I have grown really weary of covers. Sometimes it's really cool, but mostly, you wish they would leave well enough alone and stick to their own material. Which brings us to the the follow-up or buffer release -- depending on who you ask -- from Black Light Burns. Open Your Heart is part instrumental and part sonic tribute to the bands from which frontman Wes Borland pulled some inspiration.

The first half of the disc showcases covers from a grab bag of sources ranging from the likes of Duran Duran ("Hungry Like the Wolf") to the Jesus Lizard ("The Art of Self Defense") with mixed results. While the tracks aren't exactly god awful, they aren't exactly brimming with brilliance, either. Some songs work better than others (the cover of the classic Sisters of Mercy track "Lucretia My Reflection" is mighty well done). Some of the other tracks (such as P.J. Harvey's "Rid of Me") make for, well... interesting listening, to say the least. However, it is worth noting that the covers are definitely made in to Black Light Burns songs and not just 'by the numbers' reworkings of the originals, which is a plus. The best bits, though, come in the latter half with the instrumental tracks, providing various layers of texture to the overall recording.

The audio portion may frustrate fans of the band eager for new material, but the proper release does included a DVD, as well as Borland's rather awesome artwork, both of which should prove a treat for current fans. New fans or people just curious to check them out, should pick up the bands first record, Cruel Melody.

Review by: Jenny Williams

Additional links:
- Black Light Burns on Myspace