Day 4: Various Artists - And I'll Scratch Yours

Artist:  Various Artists
Album:  And I'll Scratch Yours
Source:  http://www.npr.org/2013/12/26/257385135/first-listen-peter-gabriel-scratch-my-back-and-i-ll-scratch-yours

Pre-listening Notes:  In 2010, Peter Gabriel put out an album of cover songs.  The bands he covered on this album were then invited to cover a Peter Gabriel song as a companion piece.  It took a few years, due to some bands backing out and others providing their songs a little late, but it is finally coming out.  There are a few artists on here that I have never heard, so this should be interesting.  I'm just going to assume everyone has heard Peter Gabriel's solo stuff, at least at some point.  I am a little upset nobody does Sledgehammer.  Oh well, here goes. 

Initial Reaction:  David Byrne is up first.  I love the Talking Heads, doing I don't Remember off of the third album.  The original version of this song has Robert Fripp on it.  Pretty alright cover, although not nearly as good as the original.  Hopefully at least one of these tracks really wows me.

Random Thoughts:  Bon Iver is one of the artists I have never heard before, doing Come Talk to Me off of Us, I am not entirely hating this.  It's a pretty mellow song to begin with.  I like Regina Spektor's voice.  So far, her take on Blood of Eden is my favorite.  I am not feeling this Stephin Merritt song.  I have no idea who Joseph Arthur is, this is a very slowed down, mellowed version of Shock the Monkey.  I'm not entirely sure if I like this or not.  Oh great, Randy Newman.  Not my thing.  Arcade Fire, I'm still not entirely sure I've ever listened to a full Arcade Fire song, and if I was committed to listening to all of these albums in their entirety that streak would have continued.  Okay, Elbow, who despite having been around for 16 years, I  have never heard of, doing Mercy Street is easily the best track so far.  Brian Eno's track does nothing for me.  Feist, featuring Timber Timbre (dumb name) does alright on Don't Give Up and is a nice male/female vocal trade off song.  And then there is Lou Reed doing Solsbury Hill, one of my favorite Peter Gabriel songs, even though it's the most played.  I just feel like his voice isn't right for this song.  And it rounds out with Paul Simon doing Biko.  With what I am thinking is either the strongest or second best song on this.

Final Reaction:  Cover albums are hard, there is usually so much hit or miss, then you add in the tribute album and it's twice as bad.  I'd say about a quarter of this works well, another quarter is okay, and the rest I wouldn't give a second listen to.  It's hard to do bad when the source material is great, so it's all relatively listenable, once through, but overall it's just alright.  The Paul Simon and Elbow songs are the two standout tracks.

Final Grade:   6.0/10