Genre bending tribute albums tend to be lame unless the ideas are as amusing and well executed as Opium Jukebox's. Centered around Martin Atkins (Pigface, The Damage Manual, Invisible Records, Underground, Inc.) and Bobdog Catlin (ex-Evil Mothers, Pigface, Pseudo Buddha) plus Julian Beeston (ex-Nitzer Ebb, Shining) and Rahul Sharma, the group relocates well known Western ditties thousands of miles to the East via sitars and such.Invisible
Their debut, 2000's 'Music to Download Pornography By', did it to such contemporary classics as "Smells Like Teen Spirit", "Head Like a Hole", "Cars" and "Whip It". Now it's classic Sex Pistols. Seven of 'Never Mind the Bollocks..' dozen songs, including two versions of "Anarchy in the U.K.", plus Vicious' calling card "My Way" are given the Indian makeover. The Pistols (or at least Malcolm McClaren and his cronies) churned out hilarious French language, disco and symphonic versions themselves, so Opium Jukebox's take might seem tame in comparison. You may or may not laugh, but you should at least be impressed with the musicianship and production. Sitar is the primary melody maker but other local stringed things and percussion are in the mix too, as well as tasteful samples and drum 'n bass fills. The covers are slower than the originals, some barely recognizable, though "Anarchy" and "God Save The Queen" certainly are. "My Way" gets an especially schmaltzy Muzak treatment which is perfect in its own weird way. So what's next for Opium Jukebox? I suggest Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" album.
 
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