Album Review: David Hasselhoff - "Open Your Eyes"

Oh I can hear you now - "Bluddyell, he really has lost the plot this time, David flippin' Hasselhoff?" Allow me to explain -the prospect of the Hoff doing a covers album may be the sort of thing that sounds more like it belongs in Novelty Records Monthly rather than Nite Songs but looking at the choices of bands covered here, this is definitely not yer standard "actor doing a bunch of '70s pop standards" territory. Whitesnake? Echo and the Bunnymen? Modern English? Lords of the New Church? The Jesus & Mary Chain? Okay, I give in, you got me intrigued, let's investigate.

The surprising thing is that Hoff actually doesn't do too bad a job here. Backed up by a guest list including Steve Stevens, James Williamson, Tracii Guns, Todd Rundgren, A Flock of Seagulls and Ministry of all people (c'mon, try and tell me that the Hoff and Al Jourgensen teaming up to cover Sweet Caroline doesn't at least vaguely intrigue you), he treats the songs with the necessary respect and comes off a lot less "dad at the disco" embarrassing than he really has any right to.

I mean, let's not beat about the bush here, this very much is a novelty record. But y'know what? If it persuades a few casual listeners to wander back and check out some criminally under-rated bands from the darker sides of the '80s (especially the Lords whose three albums really should be compulsory listening for anyone with an ear for what great dark politically charged rock 'n' roll is all about) then fair play to him. If you fancy giving this a listen and seeing for yourself, you can do so on the Hoff's Bandcamp site here.

NITE SONGS RATING: 🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌓🌑🌑🌑🌑 (6/10)

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