Adventures In Coverland

Adventures In Coverland finds this San Antonio-based female trio ripping into a wide swath of rock, pop, Latin, and country material with gusto. The group acknowledges their affinity for ‘80s British rock by working up a minimalist, finger-snapping take on Joy Division’s “Transmission” and a moody rendering of David Bowie’s “As the World Falls Down.” The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” and Patsy Cline’s “Walkin’ After Midnight” are roughed up with Nina Diaz’s brawny guitar work, while the drama within Selena’s “Si una Vez” is heightened to tormented extremes. Especially revelatory are the treatments given to Richie Valens’ “Come On, Let’s Go,” the Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale” and Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth.” Diaz struts and snarls her way through these tunes with the defiant charisma of a young Chrissie Hynde, backed by the ferocious playing of bandmates Jenn Alva and Phanie Diaz. The album is nicely rounded out by the tough-yet-tender new original “Yo Oigo” and a slinky, insinuating acoustic version of “BB,” heard in different form on the band’s Trio B.C. album.