Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Darfur and 9/11

Lennon gets the cover treatment to stop genocide

I generally try to leave this blog politics free because I find that political discussions usually have less to do with the free exchange of ideas than endless dogmatic posturing of one side against another. Particularly on the internet, a place where most social graces don't apply. Given that the CD review on this entry relates to the Darfur and it is the day after 9/11 politics seem unavoidable. So I will keep the politics in this entry to the most agreeable level - Genocide and Terrorism is wrong.

The two CD set recently released to bring attention to the genocide /ethnic cleansing in Darfur is a set of John Lennon covers. Like most covers albums with various artists, there are great moments, mediocre moments and huh(?) moments. The songs covered are Lennon's greatest hits for the most part, at times the same song is covered twice by separate artists. Like most rock artists receiving the cover treatment, attempts to add hip hop interpretations fall flat.

The best moments on the disc are songs that have stripped down arrangements to allow the singer get to the emotional core. Corrine Bailey Rae's version of "I'm Losing You" with her singing over an electric piano is the highlight of the set. It's dripping with soul. The Flaming Lips take on "(Just Like) Starting Over" is memorable as well for it's acoustic beauty. Jackson Browne gets intimate on "Oh My Love" to good effect.

The full band songs are decent with flashes of greatness. Green Day plays "Working Class Hero" with their familiar sneering vigor. Los Lonely Boys lighten up "Whatever Gets You Through The Night" into their familiar groove. R.E.M.'s "#9 Dream" effectively recaptures their classic sound better than any recent tune they've delivered on their own. Christina Aguilera's "Mother" is predictably overwrought but her voice remains an impressive instrument.

The dance songs didn't move me, entries by Aerosmith with the Serra Leone All Stars, Black Eyed Peas and Yassou N Dour all fit this mold.

This post is going up later than planned and I had intended to have a song up as tribute to 9/11. I originally thought of Sammy Hagar's "Remember The Heroes" but the You Tube videos for the song all had an overt political bent. So I went to my second choice, Sheryl Crow's "Safe and Sound".





Sheryl Crow - "Safe and Sound"

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