Rykodisc 1442106212
Let's face it, the majority of tribute albums suck. Period.
What makes this a wondrous rarity in the collection of numerous tributes
gone wrong?
And the artists who tackle Ray Davies' work on This Is Where I Belong
seem to embrace the inherent possibilities. The mix of indie and major label
acts coupled with the variety of styles offers a wealth of revelations (i.e
Lambchop's creepy then sad take on "Art Lover"). While artists make a
connection with the tunes, they also hold on to their own musical
personalities.
The hopeful outlook on Fountain of Wayne's take on "Better Things" contained
added depth when I heard it for the first time on Late Night with
Conan O'Brien a little over a week after September 11th. On a lighter
note, Tim
O'Brien's version of "Muswell Hillbilly" playfully moves the song from its
English location to a Nashville recording studio.
