 If there were a book about how to do a good cover, page one would say something like this: 'Never do a cover you can't do as well if not better than the original' and 'always try and do something new with the song that works'.
Working on that premise and listening to some of these tracks on the new Independents Compilation, you have to ask the question, why the hell did some of these acts bother? The Futureheads cover of 'Every heartbeat' by Robyn actually made me laugh out loud because it's so awful and Jack Penate's rendition of the Beat International hit 'Just be good to me,' isn't much better. Why was he singing in falsetto? If it's too high Jack, try a different key...or is that beyond your musical knowledge? Equally, why Grant from Feeder decided to trade his usually good voice for a dreadful mock John Lydon croon during the cover of Public Image by PIL is beyond me. Its not Stars in their eyes mate!
Having said that, some good efforts were turned out by The Prodigy, who did a contemporary version of 'Ghost town ' by The Specials. I quite liked Jarvis Cocker and Beth Ditto's raucous version of Heaven 17's 'Temptation,' though not as much as the original. Also Rodrigo Y Gabriela should be praised for a beautiful acoustic version of 'Orion,' originally by Metallica.
First prize though goes to Jose Gonzalez for a great version of the Joy Division classic 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'. A totally different style (even different chords) but with the chorus as strong as ever - Jose more than does it justice.
CD 2 is an interesting selection of less known tracks recommended by the recording artists and various other industry chappies and is worth a listen.
Overall then, Independents day has some good, some great and quite a bit of crap. I will say this though promoting the cause of Independent labels and donating royalties to CAIM and the Musicians Benevolent Fund are all good things so don't listen to me and go buy the thing.
http://www.independentsday08.com/
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