This special edition includes a DVD with bonus footage including the video for album's premiere release Have a Little Faith in Me, beautifully illustrated with photographs as the singer walks along, and the video for Drop the Pilot, which was supposed to be the first release.

I cannot help but crack up the volume as soon as the album begins, because it starts off with a bang: Senses Working Overtime. It is catchy and it has excellent harmonies and background vocals. It blends right into the next track, The Whole of the Moon, which is lyrically amazing and ends with a superb echo effect. Can We Still Be Friends slows things down a bit, only to be sped up by I Feel the Earth Move, which feels very "live" yet disco. Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters, another ballad, is heartfelt. Drop the Pilot is one of my favorite tracks on the album, rock meets pop, energy meets emotion. Moonshadow is light and sweet, aided by plucky guitar. Dare I say that I like her version of One Way or Another as much as the original? As with the other songs, it is great to hear a familiar song sung by someone who is not attempting to sound exactly like the original singer. Likewise, Anticipation is good and slow with twang, as it should be. I enjoy how full Help Me sounds with the brass section and background vocals. Have a Little Faith in Me is nicely done, another emotional track that shows off tight, layered harmonies.

Mandy's voice has matured a great deal over the past few years. You can tell and hear that she loves music, and it loves her right back. From start to finish, a great testament to well-written songs and a great listen for adults and teens alike. This album is sure to widen her audience.


Have a little faith in Mandy   January 28, 2004
E. A Solinas (MD USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Mandy Moore is the pop singer who managed to capture the fickle liking of the media, kept her clothes on, never kissed Madonna, made a name as an actress, and put out the best covers CD in years, "Coverage." After a few CDs of forgettable (often downright bad) pop fluff), Mandy spreads her creative wings by presenting covers of some of her favorite songs.

Starting off with a bang is "Senses Working Overtime" (XTC), followed by (among others) the low-key swirling "Whole of the Moon" (Waterboys), the catchy "I Feel The Earth Move" (Carly Simon), slow, soaring "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" (Elton John), sweet folky "Moonshadow" (Cat Stevens), the imploring "Help Me" (Joni Mitchell), and a rocking cover of "One Way or Another" (Blondie).

While "Coverage" didn't get the media burble that Britney's "In The Zone" did, it garnered far better reviews from fans and critics alike. It's a creative gamble, and the passion behind it pays off. Moore's taste in older songs only adds to the pleasure gotten from listening to her sing them. While giving a 21st-century spin on classics like "One Way or Another," Moore maintains the distinctive sound of each one.

Moore's vocals are fuller and richer than before, as if the better material has allowed her to stretch vocally. At times, the nuances of her voice change (such as "I Feel The Earth Move"), as if influenced by whoever sang it first. What's more, she sounds as if she really is relishing what she's doing. The background music is also more multilayered, with a flute, saxophone, what sounds like a tambourine, and possibly more. "Moonshadow" has almost nothing but a guitar serving to frame Moore's voice.

The bonus DVD adds a little dimension to the album, and fans of Moore's will enjoy it. It's a series of interviews in which she talks about the songs she selected, and why she likes them. Peppering the interviews are shots of her music videos, and a candid talk about her motives in making "Coverage." (An interesting detail is that the recording wasn't done in the usual place -- it was in a renovated garage, not a studio)

"Coverage" is a sign that Moore is aiming in the right direction. Sugarfluff pop it ain't -- good music it is. Even if you aren't a fan of 70s and 80s pop and rock, this solid collection will capture you.


TEENPOP FANS BEWARE!! This is an ADULT POWERPOP RECORD!!!   October 21, 2003
Larry Davis (NYC/Long Island, NY, USA)
20 out of 24 found this review helpful

OK, Mandy Moore has done the unthinkable, in a GOOD way, however!! She has ditched the glossy teenpop stuff for an organic COVERS album of cool songs rooted in the 70s singer/songwriter tradition AND 70s/80s punk/new wave, with the common link being a distinct CLASSIC POWERPOP APPROACH, as the songs are all masterpieces in true pop songwriting!! I mean, it's a true powerpop record if JELLYFISH's notoriously shy ANDY STURMER guests on many tracks, plus SEMISONIC's Dan Wilson, both REMBRANDTS, and even a member of peculiar popsters SELF, powerpop singer/songwriter BLEU, and producer JOHN FIELDS, who has primarily done powerpop records.

