A24, an American film company known for indie hits such as “Midsommar,” “Moonlight,” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” has released a tribute album following its rerelease of Jonathan Demme’s “Stop Making Sense,” a seminal Talking Heads documentary. The album, titled “Everyone’s Getting Involved,” features 16 tracks from the film’s soundtrack, each covered by contemporary musicians.

The release, however, has received a lukewarm reception. The album showcases two main approaches: faithful karaoke-style run-throughs and reimagined versions that feel disconnected from the original material. Notable performances include Toro y Moi’s “Genius of Love,” The National’s “Heaven,” and Paramore’s cover of “Burning Down the House,” which features a strong vocal performance by Hayley Williams. Despite this, these covers are deemed unremarkable.

Some reimagined versions, such as DJ Tunez’s relaxed take on “Life During Wartime” and Miley Cyrus’s rendition of “Psycho Killer” with altered lyrics, have been criticized for not capturing the essence of the original songs. Kevin Abstract’s version of “Once In a Lifetime” has also been described as uninspired.

A few tracks have been highlighted for their distinctiveness: Lorde’s “Take Me to the River,” the Linda Lindas’ “Found a Job,” and El Mato a un Policia Motorizado’s Spanish-language cover of “Slippery People.” Despite these efforts, the album is considered more of a collectible item rather than a significant artistic contribution.

The tribute album was released as part of A24’s extensive lifestyle brand, which includes various merchandise products. The initiative mirrors the company’s strategy of leveraging its cultish reputation to expand its market presence.