Version - Mark Ronson Album Review

Mark Ronson

Album Review

At the moment, Mark Ronson seems unstoppable. If there was ever a threat to Fat Boy Slim’s crown, then he is it !

When you’ve got friends like Amy Winehouse ( he produced her hit album Back To Black last year ), Lilly Allen (who ironically went head to head at the Brits 2007 – Amy won of course) you know you’ve made it. Both drop by to put a smile on Mark Ronson’s face. Robbie Williams and Kasabian give a bit of hand too, along with lesser known names. By the sound of this brilliant album, they did the trick. Uber Anglo – American DJ Ronson , 29, turns producer-performer once again, as he tries his luck with an album of covers, with sensational results. His treatment (or bouncing) is sparkling and bold to say the least, which will surely bring a nomination for one of the albums of the year. Boosting the potential sales of the album, lead single Stop Me ( a re-invention of The Smith’s album track Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before from 1987) currently stands at two in the UK singles chart – W/C April 16. And that’s where this scintillating album becomes a winner – respectful re-invention is at the heart of everything here. When ex-Smiths’ Morrissey gave his blessing, Ronson was over the moon. Ronson has a clever ear – you need one to be a top DJ – so his love of both rock and dance fuse magnificently. Needless to say, the hard work ( ie. songwriting ) has been done by others, though these interpretations have been well thought out, with Ronson saying,

It started off with a Radiohead track ‘Just’.
I hadn’t even thought of doing covers before, but that did well over here – even Thom Yorke went on Radio 1 and said he loved it.
Basically I’ve taken these well known songs – plus some lesser know ones – and turned them into Motown stax 70’s versions.

His eclectic taste shines throughout the tracklisting starting with a blazing sax-driven Northern Soul take on Coldplay’s God Put A Smile Upon Your Face, which segues into funky Oh My God featuring gobby Londoner Lilly Allen. Single Stop Me follows… and it’s worth every bit of its 3 mins 58 secs, with Daniel Merriweather’s stylish vocals oozing with class. On Valerie, a hit for Scouers The Zuttons, Winehouse does what she does best, cocksure attacks with the song virtually turned into a Tamla Motown shuffle ( next single for sure ). Other highlights includes a virtually unrecognisable Pretty Green ( The Jam ) which turns into a 60’s girly blast with dropped – in sound FX and sliding brass that, again, would make a great single. Unfortunately, Robbie Williams’ contribution on The Only One I Know could have been much better, as his vocals sound almost ghostly thin, though Kasabian fair much better on LSF.

Mark adds,

I Keep the up-most respect and appreciation and appreciation for the original versions of songs I use.
I’m just trying to find something in it, add something to the arrangement or change the groove.

Job done - and how.

Elly Roberts