Search - Jamie Hoover :: Jamie Hoo-Ever

Hoover's Hoo-Ever collects 13 covers, most originally appearing on various tribute albums; several are unique to this album. All are gold. Klaatu's "Silly Boys" is a natural for the self-confessed Klaatu maniac; his reading of the song, essentially Klaatu's "Anus of Uranus" presented backwards, is glorious fun. Hoover reinvents Todd Rundgren's "Izzat Love?" as an ever-so-slowed-down lover's plea, breathing new life into the tune. Bob Lind's "Elusive Butterfly" is a love letter to one of the greatest pop songs ever written; this version originally appeared on the Van DeLecki's Ebum Shoobum Shoobum album. Injecting a healthy dose of Queen's Brian May into Percy Faith's rendition of "Theme from A Summer Place," Hoover ramps up the percussion attack and fuzzes up the guitars, to great success. Now, a new generation can make out on Lover's Lane, saints be praised. The traditional "Barbara Allen" gets a warm, respectful, folkish turn, centered around Hoover's accomplished mandolin playing. On an album chock full of keepers, there are two, absolutely mind-blowing out-of-the-park home runs: the Beatles' "Goodnight" gets the mandolin treatment alongside some of the most gorgeous harmonies this side of sleepy time. And Hoover's version of Bobby Fuller's "It's Love, Come What May" is the absolute gold standard of cover versions of any song: beautifully reimagined, creatively arranged, and song with gusto as only Hoover can. Alan Haber