Jesse Malin - Russian Roulette (One Little Indian)
UK release date: 16 June 2008
Jesse Malin's most recent album was a prime example of how not to record a covers version record, consisting as it did of half-hearted 'karaoke rock' which didn't particularly add anything to the songs gathered therein. No songs were rearranged to give them a new life - it was just a straight-ahead run through of some of Malin's favourite songs.
As such, it was all a bit pointless, and when it came to covers of classics by Paul Simon and Tom Waits, almost unlistenable. Still, Russian Roulette was one of the more successful numbers, given that the song was a relatively unknown one by punk 'supergroup' Lords Of The New Church. It's a pleasant enough garage rock number, with Malin's drawl well suited to the track.
Like the album from which it comes though, it's all eminently forgettable. Which, sadly, is not the word for the B-side here, a hilariously overwrought version of the Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots. Given that Malin's close friend Ryan Adams managed to totally reinvent Oasis' Wonderwall, maybe he'd be best asking him for advice on how to really do a cover version.
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