'Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young'

Most cover albums suck, but I'm a sucker for them anyway. So I was pretty excited when heard about "Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young," which will be released next month. Then I discovered the album's available on iTunes already. Naturally, I couldn't wait.

The album's a bit pricey on iTunes — $20.79 — but it's for a good cause. Besides, it's pretty good.

Some thoughts:

• I always thought Britta Phillips was the best thing about "Satisfaction," a forgettable film in the '80s that starred Justine Batemen, Julia Roberts and Liam Neeson. I also checked her out in Luna, which I thought was a solid band, but I'd almost forgotten about Phillips until I heard her cover of "I Am a Child" on this album. As much as I love Neil Young's version, I always thought it was a song that seemed written for a woman. Phillips nails it.
• Elk City, whose "New Believers" album was one of prettiest indie rock records of 2007, covers "Helpless" and the lead vocals sound every bit as vulnerable as Young's. The harmonies are gorgeous, too.
• Lori McKenna's rendition of "The Needle and the Damage Done" is simple and beautiful.
• I'd never heard of Euro-Trash Girl, but it's pretty cool listening to a group of women's rocking interpretation of "Cinnamon Girl." It's a nice take, though I wish there had been a bit more snarl in the vocals.
• Both Dala's and Darcie Miner's covers of "Ohio" are good, but they're not different enough to merit the inclusion of two versions on the album.
• Jill Sobule and John Doe collaborated on a cover of "Down By the River." At first, I thought Sobule's vocals were too meek for the song, but I find Iike the recording more with every listen. And I'd love to hear Sobule and Doe record more together because their voices mesh so well.
• I've never cared much for Veruca Salt, but I think the group's rendition of "Burned" is one of the most dynamic on the album.
• I love Tanya Donnelly, but though her cover of "Heart of Gold" is pretty, it's also a bit predictable.
• As far as tribute albums go, "Cinnamon Girl: Women Artists Cover Neil Young" is pretty good. It's certainly worth checking out samples of some of the songs on this myspace site.