From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V6 #49 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Sunday, February 20 2000 Volume 06 : Number 049 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Neile's Late 1999 Music Report 1/5 [Neile Graham ] Today's your birthday, friend... [Mike Matthews ] Don't think of me... ["ReNeE-z Da bOmB" ] [none] ["ReNeE-z Da bOmB" ] dido ["ReNeE-z Da bOmB" ] Re: "Don't Think of Me" - who does this? [Songbird22@aol.com] Re: some interesting upcoming NYC concerts [Songbird22@aol.com] CD suggestion site? [Jen Kitchen ] Nields/Erin McKeown [Jess913@aol.com] Re: The Cowboy Junkies ["Dan Knoff" ] Re: CD suggestion site? [Neile Graham ] Ecto Gathering in Norway - July 2000 [Yngve Hauge ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 18 Feb 2000 23:43:19 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Neile's Late 1999 Music Report 1/5 Hi, all-- I'm really late with it this year, and have already posted these ones at least last December as a list, but here it is again with my comments (and it became a top 9, adding one and dropping two--these opinions shift whenever I look at them and especially when I play the discs again). I'll be sending the rest of this series along in the next few days rather than doing one massive message. - --Neile These are the discs that totally knocked me out this year (alphabetical order) Emily Bezar, four walls bending This is wonderful, and sure to stand the test of time. This album, I think, will be welcome in the ears even of those who found the vocal stylings in her discs too operatic or the music too experimental for their tastes. _Four Walls Bending_ is still unconventional, but it is definitely more accessible. Amazing how Emily Bezar has managed to create an album that is so engaging without diluting her individuality or her wonderfully creative songwriting, musicianship, and exceptionally beautiful singing. (Available from the artist, U.S. online stores, and some U.S. music stores.) Kym Brown, pygmalion What a stunning debut! I don't think I've played a new cd quite this frequently over such a long period of time in years (maybe since _Boys For Pele). For some reason (inventiveness? her great voice and sense of song structure? the interesting noises all over this disc?) I keep listening and listening to this. This isn't pretty pop, though Kym Brown has a clear pretty voice--she writes dark-ish, tough-ish songs (with pretty moments and plenty of auditory hooks so it's not difficult listening that way), most of the vocals are doubletracked with a distorted tracks, and there are all kinds of fascinating samples and noises, including theremin. Hard to think of comparisons--I guess the closest I can get is to Holly McNarland and the overall combination of great vocals with fascinating noises of Imogen Heap. The toughness/beauty combination that flourishes in almost every way on this disc is hard to beat. I highly, highly recommend this to anyone interested in intriguing combinations of vocals and sounds. (Available from the artist, some Canadian online stores, and some Canadian music stores.) halou, [we only love you] This is definitely more electronic & lively than most bands on their label, Bedazzled (home of An April March, Siddal, etc., which is far more ethereal and drifting). The songs here are catchy and more focused than their label-mates, more drum 'n' bass electronica. The vocals are especially wonderful and haunting, ethereal and edgy but still gentle. Lamb fans, listen up. (Available from the label, U.S. online stores, and some U.S. music stores.) Veda Hille--you do not live in this world alone Like her last two albums, I felt uncertain about it at first but immediately it began to grow and grow and grow on me until I can see its utter brilliance. She truly is an amazing artist and performer, and this album only serves to confirm that she's my favourite artist. There is something so warmly human about her hesitancies and passions that I cannot resist. I've learned to just keep listening, as familiarity with the songs makes them stronger, and my initial mild attraction to the songs gradually grows and grows... and shows every sign of keeping on growing. (Available from the artist, some Canadian online stores, and some Canadian music stores.) kaitlyn ni donovan--songs for 'three days' I've had a tape ep of hers for years that I adore, and the full-length album is just as wonderful--rich and quiet. This is one of those discs that's hard to describe: it's creative but subtle about it, rather in the way that Mae Moore's _Bohemia_ snuk its way into our hearts, but I would say this is more subtle, less pop, and that Kaitlyn ni Donovan is a more talented artist, but like Mae Moore, if you're not careful she'll slip right by you. Listen. The more you listen the more you'll hear. (Available from the label, some U.S. online stores, and some U.S. music stores. The label website has a sample MP3 at http://www.hushrecords.com.) Mary Lydia Ryan--Diaphanous I liked her first self-titled cd quite a bit, but this new one I LOVE. The new disc blows the old one out of the water. It has everything going for it that her first disc has (her lovely, warm voice and great piano and creative and melodic song structures) but she's pushed it to the next level--the songs are just that much more catchy and focused, and her performances just that much more varied and engaging and powerful. The album starts with this incredibly hook-y song called "devil with wings" (ie., "You're not an angel / you're a devil with wings") and never lets up. The whole album is excellent, especially songs like "Begging" and "Liar", and it moves from powerhouse songs to haunting ballads without losing its flow. It's full of wonderful lyrical and sonic hooks. Stunning. This album keeps making me hit the repeat button. The strength of her songwriting on this album has made it one that I sink into more and more each time I hear it. There's