Varshons

iTunes Review

The Lemonheads’ Evan Dando has eclectic taste and he proves it with an album of covers that spans genres and artists you might not expect. Sure, a Gram Parsons cover — the obscure “I Just Can’t Take It Anymore” — or a Townes Van Zandt cover — “Waiting Around to Die” — are predictable, but who would guess shock-rocker G.G. Allin’s “Layin’ Up With Linda,” Christina Aguilera’s hit single “Beautiful,” and Arling and Cameron’s “Dirty Robot”? No matter how adventurous Dando turns in his choices, he strips nearly everything down to his own basic guitar-driven alterna-rock. Exceptions are “Dirty Robot” (with model Kate Moss), which retains a cheap synth romp, and “Dandelion Seeds,” which uses extensive wah-wah guitar. Wire’s “Fragile,” Randy Alvey & The Green Fuz’s garage rock classic “The Green Fuz,” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye,” with vocals from actress Liv Tyler, are all brought together with quiet, tasteful arrangements that make every song sound like it was written to be sung in front of the campfire. “The Green Fuz,” a tune originally based on a maniacal energy, now sounds like a psychedelic tribal ballad.