Sparkle*Jets U.K.

Best Of Friends

Big Stir Records

This collection of covers, all from the late 90s and early Aughts, is very specialized: all LA power pop bands on the local scene. Sparkle*Jets U.K. pays tribute to these bands, and a very good and fitting tribute it is.

All of these covers are pretty faithful to the originals, by some well known bands like The Negro Problem's “Mahnsanto.” If the band rings a bell, remember the Tony Award nominated Broadway musical Passing Strange. Stew and Heidi from TNP wrote and created that. Or Brian Wilson’s touring band, The Wondermints, with "In And Around Greg Lake." The covers here give a slight edge to TNP.

Other wonderful covers include The Masticators' “He’s Coming Out,” as in getting out of town, but it may also represent a new start sexually. In Candypants' feminist “I Want a Pony,” the singer wants her mom to pony up on things like being president or a rock star.

Sparkle*Jets U.K. are Michael Simmons (vocals, guitars, keyboards, drums), Susan West (vocals), and Jamie Knight (bass). They’ve done LA proud with these covers. It certainly seems like a labor of love for them. So if you’re curious about LA and have never really been there, this is a starting place to get to know the city's scene beyond the famous bands, and it's more than worth the time to listen to.

Andrea Weiss