The very first tribute album I bought was Apocalyptica plays Metallica. A four-piece cello group that recreated Metallica's music (specifically the Black era and earlier) and made it sound new and fresh. Whilst Apocalytpica would create new music in later albums, they would expand their covers and renditions with their own sound and style. While I have fond memories of the first album music, I havent listened to it for years. It was a novelty which sadly wore off quickly.
Oddly it was by accident that I bought my next tribute album, Metallica Blackest Industrial Tribute to..., and my third was Abba Metal, a Metal Tribute to Abba.
I noticed a growing trend of tribute albums, and then later covers albums (Garage Days Revisited/Garage Inc started the revival) and really saw them as cheap cash ins. Essentially a tribute album is done one of two ways. Either a perfect rendition (pointless when you can listen to the original) or a (for example) a Jazz swing version of Enter Sandman. I started seeing these tribute albums as a good purchase, who doesnt want to hear new versions of the same songs, but then the bubble burst. It seemed every band was producing a covers album (Id say its hazy ground on par with a compilation album) or allowing tribute albums of its material to be covered.
Ive stopped buying Tribute albums because they no longer have anything useful to say musically, and cover albums no longer satisfy me when Id rather the band be creating new music. Sure, bands can play cover songs at live concerts etc...but dont sell me an album full of covers. Please.
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