From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V4 #405 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Wednesday, November 18 1998 Volume 04 : Number 405 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Today's your birthday, friend... [Mike Matthews ] Re: Kathleen Yearwood news [neal copperman ] about JEWEL and that video [irvin lin ] Newbie. ["Graham" ] Toronto area concert: Jessica Weiser and friends! [Steve I ] RE: CD Clubs [Jeff Burka ] Re: Kathleen Yearwood news [Neile Graham ] felicity bush ["Mike Mendelson" ] Re: Newbie. [Neile Graham ] New discovery: Pepper Acton [Neile Graham ] another Jewel thought (and Felicity) [00jnweiser@bsuvc.bsu.edu] New discovery: Sara Ayers [Neile Graham ] New discovery: Margot O'Breslin [Neile Graham ] Re: Newbie. [Paul Myszor ] Re: Newbie. [Chris Sampson ] Re: Ethereal Stuff (was Newbie) ["C. K. Coney" ] Re: Newbie. [Neile Graham ] Re: Tara in NYC [Paul Kim ] re: Taste of Joy [J Wermont ] straight to the point [J Wermont ] Re: straight to the point [Neile Graham ] re: Taste of Joy [Andrew Fries ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 03:00:04 -0500 (EST) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friend... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ******************** Naama Avramzon (no Email address) ******************** *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Naama Avramzon Mon November 18 1974 Scorpio Jeff Smith Mon November 19 1962 Crash Kevin Bartlett Fri November 21 1952 Scorpio Claudia Spix Wed November 23 1960 Schuetze Anja Baldo Tue November 23 1965 Garbanzo Tommy Persson Wed November 25 1964 Sagittarius Pat Tessitore November 26 Sagittarius Justin Bur Fri November 27 1964 Sagittarius Sue Trowbridge Sun November 27 1966 Skytten Ward Kadel Tue November 29 1977 Sagittarius Mirko Bulaja Sat November 30 1974 Block Juha Sorva Thu December 02 1976 Sagittarius Chip Lueck Thu December 05 1968 Sagittarius Michele Wellck December 08 Sagittarius Jeremy J. Corry Fri December 11 1970 Sagittarius Renee Canada Tue December 13 1977 Sagittarius Julie C. Kammerzell Sun December 15 1968 Sagittarius/Scorpio combo Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti Sat December 15 1956 Sagittarius Damon Harper Tue December 16 1975 COOL BANANAS Laura Clifford Tue December 17 1957 Sagittarius Dirk Kastens Tue December 17 1963 Sagittarius Milla Wed December 17 1975 Sagittarius Chris Schernwetter Tue December 17 1974 Sagittarius Sherry Haddock Sat December 17 1960 Sagittarius Tracy Benbrook Tue December 18 1973 Sagittarius - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 01:40:09 -0700 From: neal copperman Subject: Re: Kathleen Yearwood news At 9:41 AM -0800 11/17/98, Neile Graham wrote: >I emailed Subterranean to see if they do indeed have copies. Cool. Do post if they'll take checks. I'd be quite interested in getting this. >>It's a great tape, so I might consider upgrading. > >Well, I want to support her how I can, and if buying both helps, that's >fine with me, especially as she's okay with making taped copies for people >who can't afford the tape or disc. I figure I'm buying a copy that someone >else would have bought it they could afford it. And the packaging itself >is almost worth it. Good point. Plus, since you bought my copy of Book of Hate for under 2 dollars, and then Kathleen provided the handmade lyric book for free, I could certainly spring for the extra disc. >Not sure I'm in love with bugs (or skinned lambs, either, so don't you all >bug me about the cover art for discs that I love, ok?) but it's still >pretty cool. ewwww (or ewe) neal np: Grainger Piano Music - Marc-Andre Hamelin ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 01:09:31 -0800 From: irvin lin Subject: about JEWEL and that video jumping in (rather later) i have not heard the new JEWEL album, but i have heard and seen the video HANDS, and i would like to say that i too agree with NEILE in that it is utter tripe. i disagree with the interpretation that she is an angel there to help the people, because her presences in the video is all to corporal, and she does physically help one or two people in the video. i don't fully blame her for the video, as it isn't necessarily the artist's choice for the interpretation or the video concepting, that is the director, but i certainly think that JEWEL did not disapprove of the video, and most likely had some sort of input with the director in the direction that the video would take. unfortunately that direction was way to condescending and utter cliched for my liking. but i am willing to give her a benefit of the doubt. i would also like to comment on the fact that i don't think people here dislike jewel because of the hype surrounding her or the overcommercialization of her. after all SARAH MCLACHLAN is quite popular round these here parts, and she is probably the epitome of overcommercialization. same thing goes for people like TORI, PAULA COLE, FIONA APPLE and a slew of other commercially successful artists. rather people seem to dislike JEWEL because her work (imo) tends to be rather sophomoric, simplistic, and overly earnest. now i liked JEWEL way back when. i remember