Who started all this covers albums malarkey?  

What used to be a nice 'B' side bonus or maybe an odd track on an album has become a seemingly must do adventure.  I'm not massively against the idea of it as a listener - often you discover a new band that you perhaps weren't aware of or maybe realise that the average singer you usually slate can actually sing. However virtually all the cover albums released by the likes of Vains Of Jenna, LA Guns, Stryper and Vince Neil could have been halved for a nice bonus disc rather than the full on album release.

So, we come to Puddle Of Mudd's attempt at it - 'Re(Disc)overed'. "11 tracks of their favourite rock songs of all time"

I'd like to point out at that POM have 7 million plus album sales, they have massive singles sales, have sold-out shows worldwide and have carved themselves a decent career despite all the fake pop Nirvana comparisons they have had thrown at them. Does this mean that maybe, just maybe that they are actually a lot better than people give them credit for??

Well.....Not really.

Opening track 'Gimme Shelter' just makes you realise that Jagger is a genius and the likes of The Hellacopters and Thunder did it much better, but still didn't come close. If it weren't for the choral backing singers, Vocalist Wesley Scatlin would genuinely struggle here. So not exactly a great start but if you're going to choose one of the most famous songs by one of the most famous bands in the world, then what do you expect? Neil Young's 'Old Man' follows and all the sensitivity of that great record is stripped away and brings to the fore those Cobain comparisons I mentioned earlier. AC/DC's 'TNT' is next and you realise that instead of singing in his natural voice, Scatlin tries to impersonate the late/great Bon Scott and just ends up worse for it. I did find myself singing along but I'm not quite sure if it's because it's a great song being played at top volume or if he's actually managing to pull it off? Stevie Nicks and Tom Petty's 'Stop Draggin' My Heart Around' is passable, mainly due to BC Jeans vocal part, and if Elton John ever hears the version of 'Rocket Man' on 'Re(Disc)overed' he'll throw his flowers away in disgust and show Scatlin exactly how to reach those notes properly! The version of Led Zeppelin's 'D'yer Mak'er' is equally embarrassing.

Ok, it's not totally awful (it is bloody close though) James Gang track 'Funk#49 is a decent stab that should turn a few of their fans on. JJ Cale/Clapton's 'Cocaine' is also not too bad, mainly because it's a slow almost speaking style that Scatlin can pull off easily. The irony of the last track, 'With A Little Help From My Friends' is that without those friends singing backing vocals, he would be stranded and you'd notice even more what a poor bordering on average singer he is.

I've nothing against Puddle Of Mudd, I'm almost certain that they will be worth watching on their upcoming UK tour with Soil but this as a album release is not going to refill their wallets and I'd be amazed if this isn't roundly slated by the more mainstream press.

'Re(Disc)overed' was apparently was done for fun. They've obviously not listened to it themselves.

http://www.puddleofmudd.com/