Bland `Help' offers lip service for Bosnian aid
If you had ever wondered what kind of music those Brits from the other side of the pond have been performing lately, this compilation attempts to sum up what the best talent from across the Atlantic has to offer.
Recorded in just one day, Help is the British music world's attempt to raise money to help the children of war-ravaged Bosnia.
Twenty individual artists and groups are featured on Help , and each offer a glimpse of their style, ranging from the miasmic wall of sound of the Stone Roses to the dreamy techno sounds of Orbital.
Most of the bands on Help are unknown in the United States. However, there is quite a bit of starpower, including Oasis, as well as the Stone Roses, Sinead O'Connor and Radiohead. Paul McCartney even manages to make his way onto this disc, but alas, he does not sing here. He leaves the vocal honors to Paul Weller.
The quality of the songs is what one would expect from one day of straight recording, with no cuts and no rehearsal. For example, the Stone Roses' version of "Love Spreads" sounds like it was recorded inside a tin can.
There are one or two interesting features on this album. But overall, the contributers to Help have done a remarkable job of turning out bland songs that grow tiresome quickly.
This item appeared in the Arts & Entertainment section of the February 9, 1996 issue.
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