a variety of moods here and she expresses them all so well. And there are just some amazingly catchy tunes and lyrics. I highly, highly recommend it. (Available from the artist, some U.S. online stores, and some U.S. music stores.) lamb, _Fear of Fours_ _Fear Of Fours_ it hasn't stood up to as many totally obsessive repeated plays as _Lamb_ does. It's hard to pin down why, but I actually got tired of many songs on _Fear Of Fours_ when I went through my stage of playing it at least once a day and started skipping them, while I can still play all of their first disc obsessively (and still do, even after three years!). I also find Lou Rhodes' vocals higher and more pinched than on the first disc and while I still love her voice, I prefer the first style. HOWEVER, this should not in any way be taken as a lack of endorsement for this album--I adore it, and this has confirmed for me that lamb is one of my favourite groups. I expect I'll be listening to this album for years to come. Just not as frequently as I listen to _Lamb_. (Widely available.) David Usher, Little Songs On of my main obsessions this year was, without a doubt, David Usher's _Little Songs_. It has been a long time since I obsessed so very much (so much that Jim got heartily sick of it) with an album that didn't have female vocals, but the part that this has in common with the female vocalists I love is his powerfully emotional singing and evocative somewhat cryptic lyrics. He is the singer for Moist, and I'm wondering if I want to look into their music, too, but I love this, love it, and highly recommend it. It's fairly mellow overall in sound, but intense, too. (Widely available.) **Kristeen Young, enemy I've played this disc to death. I love her hard-rock sound combined with the high, Kate-ish vocals, and she has killer hooks in the songs here. I just can't stop hearing "Sacrifice" whether it's hitting the repeat button yet again or the radio in my head hitting that repeat button. There's so passion here I can't help loving the whole album. (Available from the artist.) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Neile Graham ...... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ....... neile@sff.net Les Semaines: A Weekly Journal . http://www.sff.net/people/neile/semaines The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music ....... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 03:00:03 -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********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ******************** Joel Siegfried (no Email address) ******************** *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Joel Siegfried February 19 Penguin Crossing Linda Saboe Tue February 20 1951 aimless Teresa Ross Wed February 23 1977 pisces Michael Curry Fri February 24 1967 Pisces Paula Shanks Mon February 25 1952 Pisces Brni Mojzes Fri February 26 1965 the vanishing boy Pamela Pociluk Fri February 28 1964 Pisces Peter Clark Thu March 04 1948 Pedestrian Tim Steele Fri March 08 1963 Pisces Matt Bittner Thu March 12 1964 Pisces kIrI Hargie Fri March 13 1970 Pisces Bob Dreano Thu March 13 1958 Pisces Randall K. Smith Sat March 15 1969 Pisces Jessica Skolnik March 16 Pisces Alan Sodoma Thu March 18 1965 LuckyLurker Richard Konrad Sat March 18 1944 Pisces Barry Wong Thu March 19 1970 Merlin Graham Dombkins Fri March 19 1965 Pisces Ian Young Wed March 19 1969 Squiggol Jeff Wasilko Wed March 19 1969 Pisces - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 02:27:35 CDT From: "ReNeE-z Da bOmB" Subject: Don't think of me... Well... If it was a little up tempo, then I think it might be Dido did it go like this... "When she lies in your warm arms don't think of me When you see her bule eyes baby (some thing like that) don't think of me Well, it's too bad, and too sad, don't think of me" there's more to it, but that's all i can remember. that's Dido, she was in another band, but this is second solo album i think, it's called No Angel. the whole album is fantastic. the first track is the best... i hope that helps!! ~Renee ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 02:30:54 CDT From: "ReNeE-z Da bOmB" Subject: [none] oh and Joyce The song is called think of me ~Renee ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 02:36:43 CDT From: "ReNeE-z Da bOmB" Subject: dido Joyce... if you want, here is the web sight, and you can hear a sample of the song to see if it is the one you heard http://www.arista.com/aristaweb/Dido/artist_index.html i hope this is helpful ~Renee ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 08:51:47 EST From: Songbird22@aol.com Subject: Re: "Don't Think of Me" - who does this? In a message dated 2/19/00 12:47:20 AM Eastern Standard Time, jwermont@sonic.net writes: > I've been hearing this song on our local ecto-ish station. It's a > woman with a husky voice, British (maybe Australian) accent. The > song is in a minor key with a lot of harmonizing voices, and has > the repeating line, "Don't think of me." > > Does this ring a bell with anyone? Who is this, what is the actual > name of the song, and the title of the album? Again--Dido. From the album "No Angel". Everyone should check it out... It's really good... That's the new single. She's on Arista and managed by Nettwerk. She'll be doing some touring w/ Tara MacLean in the next few weeks... Jessica www.aquezada.com/jess ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 08:56:26 EST From: Songbird22@aol.com Subject: Re: some interesting upcoming NYC concerts Also playing in the NYC area is up and coming MCA singer/songwriter Leona Naess. I have an advanced copy of her new CD and really like it a lot... There is a great pop song on it... ;) But the rest is interesting... Kind of Beth Orton-ish... Her website doesn't have a lot on it but it does have the single up in RA and also her EPK you can watch. :) She's playing at CBGBs on the 22nd and also: 2/25/00 Valentine's Albany NY 2/27/00 The