CD Review: Reel Big Fish & Zolof the Rock N' Roll Destroyer - Duet All Night Long (2007)

Track listing:
1."Ask" (originally by The Smiths) - Reel Big Fish (03:20)

2."Dress You Up" (originally by Madonna) - Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer (03:24)

3."Lyin' Ass Bitch" (originally by Fishbone) - Reel Big Fish (04:17)

4."Don't You Want Me" (originally by The Human League) - Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer (03:08)

5."It's Not Easy" (originally from the Walt Disney animated film Pete's Dragon) - Reel Big Fish (02:46)

6."Say Say Say" (originally by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney) - Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer (03:23)

It is a risky decision when a band plans to record a cover album, but couple that with making the album a collaborative split and they are asking for trouble. To cover songs as they are originally played is hackish at best and pathetic at worst, which means the only way to successfully pull off a cover album is to infuse a band's own special qualities while showing respect to the original piece. A few cover albums that come to mind that utilize the covering artist's unique sound to do justice to the covered tracks are: Eric Clapton - Me and Mr. Johnson (covers of Robert Johnson songs), Evergreen Terrace - Writer's Block (compilation) and Between the Buried and Me - The Anatomy Of (compilation). All 3 of the listed albums manage to give new life to songs that are undoubtedly important to the artist/band covering them.

In 2007 add another album to the list as Duet All Night Long, a collaborative split by Reel Big Fish & Zolof the Rock n' Roll Destroyer, heedfully follows the guidelines to making a successful cover CD. With Rachel Minton of Zolof the Rock n' Roll Destroyer and Reel Big Fish singer, Aaron Barrett, singing on every track the E.P. lives up to its name. Not only does the album have an apt title but both bands never waver from their own unique styles. For someone unfamiliar with any of the covered tracks it would be easy to mistake the CD for a simple split between the two bands. Anyone who has heard the songs will agree that they are reborn through the blaring horns of Reel Big Fish and the distortedly crisp guitars of Zolof the Rock n' Roll Destroyer. With covers ranging from The Smiths to Michael Jackson with a Disney song thrown in for the hell of it, Duet All Night Long is something a true music fan can enjoy...all night long.