McCartney's version of the ever-popular "It's So Easy" is so over the top in a "Rocky Raccoon" way that the tune becomes a goof. But it's an entirely bearable goof, even when Sir Paul breaks into cornball Southern jive talk.
Cee-Lo Green only needs 93 seconds to smoke "(You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care." The man is such a natural rock and roller.
Lou Reed and John Doe give interesting interpretations of "Peggy Sue" and "Peggy Sue Got Married" in back-to-back slots. The juxtaposition is near perfect.
Another nice pairing is My Morning Jacket ("True Love Ways") and Modest Mouse ("That'll Be The Day"). Both bands find new depth in these old chestnuts.
We also have to give props to battle-scarred veteran Nick Lowe for "Changing All Those Changes," Kid Rock's Detroit-soulman take of "Well All Right," and Julian Casablancas' muscular rendition of the title track.
But the standout track for us is "Maybe Baby" by Justin Townes Earle, who finds all of the joy and rhythm that made Holly's music so palatable to so many.
So if you're a Holly purist, Rave On may not be for you. But to LOM's ears, the album's many and varied reinterpretations make it a suite of music that is going to stick with us for quite some time.
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