Rave On Buddy Holly
Cover versions can always go one of two ways, with tribute albums facing similar challenges.
It's hard to find a ballance between making a cover worth it, and doing the original justice.
A straight cover of a classic could mean that it's essentially a worse version of the original, whereas a reinterpretation could anger fans of the original artist.
It's good that Rave On...Buddy Holly manages to offer fresh interpretations of Holly classics without damanging the legacy of these tracks.
The diversity of artists on this album is a testament to Buddy Holly's undeniable influence, with names as far-ranging as Sir Paul McCartney and Cee Lo Green lending their talents to the record.
To be fair to the collection, it should be reviewed on its own merits, rather than against the originals laid down by Holly.
One point that can't be disputed is that versions by acts like Florence + The Machine and Kid Rock will bring Holly's music to a new generation.
On the subject of Kid Rock, he's less irritating here than he has been in years, which says a lot about the quality of Buddy Holly's material.
McCartney provides on of the highlight of this collection, however, with a distorted, relatively heavy version of 'It's So Easy'.
Meanwhile, Cee Lo Green does an honest, straight-up cover of '(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care' and more than does it justice.
The collection as a whole is a wonderful tribute to Buddy Holly, and it's Modest Mouse who provide the most ambitious track.
Changing the melody and rhythm of the track, making it a (at times) slower, haunting version of a previously upbeat track.
Holly purists may dislike it, but that his music was simple and universally influential enough to spawn this cover is a huge compliment.
People will always criticise compilations like this, whether it's the choice of artists, songs or the direction of the tracks.
Taken on its own merit, Rave On...Buddy Holly is a fine tribute to a hugely influential musician who died before his time.
It's proof that, whilst Holly is gone, his music will never die as it continues to influence generations of artists.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Tagged in Buddy Holly Sir Paul McCartney