A Psych Tribute to the Doors
Various Artists
(Cleopatra Records)

A Psych Tribute to the Doors is a tribute album dedicated to the band The Doors.

It opens with a psychedelic, sitar-infused cover of “L.A. Woman” by Elephant Stone. The best part of this song is the unique build-up when they croon the phrase “Mr. Mojo Risin’.” “Love Me Two Times” by Psychic Ills stays true to the original song for the most part, with the exception of the vocals being more breezy and laid-back than Jim Morrison’s.

Dark Horses covers “Hello, I Love You,” a definite departure from the original, as it is more trippy and psychedelic, almost resembling the beat from “Tomorrow Never Knows” by the Beatles. Camera contributes an instrumental version of “People Are Strange,” while Wall of Death makes “Light My Fire” into even more of a dirge (with a surprising build-up mid-song). The last track is a beautiful cover of “The End” by the Raveonettes.

Other artists featured are the Black Angels, Dead Meadow, Sons of Hippies, Dead Skeletons, Clinic and Vietnam, and Geri-X.

I was skeptical at first upon hearing this album because, let’s face it, no one can compete with the original sound of the Doors. However I was pleasantly surprised to find that each track produced a fresh and unique sound while still remaining true to the vision of the original songs.