ALBUM REVIEW: Ziggy Stardust: 50 Years Later – Various Artists
It goes without saying that DAVID BOWIE‘s fifth album, The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars is one of the most influential albums of all time. Now, 50 years to the day from its release in 1972, the likes of REDSHIFT, SON OF BOAR, THE LUNAR EFFECT and more are paying tribute to this classic in the second of Pale Wizard Records‘ ‘50 Years Later‘ series. Tribute albums can be hit or miss. Of course, it all depends on who does what song as a cover. With an album as influential as Ziggy Stardust, making sure that the covers do the album justice is a very big task.
First up is Five Years, covered by SAIL. The original was mid-tempo, with light use of instruments until the very end. SAIL increase the instruments, and therefore make the song sound more intense. This could be seen as them putting their own spin on it. Admittedly, covering any DAVID BOWIE song is a tall order, and by giving it a twist whilst also showing respect to the original SAIL have made an admired effort which provides a good start to the album.
Unfortunately, that good start goes down the drain when Soul Love – covered by SON OF BOAR – arrives. A gentle, soulful song does not suit the stoner-metal that SON OF BOAR are known for. The pacing of the song is all over the place, and therefore messes the pacing of the album up. It’s a shame because the album got off to a good start, but it seems a case of wrong band for the wrong song here.
Thankfully, TONY REED picks things up with his delightful cover of Moonage Daydream. His rockier cover respects the original whilst also putting his own spin on it. Thankfully, his spin feels authentic, and furthermore it takes the pacing of the album back to the original feel laid out by the opener. Next up is Starman – one of the most beloved Bowie songs, and one of his most well-known. Whoever got this one had some very big shoes to fill, and thankfully, MOTHER VULTURE do it justice. Is it a little more rockier than the original? Yes. However, this is not a bad thing because it is a cover, not an exact remake, and ultimately it is the highlight of the album.
DELTANAUTS‘ cover of It Ain’t Easy is a peculiar one, due to the almost electronic production on it. Thankfully, it just about reins it in without it getting too noticeable. Lady Stardust is covered by psychedelic rockers THE LUNAR EFFECT, who get the sound of the song just right. It is interesting to note that the more mellow rock artists get the songs right. This could be because they are close enough to the original sound.
Both SONS OF THUNDER‘s cover of Star and POSSESSOR‘s cover Hang On To Yourself respectively show that sticking to their own genre does breathe new life into the songs. REDSHIFT‘s take on Ziggy Stardust is also a triumph, and it perfectly captures the venom of the song as Ziggy‘s band reminisce on being left out as they are left in the dust.
Rock n’ Roll Suicide is perhaps one of Bowie‘s least known songs. It is the quiet closing song of the album that is often left forgotten by the other much more successful songs on the record. Thankfully, KONG SOCIAL do the song justice. They do not stray far from the path of the original. The only thing they change is the addition of more instruments. However, they do not try to change the song into anything it is not.
Making a DAVID BOWIE cover album was always going to be hard, but for the most part Ziggy Stardust: 50 Years Later does a great job. Pale Wizard Records said that they hand-picked the bands themselves, and mostly this works out perfectly. The songs are given a fresh makeover, whilst also not taking away what made them so beloved in the first place.
Rating: 7/10
Ziggy Stardust: 50 Years Later is out now via Pale Wizard Records.
Like Pale Wizard Records on Facebook.