Rave On Buddy Holly is a tribute album featuring several big name acts. Among them are Florence + The Machine, Paul McCartney, The Black Keys, My Morning Jacket and She & Him among others. The 19 tracks are flexable on whether the artist stays true to Holly’s original or not, several are(She & Him’s “Oh Boy”) and some a very different(Julian Casablancas’ “Rave On”)

It is disappointing that the Black Keys never bust out into a jam on “Dearest” or My Morning Jacket don’t take on a song they could have done more with. Of the artists on this album the highlights are a bit surprising. Cee Lo Green only takes 1:33 to tackle “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care” but still manages to make it an album highlight. Cee Lo is only outdone by Paul McCartney who could have easily delivered a Beatles-esque run-through of “It’s So Easy” McCartney delivers the song channeling Iggy Pop more that his previous band. It is a driving romp that dies and comes back showing what an artist can do with a song on a tribute album.

Justin Townes Earle delivers a good reading of “Maybe Baby” that adds a firm guitar riff inconsistent with Earle’s usual sound. Modest Mouse don’t hesitate to make “That’ll Be The Day” fit with their catalog. They change the song as much as any artist does on the tribute.

Tribute albums like this are always interesting when well know artist pay homage to their idols.

Key Tracks: Paul McCartney – “It’s So Easy”, Cee Lo Green – “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care”