Innocently flipping through a list of upcoming album releases, we found a new trend in the industry that left us trembling in fear for the future of recorded music: Over the last couple months, a gigantic influx of tribute albums to artists that have less than five years of industry experience have littered the scene. Although we firmly do not believe in the notion of the tribute album to begin with, we are willing to accept the fact that aspiring musicians occasionally like to pay homage to their greatest musical influences. But this only works for a few musicians: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, REO Speedwagon. In what has since become known simply as "Hack Tuesday" -- Jan. 14, 2003 - tribute albums for the Goo Goo Dolls, Nelly, P. Diddy and Usher were all released to our collective chagrin. Needing to record this historic day, we sent four new writers, all pure of any critical pretense, to review these new albums. What they have unearthed may- but probably will not - shock you:
Various Artists, Tribute to Nelly
In this, if nothing else, ambitious effort, Nelly's infectious rhythms remain intact throughout. In fact, the borrowed melodies are probably the highlights of the album, which otherwise features sub-par vocals from various Indie rappers that either try too hard to reproduce Nelly's own distinctive voice or end up sounding like an irritating, cacophonous garble of noise. A prime example of the latter occurs in Miss Triss' interpretation of the hit single, "Dilemma," where the syrupy sweet lyrics are overshadowed by what sounds like a sheep being tortured to death in the background. The featured vocalists seem unable to make the jump from relying too heavily on the original pieces to forging their own unique rendition of each song, making this nothing more than a weak karaoke version of Nellyville and Country Grammar.
- Robert Winterode
Various Artists, Tribute to the Goo Goo Dolls
Only one word entered my thoughts after listening to this album... why? What have the Goo Goo Dolls done that is worthy of mention, least of all a tribute album? Anyone who lays down money for this ridiculous circular piece of plastic should have his ears ripped off and be thrown in jail for propagating noise pollution. The CD sounds as if someone hired a mediocre Bar Mitzvah band to play a few songs they heard on the radio and 11 other songs that no one except for that one die-hard Goo fan actually knows. I apologize for wasting the 45 seconds it took you to read this review; I am going to go drag some nails across a chalkboard to cover up the ringing in my ears.
- Andy Kay
Various Artists, A Tribute to P. Diddy
When Editor Greg Veis told me that my first Recess assignment was to review A Tribute to P. Diddy, I instantly realized that my budding journalism career was going nowhere. Featuring such "rising stars" as Playa H8 and Bling Blingin', the album manages to take songs ranging from the "puffy" era to the "diddy" age and make them even worse than the originals, especially the ill-conceived tribute to "I'll Be Missing You." The production of the album was about as logical as making Jeremy Morgan head line monitor. Although for a price of around seven bucks, true bad boy fans may find the extra Combs worth the buy, nawhaimean?
-Chris Cox
Various Artists, A Tribute to Usher
This is the album middle school kids will dread. Like coming to lunch with Sam's Choice cola, Big Eye label brings you not Usher, but A Tribute to Usher, by Everlast, Evander and the 7th Street Choir. And no, it's not the Everlast you're thinking of. Usually a tribute album brings a new look to songs, tries to change things around, pays homage to the artist. In this case, nope, nope and hell nope. The opening to "Nice and Slow" says all: There's some guy seemingly singing off a note card telling me what to wear. I know he doesn't have Usher's abs and obsessive U'ness, and I doubt he can do that cool dance thing with his feet. It just doesn't work. Get this album if you're not willing to pay 15 bucks for the real deal, otherwise its just like Malk, with more vitamin R.
- Charles Lin
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