I don't want to sound like an ungrateful bastard or nothin', but sometimes I get really sick and tired of writing these damn music reviews. No, it's not becuase I'm tired of writing or deadlines breathing down my neck every month, it's because with listening to new music almost every day, I never have the time to go back and revisit stuff from the past I really enjoy. That's why Grant-Lee Phillips new album Nineteeneighties is such a breath of fresh air, which for some, may sound like a strange statement for me to make about a covers record.

Nineteeneighties is exactly what the title infers - an entire album of covers from the 1980's from the former lead singer of Grant Lee Buffalo. What makes this album a keeper though is Phillips' brilliant re-interpretations. Phillips turns every one of these songs on its ear - keeping them very sparce but also making them sound very personal.

This album is also an 80's college rock nerd's wet dream. Covers of Echo & The Bunnymen's "The Killing Moon," The Psychadelic Furs' "Love My Way" and The Church's "Under the Milky Way" are all nice to hear again, but it's some of the more obscure tracks here that I enjoy. Phillips' dark acoustic drive on Nick Cave's "City of Refuge" is a delight, as are his Alternative-Country interpretations of Joy Division's "The Eternal" and Robyn Hitchcock's "I Often Dream of Trains." However, there are three tracks here that are personal favorites of mine. One is Phillips going acoustic U.K. surf version on The Pixies "Wave of Mutilation." Another is a Country-ish version of New Order's "Age of Consent." I can honestly say that I don't know if I've ever heard Phillips' voice ever sound better or more dead on in his storied career. The funnest track to listen to though has got to be the toy piano replacing electic guitar for The Cure's "Boy's Don't Cry." If that doesn't put a grin on your face, you're a heartless soul. A good covers album should always make you want to go and dig up your old records and by that measure this one is an unqualified success. Now if I could just find the time!