Memoria Honors the Alternative 90s: A Tribute Well Deserved

If you read this site, even on rare occasion, one thing should be certain… I love the early 90s alternative/grunge rock era. The music I grew up listening to has developed my tastes since I was old enough to have an opinion, as well as influenced most of my favorite music from this current decade. The impact can still be felt from the fading (but never forgotten) scene as proven by the recent compilation from Yr Letter Records entitled “Memoria: A Tribute to the Alternative 90s.” Yr Letter Records is a small independent record label based out of France, best known for releasing Jonah Matranga’s (Far) solo record “And” as well as several emerging underground bands. As is the situation with nearly all tribute albums, most of the artists are completely unknown, thirteen of the seventeen bands hail from the label’s own home of France. The compilation won’t be entirely foreign to ears in the US however, as the disc features contributions from the aforementioned Matranga, as well as Walter Schriefels (Quicksand/Rival Schools) and Frank Turner. Just as the contributors have a varying degree of fame, so do the bands being covered. They range from the super famous (Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Weezer, Rage Against The Machine, Soundgarden, Deftones) to the cult followings (My Bloody Valentine, Far, Quicksand, Jawbox) to the fairly obscure (Babes in Toyland, Kerbdog, Les Thugs, Grant Lee Buffalo, The Poises, Mega City Four, Chokebore). With such a diverse range of artists being honored the album not only introduces you to new bands, but also bands you may have missed from the 90s. While choosing to cover the classics leaves little room for improvement on the originals, many of them are great reinterpretations, and make for an enjoyable listen. Then there are the tracks I haven’t heard in the first place, which for the most part sound great in their cover versions, piquing my interest for both the artist being honored as well as the one paying the tribute.

Frank Turner opens the show with his furious acoustic cover of Kerbdog’s “Sally”. The Irish grunge band’s biggest hit gains new life on Turner’s passionate rendition. Removing the clunky power chords in place of swirling acoustic patterns, the exceptional song writing is showcased. La Rochelle, France’s Gatechien offer their reimagining of “Bombtrack” by Rage Against The Machine, giving the song a distinct new flavor while remaining within the same funk groove originally laid down by Tom Morello and company. The punchy French accent and attitude pulsing through the vocals adds a great texture to a familiar tune, contributing a renewed sense of immediacy and pounding energy. Walter Schriefels attempts the near impossible, providing an acoustic cover of My Bloody Valentine’s shoegaze storm “When You Sleep”. Schriefels has garnered a cult following from his sincere and honest vocal melodies and simplicity, and he proves his formula works despite most odds. The thick hazy wall of sound surging through MBV’s guitars is replaced with layered clean acoustics while maintaining the original’s vibe on an infinitely more lo-fi scale.

DevonMiles hail from Orleans, France and continue to display the promising underground music coming from their national scene on their cover of Weezer’s “Getchoo”. The classic Pinkerton song is given a straight forward interpretation with subtle effect pedal changes and varied melodic embellishments that add to the already great song. Holland’s Cooper submits their version of Jawbox’s “Static” leaning very closely to the original with their boisterous homage. Lula Fortune, another talented French band, covers Grant Lee Buffalo’s “Fuzzy,” a song I have never heard from a band I’d never listened to. Without any previous knowledge, Lula Fortune are able to gather my interest with their brand of mid-tempo reverb soaked guitars and gorgeous high soaring vocals reminiscent of As Tall As Lions or modern day Silverchair. Down to Earth attempt their shot at one of my all time favorite songs, Soundgarden’s “Let Me Drown,” with sub-par results. While the young French band certainly doesn’t butcher the song, they also don’t improve it in any way, with a lead singer that comes very short trying to fill in Chris Cornell’s enormous shoes. Much of the greatness in the original lies in Cornell and lead guitarist Kim Thayil’s unbelievable talent, something that can’t be replaced regardless of enthusiasm. Billy Gaz Station’s version of The Posies “Grant Hart,” is an enjoyable listen with a rapid grungy pop energy that bounces with the melody.

Luis Francisco Arena offers a bubbling atmospheric reworking of Far’s stand out “I Like It” from the phenomenal Water and Solutions. Just as with Soundgarden, the original Far song is one of my favorites, with a cover that can’t simply match the magic and chemistry of the authentic version. Lead Orphans triumphantly pound out a visceral interpretation of Pearl Jam’s “Corduroy” with angst and grace. Imagine the song nearly unchanged, yet with a slightly more restrained vocal, and this song may just actually be improved. You can’t tribute the “Alternative 90s” without one brave band attempting a Nirvana song, in this case coming from Novels’ gravel voiced version of “Aneurysm”. The song can’t hold a candle to the raw angst of the original, but you have to get them credit for trying. The passion for the song and effort to do it justice are certainly there, and no one should be particularly turned off from their contribution.

Closing the album is the stunning masterpiece of the record that created my interest in the first place, Jonah Matranga’s intimate take on his good friends, the Deftones’ “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)”. Accompanied only by drum machine, atmospherics, and faint guitar strums, Matranga embodies the mood and warm soul of the song in a rendition closer to Team Sleep than the Deftones, but every bit as effective with its vulnerable exterior. The album isn’t without its low points however, including Dead Pop Club’s cover of Les Thugs, Powell featuring Cyesm’s aggression-less take on Quicksand’s “Head to Wall,” Atomic Garden paying tribute to Mega City Four, Mr. Moustache screaming into Babes in Toyland, and Run Ronnie Run’s homage to Chokebore.

Yr Letter Records has released an interesting compilation well worth a listen, if not just for the fun of hearing a slew of promising French acts pay tribute to the band’s who have influenced our generation’s masses. An album teaser is available to stream HERE (with many of the full songs on the bands' individual Myspace pages) and for purchase HERE!