Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs

Under the Covers: Volume 2 (Shout! Factory)

By Noreen Sobczyk
Published: July 25th, 2009 | 7:00am

Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs (a.k.a. Sid 'n' Susie) return with another collection of cover songs. The album features guest appearances by Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac), Steve Howe (Yes), and Dhani Harrison (son of George Harrison). Whereas the album's predecessor, Under the Covers: Volume 1, came across as a breezy tribute and labor of love to the '60s, Volume 2 sometimes comes across like an attempt to cash in on the fans of some top-selling artists. Some of these bands take balls of steel to cover, but Hoffs and Sweet both possess the chops and the credibility to pull them off — mostly. The voices of the two blend in a wonderful way, and each are so adept with harmonies that it's hard to fault them anything, but luring listeners unsuspectingly into prog rock ("I've Seen All Good People: Your Move/All Good People", by Yes), is a dirty trick. And "Sugar Magnolia?" Really? The only Grateful Dead song this reviewer deems acceptable is Jane's Addiction's cover of "Ripple." And the arena-rock, AM radio staple "Bell Bottom Blues" (Derek & the Dominos) is more of a bell-bottom snooze.

However, "Back Of a Car" is a gem of a tribute to the flawless original by Big Star. "Go All the Way," by the Raspberries, has always been a bit of cheese — but absolutely, undeniably lovable; and remains so, especially with the vocals of Hoffs and Sweet dueling and dancing together. The pair is clearly having fun on "Second Hand News" (Fleetwood Mac), and "Couldn't I Just Tell You" (Todd Rundgren), but why they chose two Rundgren songs (also interpreting one of the world's most perfect songs, "Hello It's Me"), is a mystery. Both work, as does John Lennon's politically themed "Gimme Some Truth." Let's hope these two collaborate again on originals, and not leave the world with only the taste they created as Ming Tea, (for the Austin Powers films), as their legacy.

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