Release Date: 13 September, 1994
Audio CD
Tracks
- Goodbye To Love
- Top Of The World
- Superstar
- (They Long To Be) Close T
- For All We Know
- It's Going To Take Some T
- Solitaire
- Hurting Each Other
- Yesterday Once More
- Calling Occupants Of Inte
- Rainy Days And Mondays
- Let Me Be The One
- Bless The Beasts And Chil
- We've Only Just Begun
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Rating 3.0
Take It At Face Value And EnjoyI just don't get the polarized reviews regarding this pleasant little tribute album. The haters are either neurotic Carpenters-worshipers who seem to have insider info on the "cynical" nature of this compilation made by some talented artists of the mid-90s, or they are simply haters of the Carpenters as a concept. Look people, this album has some great music on it. The interpretations are respectful and are not pure rip-off copies of the originals, which would have been foolish. No one sounds like Karen Carpenter. What they are is worthy interpretations that show off the talents of the artists while keeping the melodic pop of the classic songs in question as their backbone. Japanese ladies Shonen Knife do a great indie power pop version of Top of the World, Sonic Youth's under water sounding Superstar is mesmerizing, Sheryl Crow and the Cranberries do sturdy renditions of Solitaire and Close To You, and all the other artists do credible jobs. This is simply a tuneful tribute album and a pleasant musical experience, for both Carpenters and non-Carpenters fans alike, for fans of classic pop melodies or 90s indie music. Flaky bands cover even flakier band - why bother??Tribute albums became fashionable in the 90's - when it became obvious that pop music had degenerated into a bland money-making franchise for guys in suits and computer geeks. The genre is now full of talentless poseurs with pretty faces, lip synching disposable pop songs in nicely choreographed video clips.
99.9% of tribute albums are pure garbage - you can't improve on the originals, so what is the point?
The most perplexing thing about this particular tribute album is that the group being paid tribute to IS, WAS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE one of the cheesiest pop bands in history. They were pop music for pensioners - safe, wholesome, predictable, and utterly bland. Karen may have had a fine voice, but it's hard to tell because she never strayed outside of her comfort zone.
The Carpenters were to pop music, what Pat Boone was to early Rock N Roll.
Let's hope there are no more Carpenters revivals. Don't even get me started on the subject of Abba!! Easy stomach...easy. This Album is a Disgrace!This is no tribute. I am appalled! The Carpenters are my favorite group of all time and if you even like the Carpenters, don't waste your $ on this. |
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