Amanda Palmer - PerformsThe Popular Hits OfRadiohead On Her MagicalUkulele

Wed 18th Aug, 2010 in Music Reviews

The problem with Radiohead covers is that, well, Radiohead are the undisputed kings of nearly everything. If it could’ve been done better, they would have done it themselves.

The bland choice of covers does nothing for Amanda Palmer’s release of Radiohead songs. Standard renditions of predictable and over-covered songs are too common; the more daring covers, all of which add more depth than the simple ukulele, show the power Palmer is capable of putting into her performances.

Amanda Palmer’s EP of Radiohead covers opens blandly with one of Radiohead’s most covered songs Fake Plastic Trees and continues with the predictable choices of High and Dry, No Surprises and Creep.

It’s hard not to compare the vocals to Thom Yorke’s and the instrumentation to Radiohead’s masterful foursome that back Yorke. There isn’t anything particularly endearing about Palmer’s rendition of Fake Plastic Trees as the vocals are mostly uninspiring and the simple backing of the ukulele grows boring, though her version of High and Dry is aided by the addition of the piano, and the song suits Palmer’s voice much more than the opening track. However Palmer’s vocals are frustratingly poor on No Surprises.

The pace and standard picks up with an interesting interpretation of Kid A’s Idioteque, with layered vocals and more instrumental depth giving the song some much needed originality. The two bland covers of Creep, one recorded live in Prague and the other from a soundcheck in Berlin, are interrupted by a piano-led version of Exit Music (For A Film).

The second cover to be pulled from 1997’s OK Computer is the best moment here: a string section is introduced, the piano is more of an exciting choice than the ukulele, and this song also suits Palmer’s voice (at least in comparison to others). It is here that it all comes together for the American ex-Dresden Doll.