Sun(ny) Day Cover Up - Crystal Tickets Make Beatles Cry

It's been three years since Philadelphia’s psych surgeons Bardo Pond gave us something new – not that we need anything new necessarily, because their back catalogue is pretty exemplary. I've always thought the five-piece has been one of the most underrated bands of its ilk in the past decade. Fire Records can only bolster that claim, by lovingly reissuing 2006’s Ticket Crystals in a LP-only edition. Double vinyl and adorned with Joy Feasley’s new artwork, the album typifies the calculated yet fluid doom template that unrelentingly drives their sound, yet also showcased the pastel undercarriage that lightens the load enough for it to become immensely immersive rather than bludgeoning.

I realise this is a Sunday, but seeing as this is a stellar reissue I thought I’d give a special edition of “Friday Cover Up” to include the cover of the Beatles’ ‘Cry Baby Cry.’ Originally recorded for and broadcast by the BBC as part of their commemorations of the 25th anniversary of John Lennon’s death, it exemplifies the whole point I crafted the Cover Up segment in the first place. Taking great music and imbuing it with their own personality to craft a unique vision, this is Lennon in an iron lung filled with cryogenic fluid and absinthe.

Bardo Pond – Cry Baby Cry (Beatles cover)

And here is another Ticket Crystals classic…

Bardo Pond – Destroying Angel

 

Pre-order Ticket Crystals here. The band aim to release a new record in the latter stages of 2013, whilst also planning to release an exclusive 12” covers record for Record Store Day, so we haven’t heard the last of this stellar band.

FRIDAY COVER UP - A Green Lennon In July; Knifing Manhattan

This week I received two covers from undiscerning artists that I didn't know the world needed or wanted, yet here they are - and they both are a lot of fun.

First up is from Green Like July, who was sent over by Bad Panda (in turn sent through by cool Italian indie label Ghost Records). Four-Legged Fortune is Green Like July’s second release and it was recorded in Omaha,Nebraska at the well-known ARC Studios (which hosted artists like Bright Eyes, Pete Yorn, Julian Casablancas, Cursive). The touchstones don't stop there - the album was produced by A.J Mogis (Saddle Creek) and many local artists related to the Saddle-Creek family, including Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Monsters Of Folk), gave their personal contributions to the album. The new EP includes two covers, the other being of Big Star. But it was this one that resonated more with me - and hopefully you too.

Green Like July - Crippled Inside (John Lennon cover)


It isn't often that we feature a band from a Hits From The Box segment as quickly after the fact as we do here - hell, the Dubliners known as Manhattan only showed up on Planet Masala on Monday! But here we are. In fact, I think of the two recorded tracks they previewed, this cover is by far the best. Make of that what you will - but anyone who attempts a Knife cover and does a good job of it deserves kudos.

Manhattan - We Share Our Mother's Health (The Knife cover)

Enjoy the weekend kids!

A Friday Cover Up + A Ballad of John And Yoko...By Sweet Degrees

Its been quiet on the Sonic Masala front this week, I must admit. We are still yet to post the Naked On The Vague/Grass Widow/Wetdog gig review and photos, although I wrote it the day after, plus the level of inactivity after our big breakthrough interview on..erm, Breakthru Radio on Thursday is a little disconcerting (check it out here - its The Anatomy Of A Blogger show on 14/10/10). On top of being embarrassed by my unease when in the hot seat (although in context, it was rushed, I had a bus to catch to Cambridge in less than an hour), both Paul and I have been inundated by outside influences - AKA work. So the only way to get back on the horse, is to saddle up to our staple Friday Cover Up. Today Im in charge, so Im going for someone who is much more obscure but much loved here in my dusty corner of the SM world.

Sweet Lights self released a self titled album a little while ago (which you can grab here) that was a beautiful pastiche of eclectic pop workings that stick to you like prickles in your socks. Now he has released a cover, and I must say I was floored. Its not an overly redefining working of the track rather than the choice of cover - the Travelling Wilburys. I actually found myself grinning for the entirety of the first listen, then immediately played it again - a win in my books.

Sweet Lights - Handle With Care (Travelling Wilburys cover)

And while Im at it, remember the clip Sweet Lights made for his track 'Message On The Wire'? The lil Scott Baio kid breakdancing his arse off? Well, believe it or not, that handy breakin action is actually Mr Sweet Lights himself as a kid - amazing! Id want to launch that on the world too - all I was good at was falling off my BMX and drawing kick-arse vehicles of death with rockets and machine guns, that somehow came off looking like clogs. And now he has patched up a vid for another track, ''You Won't Be There' - a lil homage to John and Yoko. And seeing as the bearded weird One would have hit 70 just a week ago, its a fitting touch - he truly is a sweet structuralist of pop music. Enjoy the weekend SMers!

Sweet Lights - You Won't Be There from Sweet Lights on Vimeo.

It could of been the 70th

As many of you know, and as I have been kindly reminded by Google's sweetly animated logo, tomorrow, Saturday, would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. Now I know that this date will be universally hailed and celebrated by mainstream music (I haven't checked but I bet you a pint that BBC Radio 2 will have a special four hour program on the subject, or something similar.) But I'm pretty sure opinions of Mr Lennon's output, as part of some 'beat combo' or his solo materiel will be very divided amongst those of alternative music tastes, e.g those that read this blog. Im just guessing to be honest, but it seems that you're happy to admit your a closet Lennon fan not these days.

But I'll be the first to admit that the man's rather important for alternative music in general. Please feel free to question me to the contrary though. I could go on about how Sgt. Pepper invented the alternative concept album or how Imagine is the perfect, uniting, love and peace affirming pop track, but I won't, there's no need. I'll just post the track I found Out, from the Plastic Ono Band L.P. Now it isn't his most famous solo track, its not even his best from that album, but hopefully it will remind you that the man knew how to write a good jam. Its kind of fitting for a blog I guess, and in my corner it always just kicked ass.

John Lennon - I found Out