Various Artists
I Predict A Clone
Reviewed by Doug Van Pelt
This Steve Taylor tribute album was a great idea that really works! Some rather heavy and (most of all) creative artists added their interpretations of some of Mr. Taylor's hit tunes.
Circle of Dust shows a side to themselves we'll probably never see anywhere else with "Am I In Sync?" The heavy distorted guitars are here, but so is some blatant melody!
Hot Pink Turtle puts in a predictably unpredictable adaptation of "A Principled Man," with lots of funk and crunch thrown in. Starflyer 59 sounds heavy here in the tragic tale "Sin For A Season" (a perfect lyric for this massive minor sound).
DigHayZoose puts in a stellar performance of "Steeplechase" and "I Want To Be A Clone." This band rules - and this song shows why. They'll tackle a lounge sound with all the reverence of Scaterd Few and turn into a flying wall of distortion at 80 mph. Sometimes the jazz improv thing drags long enough to lose the listener, though.
One of the surprises is the cover by Fleming And John. Coupling some classical with the stark vocals of Fleming McWilliams and an occasional crunchy romp in the chorus, this version of "Harder To Believe Than Not To" surpasses the original.
Deliverance does a cool version of "On The Fritz," relying heavily on the vocals (recent style) of Jimmy Brown, as well as the heavy rhythms Deliverance walks in. Bride shows up here with "We Don't Need No Colour Code" (a natural selection, considering the band's anti-racism stance made known in tunes like "Troubled Times").
New band Argyle Park enlisted Scott Albert's help in producing a noisy industrial rave-up of "Drive, He Said." Sanctified Glory Mountain Revival Family end the album on a funny note with a bluegrass style, with their sarcastic bent on "Guilty By Association."
Overall, I predict a hit.