when JEWEL was first brought up on this list, before PIECES OF YOU was released - i think before she even had a contact. i have her first self produced SHIVA DIVA DOO-WOP tape that you could purchase from her coffee house shows (someone, neal? sent it to me). i have her first two promo CD's (SAVE THE LINOLEUM, PHULLIS BARNABEE FINALLY GETS A BRA). i have PIECES OF YOU. hell i even have a video tape of her in THE WIZARD OF OZ IN CONCERT broadcast way back when. i list all these things not to boast (i am sure i could get a pretty penny for some of these items, being as there are so many damn fanatatical JEWEL-RIES out there) but to state where i am coming from. i have always found JEWEL to be sophomoric, simplistic, and earnest. but i also saw some sort of potential in her. her live stuff (i have yet to see her live, and i don't think i want to now, but i have tapes) is fun. she was fun. she use to exuded personality, wit, she believed in what she wrote, yet she never really took herself too seroiusly. despite how overly earnest and overly simplified everything she said was, she would makes comments like "kinda dorky but..."(end of the live version of I'M SENSITIVE from SAVE THE LINOLEUM). she would write a song in the afternoon and then she would perform it in all it's silliness later that night. she wasn't earthshattering. she wasn't someone who would change my life. but she was someone who i enjoyed. and who enjoyed herself. in short she was a real person. some artists are able to stay that way. after all ANI DIFRANCO is able to keep the same sort of spunk and grounded reality with her, even though she seems to be selling bigger and bigger arenas. ANI is the perfect example of taking someone who slowly builds up from the ground level and then works her way up. JEWEL on the other hand left from the ground to the stars, and hasn't looked back. any sort of potential that she had, seems to have become stilted in her fame. and though i should probably listen to her new album to make judgements, and not base it on the single, and the video, i think that JEWEL is someone that will most likely be lost to the fame machine. in short, JEWEL takes herself WAY to seriously now. and she used to think it was all sort of fun and games. but now...way WAY too earnest. she seriously thinks she is going to change the world. ANI, well you just have to look at her last CD cover (LITTLE PLASTIC CASTLE) to see that she is still having fun. and i applaud that. anyway what this long ass email boils down to is that i think it is way to simplistic to say that jewel gets ragged on for being overly commercial and overly exposed. if she wasn't so overly exposed or overly commmercial, i think she would be a very different person, and a very different performer. too much too soon syndrome. didn't SINEAD O'CONNOR sing about that? ("how could i possibly know what i want when i was only twenty-one" - the emperor's new clothes). i didn't mean to ramble on about JEWEL. but this is what you get when you get emails from me this late at night. sorry. irvin (who really needs to get a real job, so that he can preoccupy his life with real things - like making money to pay the rent, instead of exposing theories about pop singers and why they are who they are) np. LOW - ONE MORE REASON TO FORGET ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 10:04:34 -0000 From: "Graham" Subject: Newbie. Well I thought that I would finally take the plunge and post a message. I don't know if I am doing this correctly. Anyway, I am Graham, I live in London and I am passionate about female vocals of the ethereal kind, constantly looking for new stuff to listen to. I have a web site over at www.graham.lubin.com/music.html where I review and share some of my latest finds plus the music of established artists. Right now I am listening to 'The Merlin Mystery' by Alchemy and 'Time Passengers' by F.R.E.U.D. (separately of course, not at the same time) I would love to hear what etc people listen to when they feel the need to be a bit ethereal. Best wishes Graham ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 07:52:20 -0500 From: Steve I Subject: Toronto area concert: Jessica Weiser and friends! Hiya folks... sorry about the massive crossposting! -=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=--=*=- NORTHERN SOUNDS PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS... Dead Daisy Recording Artist DYLAN WHITE Jessica Rayanne & Weiser Lepieszo You know the what and who, now for the when and where (and we're sorry about the short notice). See two talented singer-songwriters in their Toronto debut. And Mr. Dylan White, Dead Daisy's premiere new artist, singer songwriter par excellence, member of the band Cicero! When? Where? Saturday, November 21, 12:00pm (noon) SHARP until 1:30pm Free Times Cafe, 320 College St (2 blocks west of Spadina) 416-967-1078. For more information or a Brunch Menu, send a mail message to Northern Sounds at: nsounds@bigfoot.com ========================================================================== Anyway that was our official "press release". Informally, this will be a cozy Saturday brunch show featuring ectophile/ITW'er Jessica Weiser (her Toronto debut!). Also on the bill will be wunderkind Rayanne Lepieszo and Dead Daisy's Dylan White, whose upcoming album features guest performances by Sarah Slean and label founder Emm Gryner. Anyway I hope that some of you can come out and support some promising new singer-songwriters, one of whom is a fellow listmember! Steve I ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:31:03 -0500 From: rich.rapp@effem.com Subject: CD Clubs I remember reading on the now defunct October Project mailing list (OPus) that O.P. requested you not buy their CD's through CD clubs because they were considered promos and didn't count toward the total sales.... Don't know if this is really true then or now.... Rich R. