Album Review: “Varshons” The Lemonheads

The Lemonheads
Varshons
[The End Records]

The newest offering from Evan Dando and friends is a collection of covers, apparently inspired by mixtapes made for Dando by the Butthole Surfers’ Gibby Haynes, who also produced the album. Dando’s occasional country leanings are on full display here, with strong renditions of Gram Parsons’ “I Just Can’t Take it Anymore” and Towns Van Zandt’s “Waiting Around to Die,” plus creative interpretations of Wire’s short but memorable “Fragile,” G.G. Allin’s murder ballad “Layin’ Up With Linda,” and the Christina Aguilera’s hit “Beautiful.” Liv Tyler makes an appearance on Leonard Cohen’s “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye” and Kate Moss, of all people, lends her pipes to “Dirty Robot” by the Danish electronic duo Arling & Cameron. Dando also introduces listeners to obscure psychedelic jams by Sam Gopal and July. While he could have easily tried to replicate the success of the Lemonheads‘ “Mrs. Robinson” cover, Dando took risks and followed his own instincts and interests, taking us on a fun and unpredictable trip through his musical tastes.