More Music

Mrs H3 and I have a long history of trying to outdo each other on finding the worst album of all time (usually cover version related as I love cover versions). A couple of weeks ago she gave me a few contenders that I have to admit almost beat anything I've ever come up with (although I still contend that I found the worst album ever ... but more of that in a few weeks - yep it is Christmas related).

One of the albums is 'More, More and More' by Girls Aloud, a band that I've generally managed to ignore until this point. Although their own songs were okay in a generally bland sort of way, being the sort of pop I'm not awfully keen on, their cover versions are absolutely cracking. I was particularly impressed by a live version of 'Teenage Dirtbag' and their musicals medley.

Of course it may be that they actually sound really dire but I had just listened to a double album of various artists doing 'Crazy Covers' and anything bad by Girls Aloud paled into insignificance next to this.

I have to admit that there were a few excellent tracks on that too, such as the Sugababes doing 'I bet you look good on the Dancefloor' and Ian Brown doing 'Thriller' and a strange cover version of 'Young Folks' which I thought really rocked, but generally this album was ODD!

Turkish versions of 'Rock the Casbah' and other songs sung in German or Dutch and some of the strangest cover versions ever heard. I did rather like the Dynamo's Rhythm Aces swing version of The Smith's 'Panic' during which members of the band have a conversation about why they are panicking, musing that if there was a nuclear explosion and everyone got wiped out there'd be no-one left to play George Michael records. Very funny when you hear it and suits my sense of humour perfectly!

Finally there was Paul Anka with his 'Classic songs: My Way' which I have to admit I couldn't face listening to after 4 cds worth of the other stuff. When I listened to it a few days later I found it generally pleasant in much the same way as 'Rock Swings' was. I understand that both the Girls Aloud and Paul Anka were chosen primarily for the Duran Duran cover versions 'Girls on Film' and 'Ordinary World' respectively, and actually both tracks aren't bad.

Talking of Duran Duran (and no not under worst album category ... although it almost could have been) their new album ‘Red Carpet Massacre’ is surprisingly excellent. I was less than enthusiastic when I heard the first single 'Falling Down' with Justin Timberlake and a few more listenings didn't really improve my opinion. The idea of Timbaland mixing it up didn't appeal either and I was truly expecting to hate the album with a vengeance, with the exception of ‘Box Full o’ Honey’ which I adored from the moment I heard it. However, by the time I’d listened to the whole album I was pleasantly surprised to find that it wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I’d feared and after the third listen in a row, I found myself happily singing along to ‘Falling Down’ as if it were a favourite song. Many people have said that ‘Red Carpet Massacre’ is like their first self-titled album but I would liken it more to 1993’s second self-titled album more commonly known as the ‘Wedding Album’. Justin Timberlake has said that his favourite song of all time is ‘Ordinary World’ and many of the songs on this album have that flavour about them. I’m still not happy about the way Duran Duran treat their fans but have to admit that they can still churn out a good song – and yes, I’ll go to see them when they tour a place where tickets aren’t £100 each!

As a last thought on cover versions a couple of mornings ago I heard Leona Lewis doing Snow Patrol’s ‘Run’. It was astonishingly beautiful! I was stunned to find that she actually can sing which is something that her current awful single sadly doesn't show too well.