sir Paul McCartney has made many a mistake in his time we can all agree but the choice of Duffy to cover Live and Let Die is definately not one of them. The Welsh singer's soulfulness make this the highlight of the album, and show precisily why Duffy fever raged in 2008. Her voice brings a diva-edque sound to the song and will no doubt bring the track to a whole new legion of fans for whom Paul McCartney has never been anything but the bloke who lost all his money to that mad woman.
Lily Allen's take on The Clash's "Straight to Hell" is the most bizarre in the collection, and although it sounds like it should be a disaster, it's actually a bloody good track. Don't get me wrong it in no ways lives up to the original but there's few people who could take on the might Clash and come out this strong.
Another suprise comes in the form of Rufus Wainwright. Eternally underappreciated Wainwright's is a talent that more often than not goes unnoticed. The medley of Brian Wilson's Wonderful and Song for Children is classic Wainwright and shows all those who ignore him exactly what they're missing by doing so. Vocally beautiful this is a track that will stay with you when others have become forgotten.
Speaking of tracks to fprget, some tracks of the album, like Elbow's take on U2's Running to Stand Still and Beck's version of Leopard-Skin Pill-box Hat fall short and sounds too similar to the originals and dare I say it, are a bit of a bore. Fortunatley these are few and far between, and god has blessed us with a fast forward button for these very situations.
Estelle's feminised version of Superstitious is worth checking out as its no mean feat taking on the great that is Stevie Wonder but boy does she do it, and does it with enough sass and soul that this track alone could probably carry the whole album.
Luckily she doesn't have to and the mix of indie kids, soulful ladies and electro bands mean it'll be a hit with many. If there was ever a reason to buy an album, charity would be it. It doesn't hurt that this charity album also happenes to feature some of the best cover versions heard in a while.
Femalefirst - Kate Teasdale
1. Beck (Bob Dylan: Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat)
2. Scissor Sisters (Roxy Music: Do The Strand)
3. Lily Allen (The Clash: Straight To Hell)
4. Duffy (Paul McCartney: Live And Let Die)
5. Elbow (U2: Running To Stand Still)
6. TV On The Radio (David Bowie: Heroes)
7. Hot Chip (Joy Division: Transmission)
8. The Kooks (The Kinks: Victoria)
9. Estelle (Stevie Wonder: Superstition)
10. Rufus Wainwright (Brian Wilson: Wonderful/ Song For Children)
11. Peaches (Iggy Pop: Search And Destroy)
12. The Hold Steady (Bruce Springsteen: Atlantic City)
13. The Like (Elvis Costello: You Belong To Me)
14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs (The Ramones: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker)
15. Franz Ferdinand (Blondie: Call Me)