I am a total sucker for Doe's voice... the timbre, the phrasing. The "covers" issue is probably valid, but I hear in it a deconstruction... the Sadies play in a kind of anti-matter traditionalism that ultimately is a little diorienting. At least to my ears.

Fucking horrible? You guys suck.

When they play the role of backing band, the Sadies might be the best working today.

That was a beer-induced exaggeration exacted from overblown expectations. The originals were much better than the covers, though. So, Tanner said it much more eloquently than I.

And if you haven't, you really do need to hear that Phosphorescent record.

I heard most of this yesterday on the ride home, and today riding in. It's pretty good, not amazing, but definately not horrible. I need to hear it more, but so far it's really not delete-worthy.


And in the interest of full disclosure, anything with a shit-hot telecaster on it will automatically bypass my filters the first few times through. It's like trying to take a math test with boobies in front of you... I can't focus on anything else for awhile.

I don't like this as much as DJ or GAR but I don't get finding it horrible or even being that bothered by the covers. I know that about 2/3 of the songs are covers but I only found myself thinking about the original version on 2 or 3 songs. And while those songs weren't nearly as good as the originals, they were decent, faithful renditions. Furthermore, I don't think they picked songs that have been over-covered. This is not another case of someone singing a song like Dark End of the Street where not only is it not as good as the original but you can think of dozens of better versions.

I'm a big John Doe fan. Based on a cursory listen, I don't like this as much as his last few albums of original material. Its an enjoyable enough album though in a year in which I've had a hard time finding much new to be excited about.

spot on review, billy g. i can't imagine hating the record, because it's not very offensive. i mean I Still Miss Someone, Help me Make it Through The Night, etc. are songs that have been covered quite a bit and are classics in their own right and its not like they butchered them, they're still decent.

Honestly, it's exactly how I feel about it. I really enjoyed the album, I don't think it's the best fucking thing I've ever heard or anything but I've played it almost as much as the new Hip album at this point.

you are...the hole in my head.

Have you heard the album yet? I think you'd be a fan.