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:51:39 -0500 From: "Foghorn J Fornorn" Subject: RE: CD Clubs Columbia, I believe, has a 4 cd minimum requirement, at "regular club prices". But they shouldn't be sending you cards re: automatic shipments...since they don't do automatic shipments anymore. Columbia House does indeed still have automatic shipments, at least in the club of that name (or "Columbia Music Club"). However CH now has a couple of other clubs (Total E and another with a snappy one word title that escapes me at the moment) which do not use automatic shipments. One good thing is that instead of mailing the stupid card back each time you can now respond via a web site. Plus, the online catalog is more extensive than the paper catalog you get in the mail. I've browsed the online catalog of Total E, its not too bad, I'm thinking of asking that they switch me over. I've found the clubs to be a reasonably cost effective way to acquire the more mainstream selections provided one is not in a hurry for them. That is, once you get past the original requirements, if any. CH often offers 3 for the price of 1 every few months, if I can find 3 nice-to-haves that cycle I'll usually play. Then again, I live in a town where the only record store within 10 miles is The Wall, so convenience of mail order is a factor. (Fortunately if I expand my radius to say 20 miles I can count at least 3 really good indie stores). As usual, your mileage may vary. Contact customer service to find out how to terminate. Don't be surprised if they try to bribe you back with a version of their initial deal (ie 12 cds for a penny or whatever the prevailing hook is. Like I could find 12 cds I want and don't have in one shot today...) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 09:43:45 -0500 (EST) From: Jeff Burka Subject: RE: CD Clubs On Wed, 18 Nov 1998, Foghorn J Fornorn wrote: > Columbia House does indeed still have automatic shipments, at least in the > club of that name (or "Columbia Music Club"). However CH now has a couple of > other clubs (Total E and another with a snappy one word title that escapes > me at the moment) which do not use automatic shipments. "Play". Is that snappy enough? feh. ;-) I'm still a member of their normal club, with one difference: no automatic shipments. When I was in grad school, I would forget to send back the cards, so they'd ship me a CD. If you don't open the box, you can just write "return to sender" on it and CH has to pay to have it shipped back to them. Do this often enough and they finally figure out that maybe you're not responsible enough to handle the obligation they'd like you to handle -- or they figure out that they're *really* losing money on you. They converted me to a "send this back only if you want the disc" status years before they came up with their new no-automatic-shipment club. Another data point: once upon a time, I was a member of Columbia House (not the current membership). I moved from college in Indiana back home to DC and wrote to tell them this, trying to be responsible as I hadn't fulfilled my obligation. I couldn't find anything with my membership number, but I told them my name, old, and new addresses. They wrote back and told me they couldn't do anything without my membership number. Idiots. Hopefully their database is a wee bit more sophisticated now. (this would have been back in '91 or so) jeff ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:07:47 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: Kathleen Yearwood news neal copperman wrote: >>I emailed Subterranean to see if they do indeed have copies. > >Cool. Do post if they'll take checks. I'd be quite interested in getting >this. Yes, they will. Mine's in the mail. >Good point. Plus, since you bought my copy of Book of Hate for under 2 >dollars, and then Kathleen provided the handmade lyric book for free, I >could certainly spring for the extra disc. Wow, did I? I'd forgotten this. >>Not sure I'm in love with bugs (or skinned lambs, either, so don't you all >>bug me about the cover art for discs that I love, ok?) but it's still >>pretty cool. > >ewwww (or ewe) For those not in the know, this is a reference to the cover of one of my new favourite discs, about which a meessage will follow shortly. - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 10:33:01 -0600 From: "Mike Mendelson" Subject: felicity bush Actually, I