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Erasure is at the top of the list of synth-pop groups who have transcended the genre's inherent limitations, and Other People's Songs demonstrates why they've stood the test of time. These are not remixes or samples; in fact, the arrangement apple never falls far from the tree. The selected pop tracks from the latter half of the 20th century are rendered through Vincent Clarke's effervescent sensibility and Andy Bell's emotive vocals. Most dance-club covers have a shelf life that barely outlasts the last call. But as on Abba-esque, their homage to Abba, Erasure meticulously nurture and revitalize rainbow-colored covers, this time making Peter Gabriel's "Solsbury Hill" and Buddy Holly's "Everyday" sweet but not bubblegum-flavored. Erasure has a stockpile of signature sounds, many of them used here to tie together disparate but instantly recognizable pop songs into Erasure songs. --Beth Massa

Review

Way back in the prehistoric days of the 80s, after synth mastermind Vince Clarke had already founded Depeche Mode and produced two albums with soul singer Alison Moyet as Yaz, he started a little duo called Erasure. Fronted by flamboyantly gay Andy Bell on the mic, Erasure generated an impressive string of upbeat and danceable ditties that flirted with the American Top 10. On this new album of cover songs, they take their love of grandiose pop to a curious level, reinterpreting tunes from the likes of the Righteous Brothers, Buddy Holly and the king himself, Elvis Presley. Sounding like it was produced on their old gear from the 80s (a bonus in these electro-clashed times), the results have a better chance of ending up in moms Volvo than your iPod, though you might get a kick out of their version of the Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star."

Timothy Brown -- From URB Magazine