These are covers? (The Black And Red Notebook - David Kitt)

Member Name: SaveMeTheMoney

Product:	The Black And Red Notebook - David Kitt
Date:	19/03/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: A fantastic new interpretation of some classics

Disadvantages: None

David Kitt released the Black and Red Notebook in October 2005 (really doesn't seem like that long ago!). It is a compilation of covers of some of his favourite music. He does a good job too, of not just regurgitating the songs over again, but rather reinventing them and giving them the David Kitt experience. The Black And Red Notebook has a charm that raises it above most examples of the form. David Kitt has developed a form of cyclical, hypnotic guitar music, like a cross between Low and Steve Reich, and his choices here have been largely determined according to how well they adapt to that style.

Some of those featured on the album are Money Mark, Toots and the Maytals, REM and Sonic Youth. Not all mega famous bands in their own right, but some memorable tunes. In fact Rockville by REM is not even close to being their best song, but Kitt does give it something of an edge, makes it bigger and better than Stipe was ever able to do. The key track is JJ Cale's Magnolia -- suddenly, you realise exactly where Kitt's lazy, circling grooves come from. He is JJ Cale with a beatbox. The real triumph, though, is a Krautrock version of And Your Bird Can Sing -- simply one of the best Beatles covers you'll ever hear. In my opinion it is a better version than the original!

David Kitt claims that he wanted to "get under the surface of other people's songs and to live and breathe them as if I'd written them myself," and there is no doubt after listening to the album that he has definitely pulled it off.

Summary: Give this a listen, you will not be sorry