have a better question -- what was the relevance of TWW in that scene. The scene involved a girl who had just been raped by her boyfriend and he is unaware (or feigning unawareness) of this, while she is faced with reporting him and him probably being expelled from NYU. What does this have to do with a song about how powerless a father feels when his wife is giving birth?!! I replayed it a couple of times and tried to make sense of it but couldn't make much. As much as I was thrilled to hear a kate song on prime time tv (and arguably the hottest show of the new season), I was bothered by the choice of that song -- is there something I am missing here? Even in kate's repertory there are more relevant songs that could be used here. RUTH, for example. (exercise to find other examples left to the reader ;-) - -mjm |> >I also appreciate that there's always Ecto music on Felicity. Hell, |> >they've practically played the entire _Siren_ album. But suddenly I'm |> >mad ... they played KaTe's "This Woman's Work" tonight, and DID NOT |> >mention KaTe at the end of the show .... but they mentioned Jewel and |> >the other music played. |> > |> >What's up with that? |> |> My guess is that it's promotional. The Jewel song is new, the Kate |> song is not. How often are older songs promoted by other means? | |The deal shows have going now is that the song is provided without charge |in exchange for being credited and featured at the end of the show. It may |be that her label/Kate figured there wasn't that much promotional value |and took the $$ instead. They don't just mention new albums...Ben |Webster got screen time for the track of his they played. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:20:06 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: Newbie. Welcome, Graham! Graham wrote: >Well I thought that I would finally take the plunge and post a message. I >don't know if I am doing this correctly. Seems to be working. >I would love to hear what etc people listen to when they feel the need to be >a bit ethereal. Some ecto favourites are Happy Rhodes, of course. Also a lot of people like Cocteau Twins, Love Spirals Downwards, Virginia Astley, October Project. My personal more ethereal favourites are Happy, Aether, Area, The Moon Seven Times (esp. their 1st album for etherealness), and Pamela Golden. - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:35:31 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: New discovery: Pepper Acton Hi, everyone-- Recently I have had the good fortune to make a few musical discoveries thanks to The Ectophiles' Guide. A friend of Pepper Acton's sent a copy of her disc in for review on the advice of ectophile Joel Seigfried (no longer a list member but who has an ectophile page on the web). Pepper is a pianist, and I've described her (there is a page on her on The Ectophiles' Guide by the way) as a fierce Robin Holcomb. There's something about the combination of her piano work and vocals that remind me of Robin Holcomb a lot, but her style is far more like a more angry Tori of the "Icicle" song on _Under The Pink_, and her voice has the same qualities as Tori's in that song. Her 7-song ep _Marrow_ is an album I have obsessed on since I first got a copy in for the Guide about two months ago, and I've already bought a copy for myself and several to give away. This is the source of the skinned lamb comment in my message about Kathleen Yearwood--there are skinned lamb heads as the cover art on the disc (to go with the _Marrow_ title?). It makes the album seem unnecessarily ugly, which it is NOT. Pepper's style is energetic and impressionistic, in her vocal style, her piano work, and her lyrics. Marion Kippers doesn't like how her voice is not syncopated with the piano (though she often likes that style, just not in Pepper's work), but for me I find it effective in the same way that Robin Holcomb is--the varying over the piano line creates an intriguing movement for me and helps me find her work rich when it's just her and her piano. I recommend this album for anyone interested in the beautiful and fierce. If you want to check her out, there are sound sample on the web at her site at http://pepper.by.net, which is linked on her page in The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music at http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide/guide.cgi?artists/acton.pepper. My EctoGuide comments, for those who don't have time to visit there, are: Okay, don't look too hard at the cover, but do listen hard to the music. This is a girl and her piano, yes, but get past the superficial resemblance to Tori Amos (I mean it used to be that any woman with a piano seemed to sound like Kate Bush, now it's Tori). Anyway, this is a brief but individual, powerful, emotionally affecting collection of songs. This isn't an album that everyone will like--which is what always happens when an artist isn't catering to the popular taste--but those who like her will love her. I do. For me it's the combination of the interesting piano work, Pepper's direct voice, and the fascinating, evocative lyrics. Wow. Go to the website, listen up, and buy this. She also has