Can an independent label live mostly off of cover albums? Might as well ask American Laudromat Records, who’s got an arsenal full of them. From the Pixies tribute Dig for Fire to the Neil Young tribute Cinnamon Girl and beyond, the southeastern Connecticut-based upstart has made a nice living bowing down to rock’s finest, usually with the help of rock’s finest.
Up next is the all-star homage Just Like Heaven: A Tribute to The Cure, which features artists like The Wedding Present, Tanya Donnelly (Throwing Muses, The Breeders), Devics, Joy Zipper, Grand Duchy (Pixies’ architect Black Francis with Violet Clark) and more revising their favorite Gothic pop classics. Listening Post caught up with American Laundromat honcho and Just Like Heaven producer Joseph Spadaro to find out why the eyelinered legends got the nod, and why the cover is sometimes better than the original.
Wired.com: So, why The Cure?
Joseph Spadaro: We’re just huge fans of the early Cure albums. We hadn’t planned to do a Cure tribute. It was one of those sparks of genius, or perhaps sparks of madness. It all came together so quickly that it seemed like it was meant to happen.
Wired.com: What’s your coolest cover album ever?
Joseph Spadaro: I always loved the Saturday Morning Cartoons compilation. That was a fun record.
Wired.com: Why so many cover albums?
Joseph Spadaro: It’s a way to pay homage to bands you respect or grew up with. Plus, they’re a lot of fun to do. In a way, it’s the ultimate mixtape.
Wired.com: Is it good for biz?
Joseph Spadaro: Yes, covers sell really well for us. Especially by more well-known artists.
Wired.com: Have you run across any covers that were better than the originals?
Joseph Spadaro: On this Cure tribute, there are several that I think are better than the originals. Two of my favorites are The Poems performing "10:15 Saturday Night" and Elk City performing "Close To Me." Both bands reinvented the songs, and their interpretations are really outstanding.
See also:
- The Cure: Pop Culture’s Bottomless Resource
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- MP3: ‘The Best Mogwai Song in Ten Years’
- Does M. Night Shyamalan Have a Thing for Pixies?
- Lost Joins Shyamalan’s Pixies Lovefest
- New Spider Species Named After Neil Young
- Colbert Gets His Spider, Likes Neil Young Again
- Neil Young: Hi-Res Music is ‘The Future.’ What’s the Freakin’ Holdup?
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