More Album Cover Outtakes

Pavement repurposed a 1970’s prog-rock album cover for their impeccable four-track EP Watery, Domestic.

Little known jazz-rock combo, Ambergris, released their one and only, and rather formidable, self-titled album in 1970, which could only be described as jazz-infused funk rock with latin shades.  

Stephen Malkmus from indie rock-legends Pavement, doodled over the rooster cover using chalk for their Watery, Domestic release in 1992, which could only be described as one of the greatest EPs of all time. 

The Pavement record marked the recording debuts of both Bob Nastanovich and Mark Ibold, on percussion and bass respectively, although both had been touring members for some time. This EP came to mark the final time original drummer Gary Young would record with the band.

The title for the EP came from Bob’s description of his beer preferences, since his tastes typically went towards low-alcohol American beer brands, i.e. Watery, Domestic.

With its bold colors and sharp detail, Malkmus repeated his propensity for defacing obscure record jackets and repurposing them as his own as seen on the groundbreaking Slanted and Enchanted the same year, and later Pavement classics where a collage approach was used for Crooked Rain Crooked Rain and Brighten the Corners.

Pavement’s final album Terror Twilight featured part of La Grande Menace (1957) “The Great Threat”, a spectacular tapestry by French artist, Jean Lurcat noted for his role in the revival of contemporary tapestry. The piece has a deep black background that makes the bright colors and tortured subjects pop, an excellent selection to use for a cropped excerpt for the Paveo sleeve art.

 

---

Further Reading:

♥     Brighten the Corners Album Art

♥     More Album Cover Outtakes | Pavement’s Wowee Zowee

♥     Pavement | Top 50 Songs

♥     Stephen Malkmus | Groove Denied