Sounds

Today’s Sounds: Paper Bag vs. Ziggy Stardust

by Lorraine Carpenter

Impossible! How do you cover one of the best records of all time?
Many many bands have played these songs live, and there have been notable recorded covers by Bauhaus (“Ziggy Stardusrt”) and Seu Jorge (Portuguese versions of several tracks for the soundtrack of A Life Aquatic), but rarely has any of them achieved more than triggering a craving for the originals.
To celebrate their own 10th year of operation, and the 40th anniversary of the Ziggy Stardust record, Paper Bag and their primo roster of Canadian talent rose to the challenge. And the results are truly impressive.

Record:

Various Artists, Paper Bag Records vs. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars (Paper Bag)

 
Impossible! How do you cover one of the best records of all time?

Many many bands have played these songs live, and there have been notable recorded covers by Bauhaus (“Ziggy Stardusrt”) and Seu Jorge (Portuguese versions of several tracks for the soundtrack of A Life Aquatic), but rarely has any of them achieved more than triggering a craving for the originals.

To celebrate their own 10th year of operation, and the 40th anniversary of the Ziggy Stardust record, Paper Bag and their primo roster of Canadian talent rose to the challenge. And the results are truly impressive.

The key seems to be total transformation. Rather than ape Bowie & Ronson & co., Austra (with CFCF), the Luyas, Young Galaxy, Woodhands, Yamantaka // Sonic Titan and the Acorn (yeah, the freakin’ Acorn!) went far out into the stratosphere with their tracks, stripping away the bulbous guitars in favour of a more electronic palette, injecting ghostly atmosphere and in one case translating lyrics into French, and speaking rather than singing them.

Taking a more faithful approach, PS I Love You work their magic on one of the record’s top tracks, with unsurprising guitar heroics by Paul Saulnier that would’ve certainly earned Mick Ronson’s approval. The shocker here is that drummer Benjamin Nelson sings, and KILLS it. What the hell, dude? Give that guy a mic.

On a similar tip, Cuff the Duke stick close to the original script on their track, but transition early on to a head-bobbing beat that makes it sound more Blur than Bowie. And who knew Ziggy also played banjo? Elliott Brood take on the big tune in a two-tiered fashion, like Dylan pre- and post-’65 simultaneously.

Born Ruffians and Slim Twig bridge the two approaches to the cover, remaining faithful in vocal delivery, rhythm and pacing, but rendering their chosen tracks with a crackling synthscape and reverb-drenched drone-osphere, respectively.

So if you need proof that Canada continues to dominate the music world, that Paper Bag is awesome and that Bowie still reigns supreme, here it is, bitches. If you’re wondering why I’m not telling you what songs each band covers, it’s because I want you to hear it for yourself. Good news: it’s a free download!

For a preview, listen to Young Galaxy’s brilliant take on “Hang Onto Yourself” here.

And if you happen to be in Toronto next weekend, Paper Bag’s anniversary shows are happening, feat. the reunion of You Say Party. Can you handle this much good news on a Monday?
 

Track:

Maïa, “Anticosti”

 
Ta-da! This member of Ladies of the Canyon releases Héritage, a solo record en français, this week. Preview the song “Anticosti” here and check out her album launch at Petit Campus (57 Prince-Arthur E.) tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 25, 5 p.m., free.
 
 
 
 

Video:

Sun Airway, “Close”

 
This Philadelphia duo, whose sophomore LP Soft Fall is out next Tuesday on Dead Oceans, hired Ewan MacLeod to direct a video that’s simply the stuff of dreams. Or Lost. Except the magical mystery island you’ve washed up on isn’t tropical, and you’re on your own. Or are you?
 

Posted in Sounds

by Lorraine Carpenter

Editor in chief
Lorraine Carpenter was born in Montreal and studied communications and journalism at Concordia. She co-founded Cult MTL in 2012 following 12 years at the now-defunct Montreal alt weekly the Mirror, where she worked in editorial as copy editor and music editor. She’s dedicated to supporting the cultural scene in Montreal.

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