Under The Covers, Vol. 1
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Free Music Notes for Under The Covers, Vol. 1
Free Music Review: GOOD CLEAN FUN......UNDER THE COVERS
Hit: 3 Stars
Matthew Sweet teaming up with Susanna Hoffs for an album of cover songs from the `60s? It sounds like an interesting proposition, and the results are pretty much what I would expect; well arranged and faithful versions of some great classic and/or obscure songs from the greatest era of pop music. Both Sweet and Hoffs proved their chops in the `80s as contemporary pop purveyors - Sweet as a solo act, and Hoffs as the lead vocalist of the Bangles - and they utilize their expertise well as a musical couple. The song selections are sometimes obvious ("Monday Monday", "Different Drum") and sometimes obscure ("Care of Cell #44" is a great Zombies tune from `Odessey and Oracle', and "She May Call You Up Tonight" appeared on the same Left Banke album that featured "Walk Away Renee"). Every song has a pleasant sheen about it, and you can hear a combination of joy and respect for each of the songs covered. Unfortunately, nothing here is definitive (with the possible exception of the lead-off track entitled "I See the Rain," which I don't recognize), but it is nonetheless a pleasant stroll through a few great songs.
Sweet and Hoffs both have distinctive voices that work well together, but they seem restricted by their desire to remain faithful to the original versions of each song. When they do experiment a bit, though, it seems incongruent. For example, when Hoffs takes some artistic license and adds a few distinctive `aahs' to "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue," it ends up sounding too much like the Bangles. Sweet's voice doesn't cause me to bristle, but his guitar work sometimes does. "Cinnamon Girl" needs Neil Young's straightforward lead guitar part. It isn't an option, so his `additions' actually subtract from the song's punch. These minor faults are more than compensated for elsewhere. Hoffs practically channels the spirit of Sandy Denny on "Who Knows Where the Time Goes," and their arrangement of `Care of Cell #44" sounds almost as lovely as the original, plus it benefits nicely from the gender change.
Other highlights include faithful runs through classic songs by the Beatles ("And Your Bird Can Sing"), the Who ("The Kids Are Alright"), The Velvet Underground ("Sunday Morning"), and even the Bee Gees (the gorgeous and semi-forgotten "Run To Me"). The latter song ends the CD and actually dates from the `70s, so maybe it's a precursor for a follow-up that features the next decade? After all, the album title does say "Vol. 1". Personally, I'd welcome it. Let them tackle a few classic `70s hits, and then who knows? Maybe they'll even re-address some of their own material from the `80s! B+ Tom Ryan
Free Music Review: What a Fun Album! Disregard the Whiners!
Hit: 5 Stars
I love this album! It's perfect listening material for the summer months. Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs do a wonderful job of covering classics. Susanna's vocals were tailor made for this type of music. Listen to her version of Different Drum.
Disregard the negative comments from 60's purists who complain that this album is completely pointless. This is a great opportunity for young people who might not be familiar with this era to check out the incredible original artists presented here. Because of this wonderful album, I purchased material from Love and the Beatles.
Free Music Review: wish i was 10 again
Hit: 5 Stars
Wish I was ten again... with this album all those good relaxing childhood memories resurface. Although most artist seem trended towards remakes ( Rod Stewart, Michael McDonald, Hall and Oates and even, Ozzy ), none that Ive heard are as rich as this duo's offering. For the casual listener of 60's music this is your ticket back to that time. For the hardcore 60's listener you may be critical of a few songs. I did not care for Monday,Monday and The Kids Are Alright. But the freshness of the remaining songs ( especially those from slightly obscure 60's bands such as Love and Fairport Convention ) makes up for the few misses. Susanna Hoffs is tremendous!! Buy this record, it is worth the cash!!Free Music Review: Time for another Who and/or Love cover already?
Hit: 4 Stars
There are certain vocalists for whom certain sounds make me want to grab and icepick and impersonate Leon Trotsky. Sheepbleat Nicks, Alanis "My first album was all about Joey from Full House and I was an angry feminist icon and now I'm schtupping Van Wilder and happy" Morrissette, Kevin Cro(Mag)Nin, and Susanna Hoffs, esp. when she makes "ur" sounds. It is physically PAINFUL for me.
Which hurts this covers album by Matthew Sweet, for whom this territory is so familiar, he could have recorded this album in his sleep. That is to say, it does nothing to justify its existence.
It jangles, sure, it's Matt singing, but it's not his original material. The Dropkick Murphys did so much better covering, "The Kids Are Alright," and the D@mned did "Alone Again Or" twenty years ago to greater success. Dennis Wilson would drown himself all over again if he heard "Warmth of the Sun." The Neil Young covers up the total to THREE for Mr. Sweet thus far by my calculations. Just do an album of Neil Young covers, Matthew!
I wanted to like this, I really did, because so far the only bright spot in the last twelve years has been Kimi Ga Suki, the originally Japanese only CD, but between the nature of the album and the fact that he's performing with the overexposed eye candy member (and to quote the Saw Doctors, "My favorite's Vicki, actually) of the Bangles, but I just don't. Another marker on the downward trajectory that began when Matt was the only good thing about the tour he did with Soul Asylum and the Jayhawks.
Signed,
epsteinsmutha
Free Music Review: Two things about this album
Hit: 2 Stars
First, it reminds you that both artists are darn good vocalists and should do something with their voices with consequence before they get too old (no, this isn't it). Everything here is very competent in terms of production and sound.
Second, it should be a stern reminder for anyone else thinking of doing something like this to totally forget it. Remaking "Cinnamon Girl"? "Monday Monday?" Are you insane? And then trying to nearly copy them note for note (and pretty much succeeding), what's the point of that? Lots of people try things like this, even the Simple Minds of all bands, and no one has ever pulled it off. Music to play when you feel the need to throw up. Just embarrasing.