Love Sweat

by Donald A. Guarisco This album finds Golden Earring turning their attention to cover versions with mixed success. To their credit, they have chosen an interesting cross-section of songs that cover everything from the Beach Boys and the Beatles to Bob Seger and the James Gang. They also apply a significant amount of instrumental firepower to the songs: the guitar-fuelled antics of "Motor Bikin'" easily lives up to the original, and their guitar-heavy take on "When I Was Young" exudes a sinister, powerful atmosphere. Another highlight is the group's update of the Bo Diddley classic "Who Do You Love," which raises the tempo to an adrenaline-fuelled speed and further benefits from tight, energetic drum work (complete with a short solo) from Cesar Zuiderwijk. However, not all the songs benefit from the Golden Earring treatment: "Sail on Sailor" loses impact because it lacks the sweet harmonies that balanced out the Beach Boys' original version, and the guitar-heavy rearrangement of "Turn the Page" robs this Bob Seger song of its mood of quiet anguish. Another problem with Love Sweat is that it fails to rework its covers in new and interesting ways. In fact, the cover of "My Little Red Book" is practically a note-for-note copy of the original version. Because they follow the originals so closely, the resulting album lacks the kind of surprises that would make it a standout in the group's catalog. Despite these problems, Love Sweat remains a fine showcase for Golden Earring's instrumental prowess, and thus makes a solid listen for the group's following.