Rave On Buddy Holly
Various Artists

Buddy Holly's impact on popular music is undeniable, as evidenced by some of the names taking part in this retrospective of his career. What's remarkable, and an oft-forgotten fact, is that Holly achieved all of his success in only three years before a plane crash claimed his life, as well as the lives of The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.

Rave On Buddy Holly, a tribute album assembled by famed producer Randall Poster, isn't like most other albums of its sort. There is no attempt by the 19 different bands on the collection to rehash Holly's tunes but are given license to reinvestigate the originals. This, however, is something of a mixed blessing and works in the case of The Black Keys' version of Dearest, but Paul McCartney's It's So Easy is overcooked.

Fiona Apple & Jon Brion's take on Everyday is among the best covers on the album, preserving the sensibilities of the original Holly track while injecting just enough of their own DNA into it. (You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care also proves that Cee Lo Green is sounding more and more like Tracy Chapman as time goes on.

Elsewhere Julian Casablancas' Rave On and She & Him's Oh Boy are also noteworthy and Modest Mouse were the band trusted with That'll Be The Day, but it's unfortunately one of the lowpoints of the album. Other names which make an impact are Florence and The Machine, Lou Reed and Patti Smith.

Rave On Buddy Holly feels like more than just your standard paint-by-numbers tribute album. It has attracted some top names to unite with an outstanding producer to rework material of great quality. Music of this nature is never going to eclipse the original work, nor should it attempt to, but nonetheless it is a worthy companion to Buddy Holly's originals and will sit comfortably in the 'H' section of your record collection.

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