a live tape available now, which believe me I have already sent a check in to get a copy of. That, and a couple more copies to give away. - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 11:42:50 -0500 (EST) From: 00jnweiser@bsuvc.bsu.edu Subject: another Jewel thought (and Felicity) First, in case it wasn't mentioned: they played the last track from Jewel's new cd on "felicity" last night. "hands" was played on dawson's creek last week. If you're interested in her new CD, get it for the track "Barcelona". Whoa. There are some good tracks on this CD and I'm liking a few more than I thought I would (this is from someone who is _not_ a Jewel fan at all)... Still interested in others thoughts-- jessica n. weiser http://adam.nettfriends.com/Jess "i need to wash myself again to hide all the the dirt and pain, i'd be scared but there's nothing underneath" -radiohead ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:55:58 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: New discovery: Sara Ayers Sara Ayers is another artist who contacted me through The Ectophiles' Guide, and I just completed her page on the guide at http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide/guide.cgi?artists/ayers.sara. There I describe her music as "an interesting blend of ethereal alternative pop with evocative/eclectic influences, ambient soundscapes, and experimental performance art" but this isn't performance art like Diamanda Galas, rather she's more like a mix of Jane Siberry, Meryn Cadell, and Virginia Astley. Her album, _Voices_, well, here's what I say on The Guide: This is more than just voices, but voices (even instruments' voices) are the focus. You'd be forgiven for thinking of Jane Siberry when this album begins--it sounds a little like _Bound By the Beauty_, but soon becomes more electronic. The following track begins with a spoken word section that is a little Jane Siberry-esque at first, but it to quickly takes a different turn as Sara Ayers starts singing and the song changes feel a bit. From there on the album has few echoes--except of itself. There is one track, "The Waiting Room" that reminded me of Meryn Cadell--but the album isn't like one of hers either, and not just because it isn't humorous. Sonically, lyrically, and vocally intriguing--what more could you ask? Lovers of the female voice will love this mixture of music and vocals and some spoken word. Sara's web site is http://www.wizvax.net/ayers/ and again there are sound samples available there. Isn't the web great? - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 08:49:21 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: New discovery: Margot O'Breslin Another discovery made by following up links about Pepper Acton. Margot O'Breslin is also a fierce pianist and singer, but her style is quite different from Pepper's. She also is sure to hear the "sounds Like Tori" refrain in reviews of her work, but the difference between them shows how the comparison to Tori is fairly meaningless other than as a point of departure. I guess that how the whole "tastes like chicken" thing comes about. Her album is called "That's the way it is today" and consists of her, and a cellist (and I can't remember if there's something else) but the sound seems full--not stripped down as Pepper's does. Margot's piano work is extremely accomplished--certainly the equal creatively if not more polished than Tori's. For those who were looking for a more structured _Boys For Pele_, this might be the album for you. It has the creative depth of BfP, but seems far more intentional/focused and less rambling than it. The lyrics are allusive and hard to pin down entirely but seem more complete. Her vocals are strong, occasionally forceful. On the title song the way she uses her voice reminds me very much of Emm Gryner, though on the other songs her voice while still strongly emotional isn't quite as forced. I haven't put together an entry for the EctoGuide for her, but I will, and I highly recommend her work. She also has a website at http://members.aol.com/obreslin/ with sound samples which were impressive enough for me to order the disc without any other recommendation. Oh, and don't let the first verse of the first song on the disc fool you--this isn't sweet pop by a long shot, even though that song starts that way before taking a rather fierce turn. This is another highly recommended purchase. - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 11:40:16 From: Paul Myszor Subject: Re: Newbie. Graham Wrote >I would love to hear what etc people listen to when they feel the need to be >a bit ethereal. > >Best wishes > My suggestions Anuna: an irish choral group. Several albums including "deep dead blue" and "omnis". Some of the tracks on these albums are almost orgasmically beautiful. Ethereal celestial city man. Paul Myszor Brighton England ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 17:26:05 -0500 From: Chris Sampson Subject: Re: Newbie. > Graham Wrote > > >I would love to hear what etc people listen to when they feel the need to be > >a bit ethereal. My $0.02... Well... Naturally, I'm expected to say... Emily Bezar's "Grandmother's