Traditionally the 'best of the benefits', War Child today put out their fifth album in the name of conflict-affected children worldwide. The charity has a history of involving some of the biggest names around (think Brian Eno, Pavarotti and U2 releasing 'Miss Sarejevo' in 1995), and this time is no different.
For their latest compilation the charity invited fifteen 'legends' to nominate a much younger artist to cover a song of theirs. And the track listing doesn’t disappoint. Esoteric Brooklynites TV on the Radio covering David Bowie's 'Heroes'? Of course! Hot Chip taking on Joy Divison's 'Transmission'? Certainly.
All the tracks are worthwhile, most new acts stamping their own styles and moods on their assigned classics. Who did The Clash pick to make 'Straight to Hell' their own? Lily Allen was the veteran's choice, working the 1982 classic into a charming and typically effusive xylophone number.
While the brooding Heroes cover is the centrepiece of the album, the standout track is electro vixen Peaches' snarling take on Iggy Pop's impetuous anthem, the classic 'Search and Destroy'.
Track listing:
1. Beck - Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat (Bob Dylan)
2. Scissor Sisters - Do the Strand (Roxy Music)
3. Lily Allen feat. Mick Jones - Straight To Hell (The Clash)
4. Duffy - Live and Let Die (Paul McCartney)
5. Elbow - Running To Stand Still (U2)
6. TV on the Radio - Heroes (David Bowie)
7. Hot Chip - Transmission (Joy Division)
8. The Kooks - Victoria (The Kinks)
9. Estelle - Superstition (Stevie Wonder)
10. Rufus Wainwright - Wonderful & Song For Children (Brian Wilson)
11. Peaches - Search and Destroy (Iggy Pop)
12. The Hold Steady - Atlantic City (Bruce Springsteen)
13. The Like - You Belong To Me (Elvis Costello)
14. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sheena Is a Punk Rocker (The Ramones)
15. Franz Ferdinand - Call Me (Blondie)
Worth your hard earned dough? Absolutely. You can pick the album up in stores now. In the meantime it'll be streaming all this week on the War Child Myspace.