Between the Buried and Me

An entire covers album always seems like a really fun idea, especially after releasing three albums in four years, but unfortunately BTBAM are, for the most part, unsuccessfully grasping the "je ne c’est quoi” that can make a cover song special. They routinely fail to put enough of their own spin on the songs, though never quite sinking to amateur teenage cover band status. It’s no secret that they’re amazing players but they mostly leave their unique style behind, sacrificing any insight for a rather strict adherence to the original. A few real gems shine through, like the cover of Queen’s "Bicycle Race,” Pink Floyd’s "Us and Them,” King Crimson’s "Three of a Perfect Pair” and Sepultura’s "Territory.” There’s also a few more that adequately pay heed to the originals with an sufficient injection of BTBAM’s individual dynamism but some of the more anticipated covers of the bunch, such as Metallica’s "Blackened,” Soundgarden’s "The Day I Tried to Live” and Motley Crue’s "Kickstart My Heart,” end up sounding somewhat empty and awkward at points. It doesn’t help that Tommy Rogers doesn’t have the most powerful voice, albeit versatile. Ultimately, though the album is hit and miss, it’s a valiant effort, if only because it has the potential to expose their fan base to music that may have otherwise remained off the radar entirely.