Tea Leaves" (So I will/did)... Her second, "Moon in Grenadine" is less so, but still kinda sorta... Like an 'earthy' ethereality... if that makes sense. Both albums 'transport' me to other states of consciousness. I'm listening to Guitar Oblique, right now (That'd be the new KF release... collaboration of Vernon Reid, Elliott Sharp, and David Torn... David Torn. The Aural Gratification samplers. Fripp, Eno, Bill Nelson... There's ethereal, and then there's 'ethereal'... Some of the stranger jazz I listen to is ethereal (if jangly and corporeal, in its own way)... Cecil Taylor. Grateful Dead when they do/did 'Space'. Jean-Michel Jarre. Well, that's all you get for $0.02... Welcome aboard. Chris (the most non-ectoish ectopian) Sampson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 17:29:33 -0800 From: "C. K. Coney" Subject: Re: Ethereal Stuff (was Newbie) Paul Myszor wrote: > Graham Wrote > > >I would love to hear what etc people listen to when they feel the need to be > >a bit ethereal. > > > >Best wishes > > > My suggestions > > Anuna: an irish choral group. Several albums including "deep dead blue" > and "omnis". Some of the tracks on these albums are almost orgasmically > beautiful. Ethereal celestial city man. > I never think of Anuna as "ethereal", but more "liturgical". Anonymous 4 is also "liturgical" to me (must be my religious roots.) I think of "ethereal" as groups like Cocteau Twins, The Changelings, many of the Projekt artists. A pearly dewdrops kind of music. Carol ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 14:44:39 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: Newbie. Chris Sampson wrote: > Chris (the most non-ectoish ectopian) Sampson You know, I think we all think that of ourselves! I often think my tastes are way out in ecto's left field when I get excited about artists that no-one else seems to care for or when people are raving about artists I just Don't Get. I'm beginning to think instead that ecto is a pretty damn large taste range and includes all of it. - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 18:37:53 -0500 From: Paul Kim Subject: Re: Tara in NYC At 01:49 PM 11/17/98 -0500, Kari LeSage wrote: >Hey, > >I don't know if this has been posted yet or not but I just spotted it >today so I figured I'd post it just in case: > >Irving Plaza - > >11/27 HOLLY COLE....................(Limited Seating Available) $25.25 > Performing An Eclectic Mix Of Hits And Unique Holiday Songs! > w/ Tara MacLean > >Tickets: Tickets are available for purchase in person from the Irving >Plaza Box Office and through Ticketmaster. >Payment Accepted: Cash Only at Box Office >Box Office Hours: Noon-6:00PM Mon-Sat - Closed on Sundays. >Box Office Phone: (212) 777-6800 > Concert Hotline: (212) 777-1224 > Address: 17 Irving Place, New York, NY 10003 > Doors Open: 8pm; unless otherwise noted Oh wow...wow wow wow...I'd go just to see Holly Cole...in fact...maybe i will...it's next friday...hmm...i'll have to see if i can get someone to go with me...mebbe my sister... It's presented by WFUV. Cool. Holly Cole is a fabulous jazzy interpreter of songs...a great entertainer on stage with a powerful, sultry voice. Paul "four corners of bedlam" Kim ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 15:46:31 -0800 (PST) From: J Wermont Subject: re: Taste of Joy Andrew Fries wrote: > Ah, Taste of Joy were a fine band, but I wouldn't get too excited - > their only CD came out in 95 and I believe Michele Gould is taking > time off from making music so a new one is unlikely. If I'm wrong, > I'd be very happy to be corrected :) A Canadian friend told me last year that he'd heard they were recording new material, but for a smaller label, and he didn't know the status of it. Where did you hear that Michele is taking time off? I sure wish they'd come out with a follow-up! Joyce ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 15:45:58 -0800 (PST) From: J Wermont Subject: straight to the point Andrew Fries wrote: > I don't think she was ever one to go for the obscure or the sublime, > was she? It's always pretty much straight to the point with her... > and I kind of appreciate that. I'm not much of a Jewel fan either, but I also like "straight to the point" in my music. In any case it's not her straightforwardness that I dislike about Jewel. It really bugs me when someone who enjoys ambiguous and obscure lyrics gets all smug and superior about songwriters who write good, clearly-written songs, as though clarity itself takes away from the artfulness of songwriting. Anyone can write obscure lyrics - that doesn't automatically make it art. But it takes work to make your personal vision understandable and accessible to listeners, and still make it powerful. Look at the song "Metal Drums" by Patty Larkin. That song really packs a strong emotional punch, and the fact that the lyrics make it quite clear what she's talking about doesn't take away from that. In fact, if the lyrics weren't clear, the song would lose a lot of its power, because what really matters in this song is the story it tells. And Patty tells it very, very well - as does the melody, the arrangements, and her