Wig in a Box

A star studded tribute to the awesome, transvetititic rock-opera “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”. If you were a fan of the movie, you’ll love this. If you weren’t, there’s still some great songs here to appreciate. Most of the covers remain fairly true to the originals, although there’s also some pretty crazy stuff. Most of it stays within the bounds of the original soundtrack’s theatrical, narrative rock. Though it there’s not much staying power, it’s definitely worth a check-out or two.
Recommended tracks: 1, 7, 3, 4, 9, 12, 14, 15.

**1. Rufus Wainwright provides an excellent cover of this power ballad. He keeps his vocal delivery restrained, but emotive. Great song!
2. Sleater-Kinney with Fred Schneider (of the B-52s) providing additional vocals. The song is punky and tight (S-K rocks!), but Fred’s vocals get a bit annoying.
*3. They Might Be Giants handle this mellower number quite nicely.
*4. Frank Black does a highly uptempo version of this thoroughly tongue in cheek song. He growls a bit in that lovely way of his.
5. An original from Robyn Hitchcock, one of the original soundtrack composers. Midtempo.
6. The Imperial Teen cover this electronic-y number that wasn’t that great in the first place.
**7. The Breeders do this quieter song beautifully. It ends up sounding like a really great ‘Pod’ outtake. Wonderful.
8. Another not-very-good electronicy one.
*9. The Polyphoic Spree sound great doing this song, making full use of their powerful orchestration.
10. John Cameron Mitchell (Hedwig from the movie) sings this mellow original.
11. Stephen Colbert (of the Daily Show) does a spoken-word introduction to the next song.
*12. Spoon rocks this number, with laconic vocals and a horn section.
13. Yoko Ono and Yo La Tengo team up for this...interesting cover. Starts if you enjoy Ono’s vocals, you’ll like this. Otherwise...
*14. ‘The Bens’ actually sound quite nice here. Better than you’d expect a bunch of semi-alternative, egotistical rock stars to sound.
*15. Cyndi Lauper’s wail (think ‘The Goonies), with the Minus 5’s solid backing, rock this climactic number.
16. Johnathan Richman does a rather annoying reprise of the first song.