Hmmm, this is a difficult one. With the source material being so peerless, it would always be a struggle for the guest artists, but some faired better than others. Let's start with the good.
Paramore's version of 'Burning Down The House' stands out, but that has more to do with singer Hayley Williams trying to out David Byrne David Byrne on the vocal.
DJ Tunez has turned the frantic 'Life During Wartime' into a blissed, chilled Ibiza sunrise track. I love the original, but I must admit that I added this version to my summer sun playlist on Spotify as it is so good.
Girl In Red's interpretation of 'Girlfriend Is Better' sounds really good…just don't compare it to the original. It sounds slick, modern and sexy…but with Byrne behind the microphone, it sounds much more visceral.
It is a similar story with Lorde's version of 'Take Me To The River'. There is nothing wrong with her sultry, sexy version of the song, but the Talking Heads version is much better.
I have no idea who Chicano Batman and Money Mark are, but I salute them! Their cover of 'Crosseyed And Painless' is right up my street - all spiky indie and energy.
On to the bad. There are a couple of stinkers on the record, the main culprit being Kevin Abstract's version of 'Once In A Lifetime' - one of the best pop songs of all time reproduced by someone who has seemingly just discovered Garage Band.
By far and away, the most prominent section for me is the 'meh' songs. They're not necessarily bad, but they're not great either, which is a travesty given the source material. Let's start with The National, who have dialled in a lukewarm version of 'Heaven'.
I thought that BADBADNOTGOOD featuring Norah Jones would result in some funky jazz fusion greatness. Unfortunately, their version of 'This Must Be The Place' is filled under safe. See also Toro y Moi feat. Brijean's cover of the Tom Tom Club's 'Genius of Love'. A mild makeover at best.
Miley Cyrus' version of 'Psycho Killer' sounds like a Bad Romance era Lady GaGa track. It's not necessarily a bad song, just not Cyrus or Talking Heads enough. Jean Dawson gives 'Swamp' the treatment and delivers a lo-fi country version of one of the funkiest songs on the original album. Props to Dawson for not going down the karaoke route, though.
'What A Day That Was' is a song full of angular energy that has had the life sucked out of it by The Cavemen. It sounds like it is being covered by the band at the prom in American Pie.
Argentinian band El Mato, a un Policia Motorizado's Spanish-language take on 'Slippery People', is frustrating. They have done something different, but it is so different that it is unrecognisable to me. It is a waste of one of my favourite songs.
I could go on, but you get the general idea. If you have not heard Stop Making Sense, it is an excellent record with fantastic tracks and performances. Unfortunately, I have listened to the original and can't help but compare it, which is my main problem.
Edit:
I wrote the above a few days ago. Since then, I've revisited the record, and I will say that the more I've listened to it, the more I've enjoyed it. I'll admit that most of the songs have grown on me, and I feel I may have been a little harsh with my initial assessment - except for Kevin Abstract, who should apologise to Talking Heads for his version of 'Once In A Lifetime'.
This is the 'Big Silver Suit' version of the album, available for about £38 at all good stockists. It is probably more for the completists or occasional listeners than the purists.
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