guitar playing. I love a lot of songs that have obscure lyrics, but in those cases what I'm usually reacting to is the music, the singing, the rhythm, or the overall sound of a song. I don't have to like or understand the words to be blown away by a song. But when I do love the lyrics of a song, it's because they're well-written enough to drive a clear message home in an emotionally potent way. Joyce ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1998 17:21:51 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: straight to the point J Wermont wrote: >[snip]...I also like "straight to the >point" in my music. >[snip] It really bugs me when someone who enjoys >ambiguous and obscure lyrics gets all smug and superior about >songwriters who write good, clearly-written songs, as though clarity >itself takes away from the artfulness of songwriting. Well, as someone who prefers what I consider allusive, connotative lyrics as opposed to what I consider denotative, didactic lyrics, I'm not sure where I fall here. I certainly don't like what I would call ambiguous and obscure lyrics, but I have the feeling that what I mean by allusive and connotative is what you mean by ambigous and obscure. I don't know that's true, but suspect it might be. And it depends so much on what you mean by clarity. I'm generally in favour of clarity, but sometimes a messy allusiveness can knock the top off the bottle of my emotions in a way that straightforwardness never could. And I would never knock clarity or straightforwardness in themselves, but it depends on the kind of clarity and the kind of straightforwardness. >Anyone can write obscure lyrics - that doesn't automatically make it >art. Obscurity isn't the point--creating an emotional impression is. Most often denotative language is abstract and what other people might consider obscure is more imagistic and evokes more emotion in the listener. At least _this_ listener. Now I love a good clear story as well--some of my favourite songs are traditional ballads, most of which tell straightforward stories. But I find that most contemporary songwriters who attempt the same thing lean on preachy didacticism to get their point across. This turns me right off. >But it takes work to make your personal vision understandable >and accessible to listeners, and still make it powerful. I definitely agree with this--but for me part of the work is avoiding being didactic. >Look at the song "Metal Drums" by Patty Larkin. That song really >packs a strong emotional punch, and the fact that the lyrics make it >quite clear what she's talking about doesn't take away from that. In >fact, if the lyrics weren't clear, the song would lose a lot of its >power, because what really matters in this song is the story it >tells. And Patty tells it very, very well - as does the melody, the >arrangements, and her guitar playing. Unfortunately, I don't know that song as I haven't been particularly drawn to Patty Larkin's music. It might help if I did. >I love a lot of songs that have obscure lyrics, but in those cases >what I'm usually reacting to is the music, the singing, the rhythm, >or the overall sound of a song. I don't have to like or understand >the words to be blown away by a song. But when I do love the lyrics >of a song, it's because they're well-written enough to drive a clear >message home in an emotionally potent way. For me it's when lyrics are allusive and connotative enough to make me _feel_ the emotion they want to convey. For me it's all in the showing versus telling. Tell me you're broken-hearted and I say so what. But show me you're broken-hearted, share with me what it feels like, and I'm with you all the way. One of the first lessons they teach you in any fiction or poetry writing class, though I don't necessarily think this is considered in songwriting, is that showing is far more effective than telling. For me at least, the same thing is true in lyrics, whether that means they're straightforward and clear or impressionistic. - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1998 12:28:44 +1100 From: Andrew Fries Subject: re: Taste of Joy In a message "re: Taste of Joy" on 18/Nov/1998 15:46:31 J Wermont says: > A Canadian friend told me last year that he'd heard they were > recording new material, but for a smaller label, and he didn't know > the status of it. Where did you hear that Michele is taking time off? > I sure wish they'd come out with a follow-up! Where did I hear it? Here on Ecto a while back... Except that, uh, perhaps I got this mixed up and it is Suzanne Little (the other half of Lava Hay) who's taking the time off. If Michelle is recording, that's great news! Though while we're on the subject of their solo post-Lava recordings I think I prefer Suzanne Little, if only slightly... __________________________________________________ "What the public wants is called politically unrealistic.Translated into English, that means power and privilege are opposed to it. " Noam Chomsky http://www.zip.com.au/~afries/hall.html __________________________________________________ ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V4 #405 **************************