Q magazine must be bumping up their sales this month with an exclusive CD called “Ahk toon Bay - Bi) a play on the name “Achtung Baby.”
The Cd includes a number of bands doing covers of each track on Achtung baby.
The Tracks are
1) Zoo Station - Nine Inch Nails
2) Even better than the real thing - (Jaques Lu Cont mix)
3) One - Damien RIce
4) Until the end of the World - Patti Smith
5) Whose gonna ride your wild horses - Garbage
6) So Cruel - Depeche Mode
7) Gavin friday - The fly
8) Mysterious Ways - Snow Patrol
9) Trying to throw your arms around word - The Fray
10) Ultra violet (light my way) - The Killers
11) Acrobat - Glasvegas
12) Love is blindness - Jack White
U2 played a lot of Achtung Baby at Glastonbury and the set was not that impressive. It seem tired uncolourful and in need a fresh splash of songs to brighten up the whole thing.
A remastered version of Achtung baby is on the way but for now we are now given a re-working of the album by various artists.
Albums Covered by different artists can be hit and miss. Think of an open mic night and people doing covers and each person has a different take on a song. Some try to copy the song and others try to mash it up doing a total re-make, whilst others sit in the middle and change it a little bit but play it safe.
I thought I would give a brief description on each song.
1) Zoo Station - Nine Inch Nails - they seem to go for the similar approach and it is ok but a bit too similar to the original.
2) Even better than the real thing - (Jaques Lu Cont mix) - This seems a strange place for this song to come - ok it’s a remix but features “Bono’s” vocal it maybe better as the last track on the album. It is odd hearing his vocal the second track in does not really set the tone of a cover album
3) One - Damien RIce - This is a fairly smooth version that sounds very like “Damien Rice” it is a good version and does not try to be Bono or ham up the song too much.
4) Until the end of the World - Patti Smith - This is one of the best versions, it changes pace, keeps the song loose and is in keeping with the artist.
5) Whose gonna ride your wild horses - Garbage - I’m not a big fan of garbage and this seems a surprise band to ask. This version is well done and had been thought through in keeping with the band’s sound.
6) So Cruel - Depeche Mode - I was looking forward to this track and thought it would be more electronic and current. The vocal sounds more U2 than Depeche Mode would be better if it has some classic Mode all over it.
7)Gavin friday - The fly - Gavin is a friend of the band that goes way back. He knows their songs. This is quite interesting musically it has a diversity to the sound.
8) Mysterious Ways - Snow Patrol - This sounds like Snow patrol, they have clearly gone for a decision to slow the track down but it is maybe a bit too slow in contrast to the original. The key reason the melody works in the original is because of it’s momentum.
9) Trying to throw your arms around word - The Fray - ever been a supermarket and heard a version of a band and thought is that??? U2? then realised no it is one of those cheaper versions that they put out in store to save royalty money. Ok that sounds a little harsh maybe its because it’s on track 9.
10) Ultra violet (light my way) - The Killers - If the Killers released this as a single it would go top ten, it’s fresh sounds current and is well produced. I guess The Killers have been the best U2 cover band anyway.
11) Acrobat - Glasvegas - I like the Scottish accent in the Vocals and the energy it is great rock and a big tune
12) Love is blindness - Jack White - Great energy and keeps to his own style a good ending.
So what is the best track?
I think “The Killers” song is the freshest and best track and sounds least rushed.
Considering the Magazine is £4.50 it is worth a buy.
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