I have never missed a review of any installment of the JEM Records Celebrates series, which is a yearly event dating back to 2020. I'm a little late to the party on the latest installment, JEM Records Celebrates David Bowie, which follows tributes to John Lennon, Brian Wilson, Pete Townshend, Ray Davies, and Jagger & Richards. But as they say: Better late than never! Having already gone through the most obvious musical influences on the JEM roster and modern-day indie pop, period, Marty Scott certainly had a lot of options of where to go next. The choice of David Bowie was delightfully surprising.
When we think of David Bowie, we don't necessarily think of power pop. And a lot of people acknowledge his influence on culture and fashion without giving him proper credit as a songwriter. What I love about this compilation is that it turns the attention to Bowie's songs more so than his style and showmanship. Here was a guy who was at the forefront of the glam rock movement. He was a direct influence on post-punk, new wave, Brit-pop, goth rock, and the broader worlds of indie rock and alternative rock. He wrote a lot of incredible songs in a lot of different styles, and this compilation is an excellent reminder of what a truly formidable songwriter he was. The Grip Weeds provide the opener — a stunning interpretation of "Space Oddity." Pair that with a remarkable album-closing version of "Heroes" by Nick Piunti and The Complicated Men, and you've already justified the purchase price. In between are some more extraordinary takes on Bowie classics. Paul Collins has at "Hang On To Yourself," retaining the original's proto-punk energy. The Cynz go way back to 1966's "Can't Help Thinking About Me" and deliver one of the album's finest cuts. The Airport 77s take on "I'm Afraid of Americans," which comes off as chillingly relevant. The High Frequencies' new wavey re-working of "Modern Love" is a sure crowd-pleaser. The Midnight Callers covering "Changes" is absolutely what you hoped it would be: a fresh take on a timeless song delivered by one of the most exciting young rock bands in America.
A project nearly a year in the making, JEM Records Celebrates David Bowie is yet another near-flawless tribute from the JEM family of bands. There's not a single duff track to be found, and it's exciting to hear so many talented bands from today's indie music scene put their signatures on some of David Bowie's finest songs. If you love Bowie, you will certainly dig this album. And if you're not a huge fan, this just might turn you to the dark side.
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