Continental New York NY 3/1/00 The Continental New York NY 3/17/00 Brownies New York NY Jessica www.aquezada.com/jess ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 11:45:17 -0500 (EST) From: Jen Kitchen Subject: CD suggestion site? Does anyone know of a site that will recommend CD's based on how you've rated other ones? Basically, a musical version of Alexlit (www.alexlit.com). I've been reading the ecto guide and listening to various of the goddesses, but it'd be cool to visit such a site. Thanks! Jen P.S. Are my messages getting through? It took about a week between subscribing to ecto and getting a confirmation, and my Hello message seemed to sink without a trace (though I saw it come through on the list). "Wasn't that vibrating crib amazing? I wonder if it comes in adult sizes..." - Christopher Lowell jen@eclipse.net -+- http://www.gooddeed.net/blog partner + web geek + artist + writer + weblogger ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 14:43:39 EST From: Jess913@aol.com Subject: Nields/Erin McKeown << >Feb. 25 THE NIELDS at Mercury Lounge Almost sold out -- get your tickets now!!! >> another reason to go to this show (like you need any more reason to go see the Nields...) is that Erin McKeown is opening this show. if you have not seen her, you really really need to!! she's a brilliant musician who i think is on the brink of some serious success. amazing guitarist and ingenius songwriter. she has lately been heading in a more jazz/swing direction from her folk roots. Susan Werner (who she is opening for soon i believe) calls her "post-modern swing." her new cd will be out in april, produced by Dave Chalfant (of the Nields), and i guarantee you will hear a lot about her after that. she's also playing at fire and water in northampton the next night 2/26 at 9pm. www.erinmckeown.com. do we have any erin fans here? jess www.geocites.com/amari913/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 00:49:23 -0600 From: "Dan Knoff" Subject: Re: The Cowboy Junkies > Dan commented: > > >Trinity Session was their first, recorded for something like a few hundred > >dollars in a church in an afternoon live with two mikes. It is very low key > >with very sparse arrangements. Not really anything uptempo. Very dark. Damn....heehee....I have to respectfully disagree with myself. Trinity was not their first. Whites Off Earth Now was their first release, and then they re-released it. I hate it when I have to reply to myself and disagree...... Dan ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 13:39:53 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: CD suggestion site? At 11:45 AM -0500 2/19/00, Jen Kitchen wrote: >Does anyone know of a site that will recommend CD's based on how you've >rated other ones? Basically, a musical version of Alexlit >(www.alexlit.com). I've been reading the ecto guide and listening to >various of the goddesses, but it'd be cool to visit such a site. Hi, Jen, and a belated welcome to ecto. Your initial message came through, but people haven't been very chatty recently--most messages have been short and to the point. I think we're all tired or something. Anyway, there _used_ to be a site called Firefly that worked like alexlit, but I haven't tried to visit it in years, and when I try now I get a weird message that says "No more data is available". Anyone visited there recently? - --Neile - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Neile Graham ...... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ....... neile@sff.net Les Semaines: A Weekly Journal . http://www.sff.net/people/neile/semaines The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music ....... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 22:45:51 +0100 (CET) From: Yngve Hauge Subject: Ecto Gathering in Norway - July 2000 Hi you all, I just wanted to give you a notice about the status of the gathering this Summer. There will definetely be one as I did get the finale go from my parents - they have moved their vacation, YAY! :). I was a bit worried as it is sometimes hard for them to do just that. Time: First whole week in July (the same week as the Quart Festival). You don't have to spend time at the festival if you don't want to, but that's the option. I'll do some checking on which artists gonna be there and will post it as soon as I know. Location: Flekkeroeya - an island just outside Kristiansand in southern Norway. More exact explanation on how to get there will come later. - -- Yngve n.p. Velvet Belly - The Man With The Child In His Eyes (gotta be the best cover I've heard in a long long long time!!) ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 23:17:30 -0500 From: meredith Subject: Re: Nields/Erin McKeown Hi! Jess wondered: >do we have any erin fans here? There are different grades of "fan" -- I'd say I've developed an appreciation for her music. :) I'm interested to hear what her album is going to sound like, especially with Dave Chalfant's production. I like the swing direction she's taking - it's much more interesting to me than the folk stuff. I'm looking forward to seeing her open for The Nields on Friday. (When we last saw Susan Werner at the Iron Horse last month, Erin was in the audience and Susan called her up on stage to do a song. It was really neat. It'll be good to see her do a full set again.) Any other ectophiles heading down to the Mercury Lounge on Friday? +==========================================================================+ | Meredith Tarr meth@smoe.org | | New Haven, CT USA http://www.smoe.org/~meth | +==========================================================================+ | "things are more beautiful when they're obscure" -- veda hille | | *** TRAJECTORY, the Veda Hille mailing list: *** | | *** http://www.smoe.org/meth/trajectory.html *** | +==========================================================================+ ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V6 #49 *************************