Artists: Various Artists Release Date: June 28, 2011 On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly died in a tragic plane crash, at the young age of 22. Half a century later, his presence is still felt with the release of a compilation of covers of the young pop star’s catalog featuring some of the biggest artists in music including Paul McCartney, Patti Smith, Cee-lo Green, and even Lou Reed. Many of the tracks on this album are exceptionally done, whether due to the artists’ unique versions of the tunes or due to how pleasantly close to the original the artists managed to get with their recordings. The creativity of the unique versions artists decided to record make these tracks stand out, however. The album begins with an incredible rendition of “Dearest” done by the Black Keys, who inject their bluesy rock into this Holly classic. Paul McCartney does a lively, rocking “It’s So Easy,” getting so into the song at one point that he screams and seems to channel James Brown. Rising new artist, Florence + the Machine chose “Not Fade Away,” one of Holly’s most well-known songs, using bursting brass and bar piano behind Florence’s atmospheric crooning. The Strokes’ lead [...]
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