Mandy DEFINITELY has the good kind of nerve, as I am sure, when Epic/Sony heard of Mandy's idea for this record (it really WAS her idea), they must have balked, and if it was up to them, they would have rejected it from the getgo. Really, "Coverage" IS commercial suicide, BUT that is a GOOD THING!!! Going for commercial results and sales is NOT GOOD, as quality is not the focus, just what would get on radio. WELL, RADIO is TERRIBLE and too tightly formatted!! Then again, I don't blame Mandy for going ANTI-commercial because when she was competing with Britney and Christina, radio never played her records, and she only had TWO minor charting records, nothing off her excellent true second + self-titled album. Sooooo, radio has always given Mandy the short end of the stick, so she goes ahead and turns the tables by REJECTING RADIO, and makes an ARTISTIC COVERS ALBUM, similar in stance to ANNIE LENNOX'S "MEDUSA"!! Good for Mandy!! Her records have always been better than her competition anyhow, that could be why she's been embraced moreso in Europe and Japan than in the US, as they know quality pop records more than the US market does, I'm not surprised.

The best thing that could happen to Mandy right now is if her teenpop/TRL fans go splitsville and ADULT POWERPOP fans + critics embrace her!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I really hope that's what happens. I mean, Mandy has got EXCELLENT taste, possibly aided by exposure via her boyfriend, tennis star Andy Roddick!! Lessee, she covers classics by JONI MITCHELL ("Help Me"), CARLY SIMON ("Anticipation" done alt-country style, woohoo!!), JOHN HIATT ("Have A Little Faith In Me", AWESOME song, first single, gorgeous performance, cool video), BLONDIE ("One Way Or Another", cool choice), XTC (the AWESOME, classic "Senses Working Overtime"), JOE JACKSON (the Badfinger ripoff "Breaking Us In Two"--the melody is a ripoff on "Day After Day", surprised the Pete Ham estate never sued Joe Jackson, but that's another story, Mandy does it great), JOAN ARMATRADING ("Drop The Pilot", awesome, obscure choice), CAROLE KING ("I Feel The Earth Move", classic pop tune), THE WATERBOYS (the 80s, and all-time, classic "The Whole Of The Moon"), TODD RUNDGREN (the amazing, classic "Can We Still Be Friends"), ELTON JOHN (the 70s classic "Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters"), and CAT STEVENS (the obscure and cool "Moon Shadow").

It also comes with an exclusive DVD with videoclips of 9 of these songs, and exclusive artwork + packaging not on the regular version. Sure, Mandy's fans can stay put, but most teenpop fans will be shocked, as they are closedminded enough that they are afraid to try anything GOOD and NEW (like, OH MY GOD, THE HORROR!!), and her closedminded fans will cry foul and treason, but those fans can drop dead for all I care and Mandy cares. HOWEVER, I hope new, ADULT powerpop fans will come to the table, those who dig Jellyfish and XTC, as this album is made just for us.

Good going Mandy!! I hope you keep moving in this direction, maybe do some powerpop songwriting next go-round!! No going back to the slick stuff, and radio?? You can go screw yourselves in your closed-mindedness and TOO-tight formatting, not allowing a quality + gloriously UN-commercial record like this to be heard on impressionable ears. Prove me wrong!!


well done, by a genuine star   December 5, 2003
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

As you can see, anyone who has disregarded this album has either 1) never listened to it or 2) didn't listen to it with an open mind; 1 being the majortiy case. That aside, this is a great album that I really enjoyed. Looking around, you will notice that there are not many people out there like Mandy today. Most in the music business are more concerned with image and publicity stunts rather than music itself; which is a travesty. Yet here Mandy is, genuinely making music for music's sake, and you have the audacity to insult her by your own ignorance of "Oh, it's just covers"?

