Book by its Cover: Bryan Ferry, Kevin Drew, Rufus Wainwright

I’m a busy, busy man. Between Indie Schmarm staff meetings in our underground bunker, hosting my own cooking show on the Brazilian Food Network and maintaining my bonsai tree sculpture of Jack Bauer, I don’t have a lot of time to hunker down and listen to music. I do, however, make it a point to set aside a few passing moments every so often to take a good look at music. Therefore, I now present you with a brief analysis of some choice album covers…

Bryan Ferry - Dylanesque

I heard a rumor that it was first suggested to Mr. Ferry that he do a covers album when his A&R guy heard the following lyrics to a new original composition:

“Monkey juice caravan/love salad, boom boom boom/I just can’t keep my eyes off of me/when I’m in the room/I stroll the boulevard/technicolor carousel of days of yore/I am the pied piper of fine silks and spice/poo poo ka ka apple core.”

Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew -  Spirit If…

Not too long before the release of Spirit If… Dan Tana and I were taking a ride in the company car, Broken Social Scene’s self-titled record pouring out of the speakers and over us like hot wax on nipples, letting ourselves become lulled into a trance. We began thinking aloud, describing the album song-by-song as some sort of psychedelic, high production value high school play. I swear to God every other scene featured unicorns in one way or another: Kevin Drew riding through space on the back of a winged unicorn; Kevin Drew’s head on a baby’s body in a basket, floating down a river, flanked by swimming unicorns….

So, basically, Drew has his finger on the pulse of my over-active imagination.

Rufus Wainwright - Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall

Rufus Wainwright. Judy Garland tribute album.

We get it, man. We get it.

-Torquil Crossingham