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Apr 22, 2010 Web Exclusive By Nate Daly

This is not a Liars album. This is a sloppy gangbang of artists re-doing songs from Liars’ stellar new album, Sisterworld. There are a couple of bright spots, but the collection just doesn’t jive. I certainly adore most of the artists on the roster here and I doubt this is an attempt on Liars’ part to make a buck; it just feels unnecessary.

Liars have triumphed at producing amazingly deep and intelligent music over the past decade. They’ve done it on their own terms and continue to change and impress fans and critics alike. Few bands are able to reinvent themselves with as much success or frequency. Given free reign over their latest batch of songs, this set of re-dos fails to reach into the same deep pockets that the Liars love to dig through.

While most meander and sound flat, two songs stand out among this pack: Pink Dollaz, Lance Whitaker, and Transformation Surprise’s take on “Scissor” and Bradford Cox’s shimmering “Here Comes All the People.” The former rearranges the impending doom of the opening track into a booming hip-hop jam. While it doesn’t have the slow buildup of the original, the remix does make great use of Angus Andrew’s atmospheric singing/moaning as a background. “Here Comes All of the People” is instantly recognizable as the work of the Deerhunter frontman/Atlas Sound chemist. Wrapping the opening guitar line into a delay loop provides the new version with connection to the original while also creating something entirely new. Cox’s mumbled, half-spoke lyrics ape Liars’ delivery and the track achieves one of those essential Liars elements by getting lost in itself.

Sadly, the two most provoking tracks on paper fail to go anywhere in the ears. The Melvins should have picked up their instruments and covered “Goodnight Everything.” Instead, we get a scrambled, incoherent remix with some overdubs. I would have loved to hear Buzzo’s howl replacing the original vocals. Likewise on Alan Vega’s rework of “No Barrier Fun,” which features cornball asides interjected by Vega responding to Andrew’s lyrics. Pretty weak. (www.liarsliarsliars.com)

Author rating: 3/10