The Gloria Jones Challenge is our ongoing examination of the many, many, many covers of Jones’ classic Northern Soul jam “Tainted Love” – to see how they stack up compared to the original.
Today’s challenger goes somewhere between techno and industrial with the song.
But first, as always – the original.
And now, today’s challenger – Access Zero.
Postcard Editor: I honestly don’t think I could be any more ambivalent about this version, even if it literally didn’t exist, I would still feel the same, which is to say that I don’t feel much at all about it. Techno version with vocals that sound like they want to be evil, but they just don’t have it in them to do it. There is nothing evil about boredom, and that’s definitely how the singer sounds on this. Extended dance break in the middle is actually a nice break from his underwhelming delivery. I’m putting this at the bottom of my list, below versions that I actually hate, because AZ’s lack of ability to make me even care one way or the other is even more offensive.
Postcard ChaCha: Somebody busted out the glow sticks and took a time machine back to 1998. When I googled this band, I really did expect this version had been recorded over 10 years ago. However, it seems this was released just LAST YEAR. That means the most remarkable thing about this recording is the fact that they managed to create such a ridiculously outdated version, that also sounds quite similar to Manson’s.
Our challenger standings now have links back to the original reviews to make it easier for you to checkity check them out.
CHALLENGER STANDINGS ACCORDING TO EDITOR:
1. Shades Apart
2. Dave Phillips
3. East German Polka Band
4. Inspiral Carpets
5. My Brightest Diamond
6. Marilyn Manson
7. The Re-Entrants
8. Ruth Swan(n)
9. Coil
10. The Swampy’s
11. Alejandra Guzman
12. Pussycat Dolls
13. Straight No Chaser
14. Impedance
15. Max Raabe
16. Stella Starlight Trio
17. Access Zero
CHALLENGER STANDINGS ACCORDING TO CHACHA:
1. Dave Phillips
2. Stella Starlight Trio
3. Max Raabe
4. The Re-Entrants
5. My Brightest Diamond
6. Ruth Swan(n)
7. Marilyn Manson
8. East German Polka Band
9. The Swampy’s
10. Inspiral Carpets
11. Alejandra Guzman
12. Shades Apart
13. Pussycat Dolls
14. Straight No Chaser
15. Coil
16. Access Zero
17. Impedance
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