Take Cover, Queensrÿche’s album filled with cover
songs, might be worth the purchase just for the cover artwork alone. It is a
really cool picture of the way life might be in the future. Or it could be a
retro look to World War II. Check it out then listen to some new spins on some
classic and eclectic songs. There are really good interpretations of everyone’s
favorite songs, and there is some music you might not be so familiar with.
Opening with a nod to Pink Floyd, we get a very distinctive arrangement of
“Welcome to the Machine.” From there, you’ll find everything
from Buffalo Springfield to Jesus Christ Superstar to everything in between.
Each song has a real Queensrÿche sound, but as lead singer Geoff Tate modestly
remarks, “We’ll never top the originals, they are classics for a reason.
We are more focused on finding different approaches that took the songs in unexpected
directions.”
“Odissea” isn’t quite as good as when Freddie Mercury recorded
“Barcelona” with the opera singer Montserrat Caballe. Queensrÿche
do, however, salute Queen with a stunning take of “Innuendo.” David
Crosby’s “Almost Cut My Hair” doesn’t really work with the high-end
production, lacking the grittiness of the original, while Buffalo Springfield’s
“For The Love Of Money” comes across with a slightly different feel
that seems to work. Black Sabbath fans might appreciate “Neon Knights,”
and there’s no doubt that the Police’s “Synchronicity”
rocks, but Tate lacks the range of Peter Gabriel on “Red Rain.”
It’s hard not to feel the power this band puts out. Tate certainly puts an
identifiable stamp on these songs. Guitarists Michael Wilton and Mike Stone
are spectacular musicians. Bassist Eddie Jackson and Drummer Scott Rockenfield
drive the beat throughout, regardless of the overproduction. With a last name
like Rockenfield, what would you expect? If you are already a Queensrÿche
fan, then you will truly enjoy Take Cover. But even if you
are not, you might enjoy the diversity in the classics chosen for this project.
~ John Miniciello
