What do you say when a legendary artist asks you to cover his song for a benefit album? You say yes. . .duh. Which was the exact response 16 current artists gave to their idols when this album was being created. To help promote awareness of children who have been displaced by war around the globe War Child and Astralwerks teamed up to create this collection of covers.
The reason for me purchasing this album was to hear Beck play Bob Dylan, which is done very well, and to give a listen to other artists I’m not familiar with. The lineup includes: The Kooks play The Kinks, The Hold Steady plays Bruce Springsteen, Franz Ferdinand plays Blondie, Estelle plays Stevie Wonder, Adam Cohen plays Leonard Cohen, Rufus Wainwright plays Brian Wilson, Lily Allen plays The Clash, Elbow plays U2, TV on the Radio plays David Bowie, The Like plays Elvis Costello, Scissor Sisters play Roxy Music, Duffy plays Paul McCartney, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s play The Ramones, Hot Chip plays Joy Division, and Peaches play Iggy Pop.
Over all I was pleasantly surprised by this collection of covers and really felt that each artist added his or her own personal twist to the given song. If there is one that I had to pick on, it would have to be Duffy covering “Live and Let Die”, I really wish she rocked that song a little more. Standout tracks would have to be Franz Ferdinand, The Kooks, Estelle, Rufus Wainwright and Elbow.
In a time when newer artists really can massacre a classic song, this compilation proves that some people take the time to craft something worth listening to. Plus, it is helping a good cause, so you certainly should pick it up.
