Various Artists: Sweetheart 2014
Details
Genre: Funk, Indie pop, Indie rock, Rock, SoulPros:
Jim James sound superb on Bob Marley's cover; tracks from Vampire Weekend and Sharon Jones serve as delicate appetizersCons:
A few troubled spots bring down the mood and value of the discLover’s compilation acts like a box of chocolates
Lover’s compilation acts like a box of chocolates
Love is in the air. And Sweetheart 2014, a Hear Music compilation rushed to Starbucks counters, showcases rock’s sweethearts putting their own spin to well-worn love classics. It glistens across the wide fabric of genres and styles, but tries to put slowly-paced romantic ballads in the forefront. With the disc bearing appearances from indie acts like Ben Harper, Vampire Weekend, The Head and the Heart and Fiona Apple, there’s a prominent showcase of arty folk tucked inside the mix. But the album isn’t as sleepy or as sterile as it sounds. Vampire Weekend’s Ezra Koenig sings the Andrea Bocelli favorite “Con te partiro” entirely in Italian across a light reggae beat strummed out with light drum programming. Jim James opts for the Bob Marley slow jam, “Turn Your Lights Down Low,” and stays true to the endearing classic. With a musical strut resembling Eric Clapton’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” James does his best to satisfy his My Morning Jacket base while also copying Marley’s Sam Cooke crooning to sheer perfection. Things don’t really fire up until Sharon Jones tackles the Stevie Wonder-Motown gem, “Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours.” With almost a duplicative strategy, the song only sounds different when Jones gives off her ad-lib outbursts and occasional cornbread moans while her brass-sporting Dap Kings sound as if they’ve been slightly muted. Nevertheless, she’s having fun. Can’t say the same for Thao and the Get Down Stay Down on the Funk Brothers-sounding “If You Were Mine,” where the vocal execution sounds utterly tremulous to the ear.
