Here is a record where premise supersedes product, albeit an excellent product. Fifteen rock stars (includes the likes of U2, Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney) were asked to pick a favorite off their catalogue, asked to nominate an artist whom they’d like to cover said song. Bob Dylan chose Beck to do “Leopard-Skin Pill Box Hat;” Bowie, TV on the Radio to cover “Heroes;” Stevie Wonder, Estelle to for “Superstition;” and Blondie, Franz Ferd for “Call Me.” War Child is stellar if star-power is what you’re looking for. Kind, if kindness is a criterion. But like most pro-bono efforts, its luster fades somewhere in the middle. The covers are good, don’t get us wrong, but there were numbers (like Peaches’ rendition of Iggy Pop’s Search and Destroy” and Hot Chip’s cover of “Transmission”) where originals prove to be hard to beat. But then again, how can you go wrong with something so kind? - Lou Albano
