SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: VARIOUS ARTISTS – NEW WAVE DONUT

VARIOUS ARTISTS
NEW WAVE DONUT
WAX DONUT RECORDS

This is an intriguing idea, current punk and metal bands paying tribute to late 1970s and 1980s New Wave classics. Of course, New Wave came along and basically shoved punk to one side. Punk morphed into something very different from England circa 1976 and part of that was due to New Wave. Interestingly, most New Wave bands were all influenced by Punk and the original DIY attitude. In many regards, this makes sense and should make for interesting listening.

Some of the covers work, while others are unrecognizable. The opening track, for example, “Electricity” by Naw does not resemble the original by Orchestral Maneuvers In the Dark, while “Wipes” take on Gary Numan and Tubeway Army’s “Are Friends Electric?” maintains the original melody and feel of the song while adding their own touches to the song. It works beautifully and should have been the template for the album. “Naw” is not a bad song, but it really is not a cover. Bovine Nightmares (who are signed to Wax Donut Records) do a great and original cover of “Here Comes The Rain Again” (Eurythmics). It is a dramatic brooding version of the song and while diverting from the original, it is a very interesting interpretation of the classic.

Glose does a great cover of Tears For Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”. The guitars replace the keyboards, and it makes for a very aggressive and explosive cover. It certainly brings out the anger of the song. Basement Family’s version of Ministry’s pop hit “Work For Love” makes it sound like a very dark Ministry song. Perhaps this is how Ministry envisioned the song.

Not all songs work as well as hoped. Night Goat (Bovine Nightmares’ label companion) take on Siouxsie and The Banshees “Bring Me The Head Of The Preacher Man”, like “Electricity”, is not so much a cover but sounds like an original song by Night Goat. Again, not a bad thing, but it is clearly a very loose interpretation.

Cover versions and tribute albums are always well intended and when they work, they work beautifully. This works on some levels and in other areas it falls a bit short. However, fans of the bands will love the individual bands reimagining these classic and iconic songs.

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