Fire Woman: A Tribute to The Cult

by

Various Artists

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There are quite a few versions of Cult songs to like on this one, and the players do a good job, there is a very nice booklet that has a paragraph on each band and artists doing the covers. This one I believe came out in around 2000 or 2001 and it covers mostly early Cult with the only "Black Sheep" ('94) song being a so-so version of "Coming Down" which to me feels too lazy and lacking for the most part.

Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys) who also does a great job on the 'Leppardmania' tribute (to Def Leppard) has a couple vocals stints on this one and even has a nice note about how is a longtime fan of the Cult and how DT once toured with The Cult. Richard Kendrick plays a key role on some of the songs here, as it heard Jake E. Lee, Jizzy Pearl, Paul Shortino, and Gilby Clarke. For the most part these are not by the numbers spot on covers, but each artist and band makes each song their own, and to me those are some of the best, as long as it doesn't stray TOO far like on a few songs that are my least fav tracks in "The Witch", "The Rain", and "Coming Down". Many tribute albums have over the top songs that barely resemble the original so it's right on par with many, but it still doesn't detract from the overall effort and feeel of this album, very rocking and a nice companion to the originals, each song tends to have it's own vibe with each new singer and feel.

You get what you ask for. I asked my wife to get me this CD for my birthday and I got it. I couldn't help it. When I saw the names Jake E. Lee and Enuff 'Z' Nuff, I had to have it. Jake's solo on "American Horse" almost does it for me. Mesmerizing. Enuff 'Z' Nuff satisfies also. Unfortunately, the other "tributes" fall short of hard rock glory. With all the technical advances lately, you'd think these guys could remake the Cult's songs and make them sound outstanding. It seems like they just follow the basic roadmap and use their own fake raspy voices, never coming close to Ian's prowess. I'll keep it, though. The Cult deserves a tribute. Check out The Doors of the 21st Century, L.A. Woman Live! (D21C) Ian Astbury fills Morrison's role.