When you think it couldn't get more bizarre, music gives us 'SIN-Atra', a heavy metal tribute album to Frank Sinatra that might just ruin your day. Released on March 29, 2011, this atrocity was birthed in the birthplace of American dreams, Los Angeles. Handcrafted by folks who thought merging the soothing vocals of Ol’ Blue Eyes with jarring metal was a fantastic idea, it provides unsolicited ear-bleeding tunes that might amuse or appall depending on your tolerance for audible chaos. Released under Eagle Rock Entertainment, 'SIN-Atra' is produced by Bob Kulick and Brett Chassen, who might be re-evaluating their life choices as you read this.
'SIN-Atra' is what happens when musical clairvoyance meets delusion. One might wonder what such a collaboration sounds like. It's like Sinatra breaking out into a screaming contest at a metal gig! With someone screeching ‘I Did It My Way’ amidst roaring guitars and thundering drums, it sounds less like a tribute and more like an assault on everything Sinatra stood for.
This album was a risky venture that involved several renowned metal musicians, proving that talent doesn't always excuse taste. We're talking about Lemmy Kilmister, one of the more surprising names lending his voice to these creations. When you put iconic hard rockers in Sinatra's world, you attract audiences looking for a spectacle, not symphony.
Different folks enjoy different strokes, but serious fans of the timeless Sinatra classics are likely to be bewildered by these auditory experiments. Between you and me, it's like serving ketchup on caviar—guitar solos instead of violins, aggressive vocals instead of soothing melodies, leather jackets instead of tuxedos. The unintended hilarity when ‘New York, New York’ gets a headbanging twist should come with a disclaimer.
It's an audacious move which, while intending to pay homage, might leave listeners asking 'Why?' more than anything else. 'SIN-Atra' compiles covers of Sinatra's greatest hits, but modern these renditions are not what lovers of ‘The Voice’ expect.
Now, let's talk about the name: 'SIN-Atra.' Clever play on words, just not clever enough to distract from the content. While phonetic acrobatics can be amusing, they must parallel artistic sense, not obliterate it.
While Sinatra is the epitome of classic elegance, or as we call it, the sound of America’s golden era, this album prefers chaos over charm. In contrast, Jazz is the epitome of musical freedom and soul—the very sentiments Sinatra sold in each swoon-worthy phrase. Instead, 'SIN-Atra' offers raw, amped-up energy.
In crafting this cacophony, producers Bob Kulick and Brett Chassen stepped away from the classic formula, perhaps to share their appreciation for Mr. Walking Basses and Chelseas, but missed the point of honoring a legacy in a way that respects its essence. Perhaps they forgot that sometimes less is more.
Whether you love or loathe it, 'SIN-Atra' exists, inviting you into its turbulent world of experimental sound. There’s validity in creating art on the fringes, in shaking up the status quo, yet there’s equal importance in not losing sight of the foundational art. It’s these audacious acts that make cultural movements, though not all find their place in the annals of greatness.
Mark it up as an attempt to innovate, as there’s always a place for new, albeit controversial, approaches. This, however, feels more like taking one of the crown jewels of music and throwing it in a blender with power chords and guttural roars. Yet, perhaps this album appeals in some way to those who believe rebellion breeds progress.
As non-traditional as it is, we must acknowledge the sheer audacity on display here. Even if achieving broad appeal can at times seem to skirt the boundaries of taste, it piqued curiosity across genres. These performers left a throaty mark on these ever-blue tunes. And I suppose there may be an audience eager to dive into this sonic turmoil.
In an era where traditional often faces off against the new and unconventional, 'SIN-Atra' walked a fine line. It sparked discussions not just about preferences, but about the lengths to which art can dare to explore. When it comes to mixing genres, some efforts shine brilliantly, others burn pitifully. 'SIN-Atra' lingers somewhere in between, an odd and occasionally humorous cultural mash-up.