Album Review: Matthew Sweet/Susanna Hoffs, "Under the Covers, Vol. 1" (Shout Factory)

Listening to Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoff's "Under the Covers, Vol. 1," one particular word kept popping into mind: why?

Why do we need new versions of such rock standards as Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl" and the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing"? Why did these artists cover the material in such straightforward ways, rarely adding anything new or interesting? And, most importantly, why should I turn off an "Alias" rerun to listen to this disc?

There are no good answers to be found on this boring collection of the duo's favorite pop tunes from the 1960s. In fact, anyone who can get through their take on Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"--the most blatantly obvious and uninspired choice on this album--without falling asleep should be given a medal.

Thankfully, not all the covers are that obvious. The pair reaches a bit to find such relative obscurities as the Left Banke's "She May Call You Up Tonight." But, overall, the feeling one gets from this album is that it's one that didn't need to happen. That's especially true given how poorly the two voices work together on most tracks.

The album's title, "Under the Covers, Vol. 1," seems to promise that there will be a follow-up. Let's hope that promise goes unfulfilled.