Various Artists - Like aVersion (Volume 3)

Mon 15th Oct, 2007 in Music Reviews

I love these kinds of compilations. They’re the ones that you stumble upon by chance, buy because you see that in the first track Ben Folds is going to be covering Postal Service, and then becoming the most rad member of your friendship group by having a collection of extraordinary covers. Folds’ take on Such Great Heights, meanwhile is just the icing on the cake.

From the funny, the serious to the downright absurd, Triple J offers up a selection of mainstream and indie artists rocking the shit out of their favourite tunes. More often than not, it’s the professionals who succeed, but there are exceptions to the rule, such as Angus and Julia Stone’s delightful rendition of Tubthumping (I don’t think I’ve ever heard such a gorgeous voice sing – œHe drinks a whisky drink/He drinks a vodka drink’.

Bob Evans offers his usually pedestrian take on yet another song, pretty much the same approach he takes to everything he records. But for every one like him and even Josh Pyke’s disappointing version of House On Pooh Corner there’s the gold like the magic numbers, who do a faux folk Beyonce cover that actually works!

The best of the best are local home-growns Eskimo Joe, who valiantly tackle Hey by the Pixies, as Frank Black’s earth defying screams are subtly replaced by Kav Temperly ’s warm guttural growl.

Buy the CD on the strength of acts like Folds and The Eskies, and who knows, you may get some added entertainment out of it if you persist!