Originally recorded as a bonus for sale at shows, Unoriginal Artists by Boise Cover Band offers up all the joys of a Built to Spill album. And I say that even though all the tunes here are covers, not originals.
Doug Martsch and his crew render the familiar (Bowie's "Ashes to Ashes") and the should-be-heard ("Strange" by The Delusions) with the same heartfelt, emotive form of indie he's brought to every Built to Spill release. There's a nice slide guitar anchoring "Back on the Chain Gang", and the tune's a rather jaunty one. Martsch captures the well-loved Pretenders classic in a new way, making it sound almost as if it's something he wrote himself. That one, and a run at "I'm Glad" by Captain Beefheart are the ones that are the real highlights here. But, really, all of Unoriginal Artists is delightful because this is the rare covers release that feels like a labor of love, and not a goof or contractual obligation.
Unoriginal Artists by Boise Cover Band is out today via Ernest Jenning Record Co..
More details on Built to Spill via the band's official website.
[Photo: Ernest Jenning Record Co.]