It would be easy to be critical of David Kitt releasing a covers album so early in a short career and yet it might be worth remembering that since he released The Big Romance at the same time that Damien Rice gave us the world phenomenon O his fellow Dubliner has only managed a hotch potch set of b-sides. This is Kitt's third album and he tells us that it was an exercise in getting under the skin of other people's songs to help his own creative process. Without doubt he achieves one of his aims; to make these songs his own. Where he is most successful is in the better known songs. He gives that lush Kittser early morning groove to The Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing," REM's "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville," and the original Dublin rock icons Thin Lizzy's "Dancing In The Moonlight." JJ Cale's "Magnolia" is even more delicious than ever. Another Irish song Jape's "Haunt Me" is not so magical and the only original Kitt's "All Night Long" about Ireland's smoking ban is a throwaway that might have been better with Rice's b-sides.
So all credit for Kitt making a covers album that recreates, reinvents and redefines. Let us hope it is not a sign of a lack of his own ideas. This could be seen as a wee gift for those fans that have heard him include unique covers in his packed Irish shows for years and it might be a nice wee stop gap earner that his mate Rice has had no need of but as a strategic move in reaching Rice's success, it might not be so clever.
Similar sounding releases
2005John VanderslicePixel Revolt
2001SparklehorseIt's a Wonderful Life
2003Robert DeebleThirteen Stories
2005LornaStatic Patterns and Souvenirs
2000ThouPut Us in Tune
2005Laura VeirsYear of Meteors
