Search - Various Artists :: Don't Blow Your Cover: Tribute to Kmfdm

Get Over It

orangekay | San Francisco, CA United States | 10/19/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Alright, you people don't seem to understand the concept of a tribute album or of cover songs. They're not SUPPOSED to sound exactly like the original. I'm a proud owner of the entire KMFDM back catalogue and I really don't expect anyone other than KMFDM to ever put out anything exactly like KMFDM anytime in the near future. These bands are just taking the original source material and trying to do something different with it. No, I don't love every track on here, but it is interesting and aside from the atrocious spelling mistakes and compositionally weak artwork on the cover, it makes for good listening. Did the KMFDM cover of Madonna's Material Girl sound like the original? No. Why? They're not Madonna (and I suspect that they have no desire to be). Same thing applies here. If you want to hear the original material, then buy that instead."

Excellent Cover Album

Jay Milroy | Canada | 03/12/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you bought this album to listen to some songs done by bands similar to KMFDM and a KMFDM sound, I think you bought the wrong album. This is just a collection of tracks that are really diverse, but all of KMFDM roots. You should notice though, many of the bands on here do not share the same characteristics as KMFDM. Razed In Black is much more of a goth band. While Rosetta Stone is in another category altogether. I'm a big KMFDM fan, and I really like the original tracks, but as the other reviewer pointed out, cover songs aren't intended to sound exactly like the original. Now, I think I'll review each track individually, because each track was done by a different band.



1. Disobedience - Pig : Definately a good opener. Through the years KMFDM and Pig have had alot of relations. Raymond Watts was actually one of the early members of KMFDM, I find it fitting that he is awarded the opening track. Disobedience was never a personal favourite of mine, and the original had Raymond in it anyway. I suppose it's just a remake with a few different people behind it. Not the best track here, but definately a good listen.



2. Light - Guenter Shulz : Light is probly one of KMFDM's most popular songs to date. The Light single alone contained 9 remixes. Guenter Shulz is the ex-Guitarist of KMFDM, not really as important as Raymond Watts, so I can see why they put this second. Light is always a good listen, usually the remixes put out are not too bad either, it's good, but nothing special.



3. Power - DKAY.Com/Die Krupps : The original here was the opening track of Xtort. A rather underrated piece by KMFDM back in 1996. Have no idea who this artist is, perhaps I'll look up some of their material. I think they did a great job of covering Power. The original wasn't exactly incredible to start off with. I don't know if I enjoyed it more than KMFDM, but it is a good listen on this album.



4. Virus - Sigue Sigue Sputnik : To be honest, the original Virus never really kept my attention. Naive was probably my least favourite KMFDM album. I have never heard of Sigue Sigue Sputnik, but I listened to this track, and I would definately buy some of their material. The vocals in this track should really catch you, it's definately a highlight of the album. Of all the versions of Virus that I've heard, I'd rank this highest.



5. A Drug Against War - Razed In Black : A great track here. The thing I like about what Razed In Black did, is that they included their own name in the song, which is what KMFDM originally did for themselves. None of the other cover songs here seem to try that. Also, an incredible production. A Drug Against War was one of KMFDM's fastest songs, I've heard other songs by Razed In Black, and this certinaly isn't their fastest, but it has a great feel to it. One of the best listens on the album here.



6. Vogue - Rosetta Stone : I don't know what the other reviewers had in their ears when they listened to this. It's an incredible track. Vogue was an enjoyable song originally, and Rosetta Stone without a doubt has improved upon the original and really made it their own. Rosetta Stone isn't my next favourite band by any means, but I think they definately have some talent. Another one of the greater tracks on the album.



7. Don't Blow Your Top - 16 Volt Vs. Spahn Ranch : It's unfortunate that of all of KMFDM's older material this was the one they chose to cover. I would have been much more impressed with Helmut! Mein Helmut! or perhaps Kickin' Ass / Thumb Thumb.

Despite that, it's an interesting track. There really isn't anything interesting to listen to, but you won't be bored out of your mind either. Never heard of either of those bands, but they did a not too bad job here.



8. Money - Sheep On Drugs : Don't know what the purpose of this track was. At first I didn't enjoy it all. After a few listens it really starts to grow on you though. Never heard of Sheep On Drugs, and have yet to stumble upon their material. The drum beats are interesting, the vocals have an effect that alot of KMFDM's older material had on it, too. Definately a well-done cover. I would be more impressed with a bit more to the track and perhaps a longer duration.



9. Spiritual House - Transmutator : Was this even a popular KMFDM track? I really wonder why they chose this. None to worry, it's not as bad as one would think. It features female vocals, as many KMFDM albums do, so I think they're good in that department. It wasn't a smashing hit then, and it hasn't really changed in this cover song. You might just want to skip over this one, it doesn't really live up to the rest of the album. If you prefer some of KMFDM's slower rhythms in WWIII with female vocals, you might like this too. I won't completely condemn it.



10. Sex On A Flag - Interface Vs. Nick Shifter : First off, the original was Sex On The Flag. Second, why is this track a "vs" track. Oh well, the original was a good track, if you enjoyed the album Money. I did, and I enjoyed this track too. Not reccommended as the best track here by far. But, give it a go. I think they really could have improved this though. No idea who either of those bands are, and I can't be bothered to find out, they aren't necessairily striking in their performance.



11. Juke Joint Jezebel - Inertia : Best track on the album. If you're on of the idiots above who came in looking to critique anyone who dare cover their favourite KMFDM track, maybe you should skip over this. But, if you're interested in trying something new, play it. It has a really interesting start, and the vocals are much better than when KMFDM released this. I really like KMFDM, from 1984's Opium to 2005's Hau Ruck. But, I never liked Juke Joint Jezebel. The screaming female vocals of the chorus really turned me off. Sounded too much like a choir. Bottom line is, If you listen to this track to hear KMFDM, it's not happening. You have to listen to this expecting something new, and that's what you'll get. Also, Inertia's release is on amazon if anyone is interested, it's a 2 disc set.



12. Megalomaniac - Shining : Not the best. Not the worst. I think this track could have been put close to the beginning of the album to give a better flow. Shining, to me, is an unheard of band. Megalomaniac being one of KMFDM's signature tracks, would really take alot to do their song better than them. So, don't expect that. Not my favourite, but it's not totally horrible.



13. Stray Bullet - The Filmstrip : They could have used a better ending to this. Stray Bullet is one of my personal favourites of KMFDM. I don't judge this track to surpass it, but I did enjoy it. The annoying thing about this track is you can't here the vocals till they gradually get loud enough. Everything thing else about this track is enjoyable. I like how they redid some of the wording.



I only rated this with 4 stars because I think too many people will be disappointed. And a few tracks are rather dismal. Nonetheless, this is an incredible deal, In Canada they are selling for $22 + 15% tax + shipping costs! You all here have an incredible deal, 13 tracks for $5 isn't a deal you will see too often, so I'd say anyone who can get this, get it."

Surprisingly good!

who-cares | United Empire of America | 01/07/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I think most KMFDM fans will definitely get a kick out of Don't Blow Your Cover. Mostly it's pretty good, except for Virus and Money. But for a bunch of groups I've never heard before, they actually do a good job. I'm trying to collect every mix of Light, so I had to get this CD. Guenter Schulz's mix of Light is the best since the Aerobic Dub by Excessive Force, which was from the Light single in 1994.Overall it's very much worth it. A few of the songs actually sound better than the originals, like Don't Blow Your Top and Spiritual House-- they are given a cool nineties-sounding overhaul."