Search - Various Artists :: Score! 20 Years of Merge Records

Best Compilation Record Released This Year

Leif Sheppard | United States | 06/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dark Was the Night was a fun idea, and it was certainly a star studded effort, but the end result was ultimately rather hollow. I don't feel the artists contributed their best efforts, and as a whole the compilation is pleasantly listenable at best and solidly mediocre at worst.



This record, "Score!", began as an equally fun idea. Twenty different artists from a myriad of different labels were conscripted to record cover songs from the Merge catalog. The result is a wonderful compilation of tunes that pay respectful tribute to the originals while still adding further interest to some songs that are awfully familiar.



I imagine nearly any indie fan can get excited about The Apples in Stereo covering Neutral Milk Hotel, Times New Viking covering Arcade Fire, or Lavender Diamond covering Destroyer. Personally I'm not even a fan of Ryan Adams or Bright Eyes, but I must say even they turn in interesting performances. Then you have The Shins covering Tenement Hall's "Plenty Is Never Enough", which is unquestionably superior to the original!



The most celebrated offering here is the pairing of the lovely St. Vincent and superband The National, who tackle "Sleep All Summer" (originally by Crooked Fingers). It's a beautiful cover that features that trademark National horn section to great aplomb - and who would've guessed that Matt Berninger's gravely vocals would combine so sweetly with such a delicate voice like Annie Clark's?



My personal favorite, however, is "Yeah Oh Yeah" by Tracey Thorn and Jens Lekman. Thorn's soulful vocals and Lekman's deadpan delivery add volumes to the track, a Magnetic Fields favorite from their triple disc "69 Love Songs". Alternating between haunting and hilarious, this track will surely feature among my top ten songs of the year. Forget the Alison Krauss and Robert Plant album, I fervently want to see a full-length record from Thorn and Lekman!



"Score!" is an outstanding compilation and one of the most exciting and unique releases of 2009. Aside from all I've mentioned, you also receive twelve other tracks ranging from the noisy but melodic "Beautiful Things" by Quasi to the sixties pop of The New Pornographers doing "Don't Destroy This Night". I give this record the highest recommendation!"