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Lounge-A-Palooza CD
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Lounge-A-Palooza combines several of the most irritating trends in '90s alternative rock in one convenient package. There's the kitschy cocktail revival, the smug humor of smirk-rock, and the pounding guitars of grunge. It's a collection that combines alt-rock covers by MOR pop bands -- like Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme singing Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun" -- and alt-rock bands doing classic pop songs, like Combustible Edison on Esquivel's "Miniskirt." For anyone who balks at camp or hipster humor, such pairings make Lounge-A-Palooza nearly intolerable, but there are some good things among the smirks. PJ Harvey and Eric Drew Feldman's "Zaz Turned Blue," Edwyn Collins' "Witchcraft," Cassandra Wilson's "The Good Life," Poe's cover of her brother's "A Rose Is a Rose," Pizzicato Five's "The Girl From Ipanema," Ben Folds Five's cover of the Flaming Lips' "She Don't Use Jelly," and "Wichita Lineman" by Michelle Shocked, Freddy Fender, Sheila E., and the Texas Tornadoes balance the dreck by Fastball, Fun Lovin' Criminals, and Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America. So, it's a mixed bag, but those with patience may find some worthwhile items. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Fastball,Ben Folds Five,Poe, Steve & Eydie,Pizzicato Five++
Producers include: Flea, Julian Raymond, Edwyn Collins, Matt Sorum, Brother Cleve.
Engineers include: Sean Carberry, Phil Kaffel, Jim Mitchell, Tim Boyle, Danny Koppelson.
Personnel: Edwyn Collins (vocals, guitar, organ); The Millionaire, Miles Zuniga, Marvin Sewell (vocals, guitar); Ben Folds (vocals, piano); Peter Dixon (vocals, synthesizer); Nicholas Cudahy (vocals, upright bass); Chris Ballew, Darren Jessee (vocals, drums); Miss Lily Banquette (vocals, bongos); Chris Lord-Alge, Eydie Gorme, Freddy Fender, Brother Cleve, Glen Campbell, Little Jimmy Scott, Maki Nomiya, Michelle Shocked, PJ Harvey, Poe, Robert Sledge, Steve Lawrence, Tony Scalzo, Cassandra Wilson (vocals); Anthony Michael Peterson, Doug Sahm, Lisa Fay, Graham Day, Steve Ferris, Marc Ribot (guitar); Carla Kihlstedt (violin); Cameron Stone (cello); John Catchings, Kristin Wilkinson, David Davidson (strings); John Wilmott (flute, saxophone); John Lurie (harmonica, alto saxophone); Flaco Jiménez (accordion); Andres Najera (saxophone); Dominic Glover, Annie King, Warren Luening (trumpet); John Mark Painter (horns, double bass, percussion, background vocals); John Medeski (piano, organ); Randy Kerber (piano); Augie Meyers (organ); Kim Bullard (Mellotron); Eric Drew Feldman (keyboards, synthesizer, programming, sound effects); Bennett Salvay, Ted Andreadis (keyboards); Calvin Weston, Alfredo Alias, Joe La Barbera, Neal Robinson, Sheila E., Joey Shuffield (drums); Dan Greco, Jeff Haynes, Shaun McWilliams, Todd Collins (percussion); Seb Lewsley (programming, scratches); Yukihiro Fukutomi (programming); Fleming McWilliams, Laurie Hall, Acacia Ludwig (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Chris Lord-Alge; Ducky Carlisle; Hirose Osamu; Jim Mitchell ; John Mark Painter; Phil Kaffel; Sean Carberry; Seb Lewsley; Tim Latham; Cassandra Wilson.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Fleming McWilliams; Mariachi Sol de Mexico; Mike Fasano.
Arrangers: Eric Drew Feldman; Konishi Yasuharu; Bennett Salvay.Entertainment Weekly (10/24/97, p.67) - "...Cute title aside, this CD avoids lounge's smarmy irony while retaining its sense of fun." - Rating: B+
Melody Maker (10/25/97, p.51) - "...A 14-track lounge triumph of style and content, melody and cool....prove[s] that lounge is...the new punk."
Lounge-A-Palooza Music Review
Average Rating: (3 out of 5 stars)   very good
this compilation's surprised me, i really expected less from it, but it's a pleasure from the very beginning to the end relaxing music
Submitted by a reviewer (BAGNOLO IN PIANO,RE,ITALY) 
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A Mixed Bag
Like most collections, especially around a vaguely-defined theme, Lounge-a-Palooza is a mixed bag. I bought it for the Steve & Eydie contribution, Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun," which I've heard often on WXPN-FM (Philadelphia, PA). The album's probably worth getting for this cut alone, which somehow pulls off a respectful, musically worthy, very listenable rendition of a heavy metal tune by a couple reputedly square vocal artists. Other worthy cuts: Chris Ballew's original, "Robert Goulet (On the River Nile)"; Fastball's "This Guy's in Love With You." Among tracks that don't really work are the opening tune, "Mini Skirt," which is just too smirking and disrespectful of the lounge genre to be enjoyable. All in all, though, a musically original and interesting collection.
Submitted by a reviewer (Camp Hill, PA, USA)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No  A Great Pick!
I bought this album a few years ago and (foolishly) lent it to a friend. Needless to say I had to buy another. But I DID buy another copy because I couldn't go without. Each track has a different flavor but they are all very well done. Some are surprising, some are fun, and one might break your heart. But I love them all! In fact, I play it in my bookstore sometimes. Most of the songs are just fun to listen to and a great pick-me-up! I just wish there was a Lounge-a-palooza II. Overall, I highly recommend this album.
Submitted by kittenmonster (Lincoln City (the coast), OR, USA)
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