Today's vintage pop culture thrives on revisiting the way things were. It is evident in fashion, movies, and now, thanks to Mandy Moore's new album, music.
"Coverage," Moore's fourth album collects covers from throughout the decades. Logically, not one of the songs on the album is original, but Moore brings something new to each track to make it her own.
The album is by far the best album that Moore has released to date. While her sound has matured, the new collection of songs has given her the opportunity to truly showcase her talent. Interestingly, while her music takes us back, her artistic ability has continued forward.
In an interview on the bonus DVD that comes with the initial releases, Moore explains that she wanted to make the album as a way to introduce a collection of timeless songs to a younger generation that would otherwise forget them. With her powerful voice she is able to accomplish just this.
The best track on the album comes to us courtesy of Elton John. Moore gives a rendition of his hit "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters." Moore's voice is so full of soul and passion as she belts out, "For unless they see the sky/ But they can't and that is why/ That know not if it's dark outside or light." She conveys the meaning of the song to a contemporary audience while staying true to everything that Elton John brought to it. The song remains raw and piano-driven rather than being overdone and "bubble gum-ed." It reflects how Moore has grown and matured as an artist: She's moved on from over-synthesized songs about teenage crushes and is exploring more mature music.
She proves this again on "Have a Little Faith in Me," the first single from "Coverage." The song excellently showcases Moore's voice and range. When you listen to the song, you get the feeling that something is emerging from deep within the music. This parallels Moore's personal growth -- it's as if the song is her stepping out of the shadows and coming out as a new person. The track could nestle into the soundtrack of any romance movie. Even though the song was first recorded years ago, its universal theme still applies to today's society: Themes of Moore discovering herself and finding love (she is currently with tennis superstar Andy Roddick). This song overflows with passion and a love for the music. Moore even says herself in her DVD, "At the end of the day, it's all about the music."
Contrasting with the ballads, Moore includes some upbeat songs. One of these is Blondie's hit "One Way or Another," a track that everybody heard growing up. It's just a fun, flirtatious song that makes you want to get up and dance. It is also undoubtedly one of the tracks that audiences will be inclined to sing with. Another one of these is the Carole King hit "I Feel The Earth Move." Reaching out to a younger audience, Moore adds some funk to the track, making sure to give the song some edge while still paying homage to the original recording of the song.
While Moore gives a stellar singing performance on the album, she could've done better when choosing the repertoire. Moore may have hoped tracks like "Moonshadow," "Help Me," and "Can We Still Be Friends," would connect with a younger generation, but more likely they'll be reaching for the skip button. The majority of the songs on "Coverage" are slow, easy listening ballads. Although ballads can be great, high-energy tracks need to counterbalance them. The album does not do that. At the end of the day, it is probably parents, who grew up listening to this music, that will enjoy "Coverage" the most.
Despite these flaws, Mandy Moore has come full circle as an artist on "Coverage." She is just entering into the prime of her career, recording albums and acting in movies. If she continues to perform like she does on this album, we can expect extraordinary things from her in the future.
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