 Cowboy Junkies A Cowboy Junkies record always has the benefit of being good, but also the unfortunate weakness of being exactly what you'd expect. This covers EP, given away as a bonus with purchase of whatever their new album is, is no exception. Languid, soft, narcotic country-rock versions of songs you have probably heard. Look at the tracklist, imagine how it sounds, and you have it right without even hearing a note. Bruce Springsteen's "Thunder Road" is a bold choice for Junkie-zation, and while I love it (being a pairing of one of my favorite songs with a band I always enjoy), it does end up approximately as comedic as Bruce's version … replacing the gigantic production with organic balladry reveals that it's not The Boss's sound that is bombastic, it is his songwriting. "Seventeen Seconds" (by The Cure) is a completely intriguing selection, as it's one of that band's more formless and atmospheric songs, and the Junkies' version doesn't change that. This one is probably cooler in that it exists at all, than in the performance. Songs by Townes Van Zandt and Jesse Colin Young are more obvious, and therefore more boring. Do they not already cover both of those guys on every record to begin with? Neil Young's "Helpless" fares the best, as it's always better to have a good woman singing Neil Young's songs than to be subjected to Young's strainy squeal. More and more, I'm coming to agree with the masses about the Cowboy Junkies being a one-hit-wonder (if "Sweet Jane" can be called a hit). I love 'em to death, but they are undeniably like an older sister who was totally cool during her punk-rock college days, but who now spends her days changing diapers and watching "Judging Amy." Hm, I think I just wrote an FBI profile on the target Cowboy Junkies fan, come to think of it.
Review by Claude Fingers |