Simple Minds
attempted to rectify their glory days as an act classic with signature hooks and dreamy lyrical stories on 1995's
Good News From the Next World
and 1997's
Neapolis
, but
grunge
and modern
rock
had overtaken the new
pop
generation and
fans had moved beyond the beauty of it all. Still, frontman
Jim Kerr
and guitarist
Charlie Burchill
continued on, and into the new millennium remained an ambitious pair determined to prolong their career on their own terms.
Neon Lights
,
' debut for
Eagle Records
and their first covers album, suggests that perhaps
Kerr
and
Burchill
are having a good laugh. This concept album boasts their own favorites -- cuts by
David Bowie
(
"The Man Who Sold the World"
),
Neil Young
"The Needle & the Damage Done"
Kraftwerk
"Neon Lights"
the Doors
"Hello, I Love You"
), and others -- and a confidence that
attempt to pass off with some interesting tweaking.
Patti Smith
's
"Dancing Barefoot"
starts off with its usual acoustic brushing, but twangy licks are added and the dark haunt of the track itself switches tempo to be more fashionable without the ability to simply arrive like the original version.
Echo and the Bunnymen
"Bring on the Dancing Horses"
bounces with typical
new wave
beats, while
's copycat riffs do little to carry one of
the Bunnymen
's finest tracks. When
could have closed,
' rendition of
Joy Division
"Love Will Tear Us Apart"
is one of the album's shocking moments.
, like many of the other acts included on
, should remain untreaded territory.
swirls around early
U2
licks (listeners always knew
wanted to be like them) and a repetitive chorus, it's no longer sacred. It's permeable and redundant, something so unfortunate for one of the most influential tracks to come from
post-punk
. Regardless if they're paying tribute to some of their favorites,
waltz on sacred ground on
. The composition doesn't work and it's a laughable effort, sadly. ~ MacKenzie Wilson