This collection of cover songs (and two originals -- one new song, and one acoustic version of "BB," the opening track from 2009's
Trio B.C.) provides some clues as to
Girl in a Coma's influences, as such sets often do.
The Beatles pop up, as do
Patsy Cline,
Ritchie Valens,
Buffalo Springfield,
David Bowie,
Joy Division,
the Velvet Underground, and…
Selena? Yes,
Adventures in Coverland opens with a punked-up tear through the late tejano vocalist's "Si Una Vez." Unfortunately, that energy isn't sustained throughout the CD (eight of the tracks from which originally appeared on three limited-edition 7" singles). Their version of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is practically metal, but they strip
Joy Division's "Transmission" down to acoustic guitars, atmospheric piano, and a kick drum instead of preserving its shout-along power. Frontwoman
Nina Diaz gets all
Morrissey-esque on
David Bowie's "As the World Falls Down," but when the band turns
Ritchie Valens' "Come on, Let's Go" into a rave-up reminiscent of
Ramones covers like "Let's Dance" and "California Sun," the raw adrenaline that launches from the speakers is utterly undeniable, and shows
Girl in a Coma at their best, mixing rockabilly swing, punk ferocity, and Latin soul in just over two minutes. Similarly, they approach the power of
X's "Dancing with Tears in My Eyes" on their fuzzed-out but still two-stepping version of
Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight," and the '60s-style garage power of their take on
the Velvet Underground's "Femme Fatale" makes it sound like a
Pandoras or early
Bangles tune. The lone new original, "Yo Oigo," is a showcase for
Diaz's scorching Telecaster. All in all, this is more than a holding action between "real"
Girl in a Coma albums -- they've chosen good songs, and put their own spin on them.