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Various Artists
SUBSTITUTION MASS CONFUSION: A TRIBUTE TO THE CARS
(Not Lame)
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It’s almost shameful that only two Boston acts (and one former Boston act) are represented on this 21-track tribute to one of the more influential bands in local history. But at least one of those Boston bands — Damone — get to cover the Cars’ best-known song ("Just What I Needed") and have the most fun with it. They rev it up faster than the original, adding a come-hither vocal from frontwoman Noelle LeBlanc and playing the trademark keyboard lick on harmony guitars. Fellow Bostonian Bleu puts a garagy-spin on "You Might Think," and the Boston-turned-LA band Gigolo Aunts make "I’m Not the One" sound even moodier than the original. Most of this set, however, proves that Cars songs are a lot trickier to cover than they might seem. That’s because Cars main man Ric Ocasek wrote so many of his band’s idiosyncrasies into the material, designing the songs as vehicles for their shiny instrumental sound and for his and Ben Orr’s super-cool vocal deliveries. So most of the bands on this tribute, including indie-poppers Jason Falkner, Owsley, and sparkle*jets UK, just wind up playing slightly faster and rougher versions of the original arrangements. A handful of artists bring off moodier takes — Posies member Jon Auer’s acoustic version of "Misfit Kid" puts more depth into one of the Cars’ less memorable numbers. And the Kansas City band the Daybirds work "Good Times Roll" into 3/4 time, making you wonder why the Cars never got around to recording any waltzes.
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