Release Date: July 28th 2023. Record Label: Mongrel Records. Formats: CD/DD
All-Killer-Filler: Tracklisting
1. Search and Destroy (The Stooges)
2. Temporary Secretary (Paul McCartney)
3. I Just Wanna Get Along (The Breeders)
4. Zero (Smashing Pumpkins)
5. Beetlebum (Blur)
6. I Will (The Beatles)
7. Escape – The Piña Colada Song (Rupert Holmes)
8. Freedom Rock (Frank Black)
9. The Colour and The Shape (Foo Fighters)
10. Planet Of Sound (Pixies)
11. When Your Number Isn’t Up (Mark Lanegan)
12. Jesus Gonna Be Here (Tom Waits)
Review:
South African multi-instrumentalist and good old-fashioned rock musician Evert Snyman returns with his latest album All-Killer-Filler. An album featuring Evert covering songs by his favourite artists and musical influences from a wide range of different genres. Evert covers tracks by musical artists such as The Stooges, Paul McCartney, The Breeders, Smashing Pumpkins, Blur, Foo Fighters, Pixies and Mark Lanegan to name but a few there.
Evert pays homage to all of the tracks contained on the album but also adds his own creative spin on the tracks by employing a different array of different styles, such as Punk Rock, Stoner Rock and Electronic beats, even if the original versions don’t include these elements, such as the fantastic cover of Paul McCartney’s track Temporary Secretary which is one of the most interesting choices contained on the whole album.
The album does start up with a modern-day cover of The Stooges' classic Search And Destroy. This version doesn't stray too far from the original, but there’s a more distinctive Hard Rock sound with the Garage Rock sound being more distant in places. A great track to open the album with.
I’m not a huge fan of BLUR and The Smashing Pumpkins, but Evert’s covers of Zero and Beetlebum are bloody fantastic in their own right. Zero has a Punk Rock and Sludgy vibe that makes it more essential listening compared to the original. Beetlebum has a more stripped back approach that feels like it's being delivered by Soundgarden in places and ends up becoming my favourite cover on the whole album. Quite a remarkable feat since I can’t stand BLUR or this song.
Other great covers to check out are: I Will (The Beatles), Freedom Rock (Frank Black), The Colour And The Shape (Foo Fighters), Planet Of Sound (The Pixies), When Your Number Isn’t Up (Mark Lanegan) and Jesus Gonna Be Here (Tom Waits).
Well, that’s actually the entirety of the album and perhaps where folks will find the most enjoyment. As Evert expertly performs dramatic versions compared to the original, they are either quieter melodic pieces or more heavier interpretations of these classic and well-known tracks.
The album is quite emotionally driven in places and I can even forgive Evert for including a cover of the god-awful The Piña Colada Song (Rupert Holmes). As he makes this track rather cool, hip and bloody good fun as well.
All-Killer-Filler is a welcome diversion from the current batch of covers albums being released and showcases why Evert Snyman is one of the most essential and finest musicians to come from the South African rock Scene. Evert is joined by multiple guests on this album who all help Evert deliver a solid collection of covers that offers sublime entertainment from start to finish.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Warren at Mongrel Records for the promo.
All-Killer-Fillier is available to buy on CD/DD from Mongrel Records from Friday 28th July 2023.
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