Search - Lana Lane :: Covers Collection

Lana's best (unfortunately... read below)

skyfoxx | Boston, MA USA | 01/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is without shadow of a doubt (at least in my mind) Lana's best work - why? simply 'cause for all Lana's wonderful vocal skills coming up with 10-12 attention-grabbing songs for an album was never something she and Erik could really do. Most I can count as good ones was 3-4 per album - "Love Is An Illusion" comes to mind here as an example of an album where most of the hits are her own not covers as on some of the other records. Anyways...hmm..what was I talking about? Oh yeah! back to this record - here she doesn't have to worry about writing ten good songs since other guys have taken care of that. Her versions of Stargazer, Kashmir, Still Loving You, Weep In Silence are great showcases for her stunning voice; almost all the songs here are highly listenable and enjoyable. Cannot give it a five since it's a covers compilation... also couple of numbers are close to mediocre but that's just my own picky self always trying to find some imperfection."

Probably the best Lana Lane collection

Justin Gaines | Northern Virginia | 11/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lana Lane and her husband/songwriting partner Erik Norlander have made a name for themselves in the symphonic/melodic rock arena based on Lane's impressive voice (a dead ringer for Heart's Ann Wilson) and Norlander's instrumental prowess. Unfortunately they're not the best songwriting team around. The average Lana Lane album has a couple of standout tracks, but there is a great deal of repetition and very little originality to be found. That's why this Covers Collection is so interesting. It lets you hear Lane and Norlander turn their talents towards some already well-written songs. Here's what they covered:



1. The Wall (Kansas) - I'd have preferred The Pinnacle, but The Wall is a great choice for Lane's style, and she executed it quite well.

2. Kashmir (Led Zeppelin) - An ambitious take on perhaps the most ambitious Led Zeppelin classic. Again, this was a great choice for Lane's voice.

3. Soaring (Aviary) - I confess to having never heard the original version. This actually sounds a lot like a better Lane/Norlander composition.

4. Hold Your Head Up (Argent) - This song, which I've heard covered by bands as varying as Uriah Heep and Mother Love Bone, just seems ill-suited to Lane's musical style. Smphonic style and dramatic vocals just don't work on a glam rocker like this.

5. Innocence (Enuff Znuff) - The fact that Lane elected to cover this underrated band is enough for me. That she does the song justice is icing on the cake.

6. I'll See You in My Dreams (Giant) - Here's another song I never thought to hear covered. It's an amazing power ballad, and though I much prefer the original, Lane's version is pretty solid.

7. Don't Try So Hard (Queen) - You can't go wrong with a Queen cover, and this is something of a "deep cut"

8. Northern Lights (TNT) - Wow, kudos to Lane and company for paying tribute to TNT, and they do it with style.

9. Still Loving You (Scorpions) - This is one of my favorite Scorpions songs, and is another good choice for Lane. It's interesting to hear the song sung without the heavy German accent.

10. Weep In Silence (Uriah Heep) - I'm always up for a Uriah Heep cover, especially if it's not the overdone "Easy Livin'". Good call by Lane and company.

11. Stargazer (Rainbow) - No melodic rock covers collection would be complete without a Rainbow cover, and this epic song is ideally suited to the Lane/Norlander sound.



Overall, Covers Collection is a first rate effort, and one of the best Lana Lane releases available. I'm more than a little surprised that there wasn't a Heart cover on the album, but perhaps that would have been a bit too obvious. This also would have benefited from a second disc collecting some of the cover songs Lane has previously released (Elton John, Steely Dan, the Beatles, etc).



If you're already a Lana Lane fan, you'll definitely want to pick this up. It's also a great collection for those of us who enjoy Lane's sound but find her regular albums a bit too repetitive.

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