Mandy poured her heart and soul into this album; she didn't regard as her "job" or something to pay the bills. This was her work of art, and she did it with every bit of passion in her. That's what makes me look beyond that this is simply a cover album. Mandy sings every song with every ounce of emotion in her, and simply shines. She doesn't need half nude magazine covers or infamous kisses. She has her music; and it's incredible music at that. Sure, original music is the true essence of authenticity and enginiuity, but she's still young and has plenty of time to develope. I can't wait for that. But in the mean time, this incredible album will suffice.


REDISCOVERAGE!!!   October 26, 2003
dogeneedtakeship (San Jose, California USA)
15 out of 18 found this review helpful

Mandy Moore is back with her highly anticipated cover album: Coverage. On Coverage, Mandy has furthered herself into a more organic sound as she attempted to do on her self-titled album: Mandy Moore. I think Mandy has finally found her sound; she just has to make her own music now. She has reworked some of the best classics of all time with her own style, making them sound more beautiful. This is a cover album, which is difficult to judge, so it's going to be either a pass or fail for some fans. I can tell you that on this album; Mandy's voice sounds its best and she has really grown vocally with each album. Her voice sounds really pretty in these tracks.

Track Highlights:

1.) Senses Working Overtime - I personally think this is the best track on the album. Her voice sounds extremely beautiful in this song. She adds rock and melodic vocal components to this track. I think this would make a fantastic second single. This song really sounds original and like it is one of her own.

2.) The Whole of the Moon - This song is okay. It really needed to be cut down from 5 minutes to maybe 3. A lot of this track is instrumental meaning there are large breaks of music without vocals. The only part of this song that is enjoyable is near the end wear Mandy's voice is echoed as she says, "oh, oh, oh, did you see the whole of the moon?"

3.) Can We Still Be Friends - This track actually doesn't sound much different than the original. I'd say this is an exact cover. Nothing changes in the way the vocals are arranged and the same goes for the music.

4.) I Feel the Earth Move - This was a track that I didn't think anyone would cover and I'm quite impressed. This is very retro sounding and it sounds extremely different from the original.

5.) Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters - To be honest, I've never heard Elton John's version of this song, but I can tell you Mandy sings the hell out of this track. You can tell she puts her heart and soul into this meaningful track.

6.) Drop the Pilot - This is a fantastic song. It's a very poppy and fun track. Mandy's vocals are literally rocking in this track.

7.) Moonshadow - I loved Cat Steven's version of this song and I like Mandy Moore's version even better. She really upped it up to today's standards by making it a bit like a lullaby. He voice sounds extremely pleasant over the music and everything sounds so great.

8.) One Way or Another - This is one of those older songs that you try to forget that you liked to begin with. I personally didn't like the original any more than I like this version. I mean don't get me wrong; the vocals and sounds are great on this track; I just don't really like the song.
9.) Breaking us in Two - The meaning of this song is great, but it didn't sound like there was anything done to this track to make it sound modern. It still sounds like a track from back in the day.

10.) Anticipation - This is a great cover. Then again, any cover of Carly Simon is great; considering the fact that she wrote great songs but had no vocal talent. Even Jennifer Lopez's Carly Simon cover of "You Belong to Me" sounds fantastic and that is saying a lot.

11.) Help Me - I have honestly never heard the original version of this song, but hearing Mandy's version; I definitely fell in love with it and long to hear the original.

12.) Have a Little Faith in Me - Out of all the songs on the album, this is the track I was most familiar with. This track was really transformed from something that was semi-dull and boring and the only reason people listened to it was because of the way the vocals sounded. However, Mandy does wonders with vocals on this song adding her breathy sound. The beat to this song was changed severally to meet the standards of a great 2003-pop song.

Bonus DVD - The DVD comes with commentary from Mandy saying how important these songs were to her. The DVD also consists of the video for "Have a Little Faith in me," and some behind the scene footage of "How to Deal" as well as some footage of the unreleased video for "Drop the Pilot."

I think people of all ages should give this album a try. Mandy really made these songs her own and I don't think any other artist could have done better. Mandy's talent was really rediscovered with this album.