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Product details
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| 1. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat |
| 2. Do The Strand |
| 3. Straight To Hell |
| 4. Live And Let Die |
| 5. Running To Stand Still |
| 6. Heroes |
| 7. Transmission |
| 8. Victoria |
| 9. Superstition |
| 10. Wonderful/Song For Children |
| 11. Search And Destroy |
| 12. Atlantic City |
| 13. You Belong To Me |
| 14. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker |
| 15. Call Me |
Review As with all covers, the best songs here revere the original (is there anything more dispiriting than an ironic cover?) but add a new dimension or perspective, As well as Allen's chimingly lovely version of Straight To Hell, her sweet vocal making the lyrics bite even harder, Peaches brilliantly re-invents The Stooges' Search And Destroy as sleek, dark electropop and Scissor Sisters streamline and discofy Roxy Music's Do The Strand.
Of the bolder cover attempts, only Duffy's Live And Let Die truly falls flat on its face. Presumably, slowing down this former Bond theme was an attempt to add Shirley Bassey grandeur, but losing its abrupt, playful shifts in tempo robs it of all its former charm. Rufus Wainwright fares much better with his medley from Brian Wilson's Smile, pushing his florid, elegant vocals to the forefront.
There are more straightforward revisitings, too. Beck's version of Leopard-Skin Pill Box Hat is strikingly similar to Bob Dylan's own honky tonk version, with a little added swagger, while Elbow approach Running To Stand Still with the same stately grace as U2. Sadly, TV On The Radio's version of David Bowie's Heroes is a mess, with its hard electro beats adding nothing to the futuristic perfection of the original.
War Child: Heroes is admirably more ambitious than many previous covers records, and the fact it succeeds so often is to its credit. But given the breadth of talent assembled here, you do wonder whether letting them turn in their own homework might have been even more satisfying. --Jaime Gill
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is what compilation albums should be,
By Brigante Man (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: War Child: Heroes (Audio CD)
This album's had amazing reviews on a lot of websites and it's right up front on myspacemusic. Have a listen and judge for yourself. The Elbow track is an astonishing cover of U2's classic Running to Stand Still and Franz Ferdinand do a rousing rendition of Blondie's Call Me. Beck, TV on the Radio, the Kooks, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Peaches all do great covers from the Ramones through to Bowie. There are few albums where you'll have more than half a dozen favourites like this. In fact the whole deal stands up to repeated listening. It wont disappoint.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You MUST buy this album,
By SoulFunkful (UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: War Child: Heroes (Audio CD)
This isn't just a fantastic line up. This is music at it's best. The radio play this album's got has only scratched the surface. I've just listened to it on myspace and there isn't a single track I don't love. I don't normally write reviews like this. But this is great music to meet the needs of a great cause.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aural treat! Buy this album!!!,
By
This review is from: War Child: Heroes (Audio CD)
Do yourself a favour - buy this album! Not only is War Child a fantastic charity but the album is truly amazing. Beck's cover of Dylan is stomping. Lily Allen duets with Mick Jones to give a whole new flavour to The Clash's 'Straight to Hell.' But the best is yet to come. Band de jour, TV on the Radio, remain faithful to Bowie's Heroes while also bringing something distinctly new to it. Hot Chip re-imagine Joy Division's 'Transmission' rather than trying to just copy the iconic original and succeed in giving a new electro, post punk-ish tinge to the track, one of the album stand outs. Peaches brings Berlin grit and dirty bass to The Stooge's 'Search and Destroy' which is another of the highlights. And The Like bring a 50s do-wop to Elvis Costello's 'You Belong To Me'.Cannot recommend this highly enough!
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