Simple Minds
Neon Lights
Eagle Records

Simple Minds was one of the last bands that I would have expected a covers record from. Don’t ask me why, but I just didn’t peg them as the type. Needless to say, I was fascinated by Neon Lights when it arrived. I pondered it for days before I even put it on. I just don’t think I knew what to expect. Jim Kerr is a brilliant vocalist with a ton of integrity built in. I expected the songs to be portrayed with his own special touch…the "Simple Minds way" of doing them. The list of artists covered is also expansive, spanning contemporaries of the band during the Eighties, to Sixties classics to Krautrock. Well known songs, to obscure diamonds in the rough. Are these tunes straight-up covers or "interpretations" based on the originals? And what was the success rate of the project? Let’s take a listen and see for ourselves.

Right out of the box, Kerr and Company bust through an updated version of the Van Morrison/Them classic "Gloria". You wouldn’t really recognize it though as the band spices it up with techno beats and a bouncier groove derived from the original. Kerr’s vocals are hidden in the mix; yet they are as full and smooth as ever. It definitely has a sound and feel all of it’s own. The band takes a step back from re-interpretation for David Bowie’s "Man Who Sold The World". Kerr cites Bowie as a large influence in his musical endeavors, and it’s evident in this fairly straightforward rendition. The band keeps the early 70’s space rock feel in place and augments it, adding a bit more "spaciness" to Bowie’s already "Martian" persona. Former Buzzcock Pete Shelley’s lesser-known "Homosapien" gets a hint of an update with flashes of techno programming, and more of that dance groove that appeared on "Gloria". You can hear some of the classic Simple Minds sounds filter in and out of the grooves…but where this tune ultimately falls short is in the drum department. A live drummer would have added much more force and vigor compared to the programmed beats. The first single from the collection is a rejuvenated take on Patti Smith’s "Dancing Barefoot." The trend of club influenced beats and grooves continues, yet the band keeps the arrangement sparse, allowing the vocal come forward and captivate your attention. This is where this song excels…Kerr’s smooth voice. It’s rich body and comforting aroma puts most of what Juan Valdez brings back from the coffee fields in the dustbin. We even get a taste of the soul influenced backing vocals found in early Simple Minds work. The band nicks the title track, "Neon Lights", from Krautrock legends Kraftwerk. A hearty piano takes some of the lead bits from the original, but the band remembers to retain the airy and ethereal elements from Kraftwerk’s box of tricks. Even Kerr gets into the act with an easy and poignant reading of the lyrics. The "computer filter" in the last verse is a kitchy, yet relevant embellishment. This understated update is splendidly done. Another one of Kerr’s idols gets put through the wringer as they take on the mighty Doors classic "Hello I Love You." A sinister, yet not quite industrial bank of sounds is employed emphasizing the gritty street element of Jim Morrison’s tale. Again, strength comes from Kerr’s vocals. I’d give this re-working an A for its use of claustrophobic sounds and moods.

Kerr and the band wanted to pay homage to their contemporaries from the Eighties scene, and picked a slightly unlikely candidate—Echo And The Bunnymen. "Bring On The Dancing Horses" is completely stripped down on the musical level and turned inside out. A dub-influenced groove is laid out over another understated dance groove. Like "Gloria", you have no idea what the tune is until Kerr comes in with a faithful reading of the lyrics. When the guitars come in for the choruses, the whole package comes together. Again…where’s the real drums? I bet this re-working would kick live. Switching gears back to the past, how ‘bout some Neil Young? The band places an appropriately dark and claustrophobic twist on "The Needle And The Damage Done." A big beat drum loop gets us going, leading into some heavy guitar. Before you know it, the walls come in on you slowly as the sound is compressed and turned even more lo-fi. Fascinating. Another influence on the Simple Minds is accented with their cover of Roxy Music’s "For Your Pleasure." Like the Bowie tune, they give this one a fairly straightforward reading, adding just a few of their now familiar sweeping embellishments and mood altering tactics. In a similar vein of influence, the Velvet Underground staple "All Tomorrow’s Parties" is tackled with vivacity. A full spectrum of noisy additions and a fat bass steal your attention, accenting the tension that Kerr brings to the vocals. The obscurity mine is dipped into again for "Being Boiled" a very early Human League tune (and one I’m not familiar with). As one would expect, it’s full of those thick sounds that characterized the time period. I really dig the vocals and the sounds used, but it seems like they’re trying too hard to make it to the dancefloor. The routine dance-beat is tired and played out, as are some of the cliched "dance sounds" we have been hearing for years. Not the best one on the record. The record is closed out with Joy Division’s "Love Will Tear Us Apart." I’ll tell you one thing; Kerr’s got balls. I would never cover this one…it’s a sacred cow to me, and quite frankly, this is terrible. The dance groove employed here is atrocious, routine and outdated. The Giorgio Morodor hip-hop/disco sounds just don’t fit…and the whole soul of this song has been stripped away from it. Again, this approves it should be left alone.

While not everything works as well as it could, the good and the inventive certainly outnumbers the weak and the half-baked. The side-steps, for the most part (exception being "Love Will…"), are forgivable and easily glossed over. I applaud their updates as having been given a lot of thought, not just slammed together for some sort of "novelty experiment." The emphasis on electronic, programmed drums can become a bit tedious at times, but my guess is that some of this record is headed to a dance club near you where it should prosper. The strengths that this band built a career on are still there, from interestingly thoughtful arrangements to Kerr’s unending voice. They are in the studio working on material for a new album; I wonder how much of this sound will show up there? It should be interesting. Yes, my friends, they have emerged with their integrity still intact.

— tom topkoff

Track Listing:

1. Gloria
2. The Man Who Sold The World
3. Homosapien
4. Dancing Barefoot
5. Neon Lights
6. Hello I Love You
7. Bring On The Dancing Horses
8. The Needle And The Damage Done
9. For Your Pleasure
10. All Tomorrow’s Parties
11. Being Boiled
12. Love Will Tear Us Apart

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