Album Review: Evert Snyman – All Killer Filler (Mongrel Records)

Evert Snyman, the South African rock musician and multi-instrumentalist renowned for his unparalleled musicality and captivating performances, will release his latest album, ‘All Killer Filler’ on the 28th July on Mongrel Records.

It’s a covers album! Depending on your immediate reaction to that knowledge, you’re either going to have a blast or it’s your worst nightmare. Regardless, everyone who gives it a go will come away feeling quite overjoyed by what they just listened too. Evert Snyman is more than just a cover artist and every single track here has an infusion of his own creativity.

Of course, it’s still covers so how you feel about the original track will certainly have an effect on Evert Snyman’s version. Even if, in the case of some, he transforms it to such a degree that making comparisons to the original seem unfair.

That’s particularly pertinent when you consider the iconic artists and bands that he has chosen to cover here. From The Stooges and Paul McCartney, to Blur and The Beatles, to Foo Fighters and Tom Waits. Evert Snyman is game for a challenge, but also breaks the norm by not choosing some of the more obvious tracks of these artists and bands to cover.

In the case of Smashing Pumpkins, he goes for the excellent Zero and retains the alternative moodiness nicely. With The Beatles he goes for the much-lesser known and played, I Will. Offering up a chilled-out version. Whereas with Foo Fighters and Pixies, he goes for The Colour and The Shape and Planet of Sound respectively. Both tracks feel like their original, have plenty of energy, and have creative touches from Evert Snyman. That’s a pretty damn cool selection.

Evert Snyman is a talented artist and that shows across this album. Hell, he even manages to make Rupert Holmes Escape – The Piña Colada Song somewhat bearable.

Evert Snyman – All Killer Filler Track Listing:

1. Search and Destroy (The Stooges)
2. Temporary Secretary (Paul McCartney)
3. I Just Wanna Get Along (The Breeders)
4. Zero (Smashing Pumpkins)
5. Beetlebum (Blur)
6. I Will (The Beatles)
7. Escape – The Piña Colada Song (Rupert Holmes)
8. Freedom Rock (Frank Black)
9. The Colour and The Shape (Foo Fighters)
10. Planet of Sound (Pixies)
11. When Your Number Isn’t Up (Mark Lanegan)
12. Jesus Gonna Be Here (Tom Waits)

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