Just a bunch of ab fab covers, thanks to Radio One

In honor of their big 40 year birthday bacchanalia, first BBC Radio One staged that Beatles coverfest back in July, and this week they've released an ace double-disc collection chock full of Heather's Favorite Things - more cover songs! Radio One, Established 1967 pulls 40 hits (one from each year) and pairs them with often unlikely artists. Most of these are ones I've never heard before -- Hard-Fi covering Britney Spears' Toxic? The Fray take on R.E.M., Lily Allen does her best sassy Chrissie Hynde, Keane rhymes with Queen & David Bowie under pressure, Kasabian play the Specials. It's fresh and fun for the most part; even if there are some horrific failures, I appreciate the relative inventiveness in the choices here --

Band On The Run (Paul McCartney/Wings cover) - Foo Fighters
This starts out pretty mellow and faithful to the original -- all Laurel Canyon sunsets and lots of weed. But stay tuned to a 1:16 mark that made me yelp a little in delight when the Foos kick in with all their ferocious glory. I cannot wait to drive somewhere, fast, listening to this. LOVE IT.

You Sexy Thing (Hot Chocolate cover) - Stereophonics
As if Kelly Jones didn't already strike me as enough of a wee sexy bastard, hearing the playful charm and come-on camp of this cover, where he sounds for all the world like he's channeling his inner Rod Stewart, does it for me.

All That She Wants (Ace of Base cover) - The Kooks
The original version of this song evokes a reaction in me that is akin to stabbing a razor blade into my eye. Hate it, hate the Swedish '90s pop of Ace of Base and have been subjected to this story-song of our unmoored heroine (trying to . . . get pregnant on a one-night stand?) way too many times. The Kooks, however, do elicit a few begrudging props from me for trying to salvage it, and doing so in a winsome way. But ugh -- too little, too late. This song is beyond salvation.


BUY: Radio One, Established 1967