Image from Amazon.com

In recent months I have become a convert to the music of the Lemonheads, who are beloved Boston natives, perhaps best known for their cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson.” After falling in love with the classic It’s a Shame about Ray, I began to dive further into their discography, which spans over two decades. My belief in this band continues to grow, so I was happy to try my luck with their latest output, a full-length album of covers entitled Varshons. The album represents a mix of songs recommended by singer Evan Dando’s friend Gibby Haynes, the Butthole Surfers’ frontman, as well as songs that Dando says he has “always wanted to play.” Other celebrity pals of Dando who appear on Varshons include actress Liv Tyler and model Kate Moss, each of whom offers her vocal stylings to one song on the album.

High points of Varshons include Dando’s elegant treatment of the simple yet soaring Wire track, “Fragile,” as well as his version of Linda Perry’s “Beautiful,” famously sung by Christina Aguilera. Unexpectedly, “Beautiful” distinguishes itself as the stand-out gem of the album. Dando cannot belt like Christina, so he wisely chooses to handle the song with gentle vocals and tender acoustic guitar, resulting in a heartfelt and intimate recasting of Perry’s hit. Of course, the members of Wire have cemented their status as a prominent and influential English punk band, and Linda Perry has successfully established herself as a talented pop songwriter, so the Lemonheads had solid ground to stand on by covering these two tracks.

For me, the least successful moments of the album occur when Dando attempts to regurgitate the original song without giving it a new creative spin. The Lemonheads try to capture the psychedelic effect of July’s “Dandelion Seeds” with mildly reverberant guitars and a spacey bridge section, but their delivery lacks July’s raw energy and rock ‘n’ roll vigor. The same can be said of their somewhat lackluster rendition of “Green Fuzz,” first performed by Randy Alvez and the Green Fuz. Mind you, the Lemonheads version is not poorly executed, they are in fact respectable musicians who can play their instruments; the cover simply lacks the power of the original.

By the way, musical criticism aside, you should definitely check out this album’s mesmerizing cover art, painted by contemporary artist Mark Dagley. Generally speaking, my enjoyment of the covers on Varshons hinges on the strength of the original songs. The Lemonheads spread their alt-country guitars and Dando’s honeyed croon evenly throughout the album, a tactic which translates quite well in some instances and falls rather flat in others. Still, it’s clear that Dando and company enjoy playing these songs, which means they will probably sound good when performed live for audiences of Lemonheads fans. Varshons cannot compare in my mind with It’s a Shame about Ray, but sprinkled amongst a live set of Dando originals, I’m sure these covers would sound quite charming.