|
|
|
|
PopMatters home | short takes home | archives
PopMatters Music Short Takes
our brief reviews of new releases
 e-mail
print
comment
08 April 2004
Various Artists, Cover the World (Putumayo)
I don't know, call me a crank, but I just can't get into this collection of famous songs covered by a slew of international artists, from the famous (e.g. Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Angelique Kidjo) to the less so (e.g. Fatal Mambo and Les Go). Putumayo has put out many fine collections over the years and have been responsible for introducing many a talented musical artist to Western ears (e.g. Ricardo Lemvo, Habib Koite'). However, this one feels a little gimmicky, though will probably do well on the sales front, which, if it helps them bring other less cost-rewarding projects of "discovery" to these shores, is fine by me. And let's face it, if it takes a cover tune, namely, well-ingrained ones like "In the Air Tonight" (here covered decently! by Senegal's Toure' Kunda) or "Walk on the Wild Side" (renditioned by Catalonian Albert Pla) to get folks to listen to some of the world's greatest musical talents, then so be it. There's nothing horribly offensive on here. And, in fact, there are a few winners. The German/Brazilian collaboration of Mo' Horizons brings a spirited samba version of "Hit The Road Jack"; Senegal's Tukuleur do a lovely treatment of Toto's "Afrika"; and French rapper Yannick makes "Oh What a Night" his own. And it is when the cover is innovative enough to pass as an original that success is truly marked, such as on Ladysmith Black Mambazo w/Des'ree's beautiful interpretation of the Bill Wither's and covered to death, "Ain't No Sunshine". And now that I listen to the Japanese female group Nenes lay their distinctive vocals to Marley's "No Woman, No Cry", I'm finding myself thinking this is all actually kinda cool. Alright, the more I listen to this collection the more I like it. Forget every! thing I said before. Check it out.
— Matt Rogers
.: posted by Editor 7:22 AM
|
|
|
|
|
