From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V6 #229 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Tuesday, August 8 2000 Volume 06 : Number 229 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: hey, i'm new too [neal copperman ] Re: Duncan Shiek and Mary Ramsey [RedWoodenBeads@aol.com] Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo ["Shelly DeForte" ] John & Mary entry [RedWoodenBeads@aol.com] Re: John & Mary entry [Jay Behel ] Re: Mary Margaret O'Hara Christmas EP [Neal Copperman ] more ebay [Neal Copperman ] Re: 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant, Jen Turner and Furslide [RedWoodenB] Re: Mary Margaret O'Hara Christmas EP ["Xenu's Sister" ] RE: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo ["Shelly DeForte" ] RE: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo [meredith Subject: Re: hey, i'm new too At 1:34 PM -0400 8/6/00, RedWoodenBeads@aol.com wrote: >Sure, I'll write some stuff. I'll have it ready by tomorrow I'm sure. =) Well, since I've been working on the pages for a month or two, and expect to be done within a month or two, there isn't much rush. (I should add that the only J&M comments in the guide so far are mine, if that's any incentive.) >Yes, I've got a CD version of it which was made available through their >website last year. Love it love it love it! Zing.... well, I guess you put me in my place :) I didn't know they had re-released that. Will have to look into their site and make sure there isn't any more info I'm missing for the page. (Usually one of the final things I do.) I don't agree with your assessment though. Just strikes me as ok. I'd say Victory Gardens is a very good album, and Weedkiller's Daughter is essential, while this one is mostly for fans. neal np: Live at the Blue Dragon - Anna Wolfe and the Hounds of Carlisle ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 09:56:20 EDT From: RedWoodenBeads@aol.com Subject: Re: Duncan Shiek and Mary Ramsey In a message dated 8/6/00 11:04:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time, owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org writes: << So I guess I need some support -- I'm sure some of you must be Duncan Sheik fans. Make yourself heard! He's kind of like Jeff Buckley, only with more personal lyrics and a less flashy style (especially vocally). But I won't describe him too much because I'm sure you've all heard him (i.e. the overplayed and non-representative hit "Barely Breathing"). Personally I prefer his second album "Humming" to his s/t debut. >> I will admit, I don't know much about him past the radio stuff I've happened to catch a listen of. I never realized he had a holding with "thinking" music fans, if you know what I mean, I never thought I'd see his name here! I remember when "Barely Breathing" came out, I thought it was an excellent melody and I still love that song. Then he had another one to some movie soundtrack, I can't remember what it was called, wait, "Wishful Thinking", that's it. It was great, I liked that one too. Then I remember hearing a nother song like a year later that I didn't care for, and I really don't recall anything about it other than that. Ok, I just wanted to add something about 10,000 Maniacs. Some of you have said stuff like "for me Natalie was it", and that's fine but I think youmight be thinking that because you haven't heard much past what Natalie has been involved with. I'm sure most of you have heard LOVE AMONG THE RUINS, and it was great but it was a bit over-governed by Geffen. But I'm not sure how many of you have heard the new album, THE EARTH PRESSED FLAT. It is really one of the most powerful records I have ever heard. Extremely similar to THE WISHING CHAIR and even more similar to the John & Mary records. This is due, no doubt, to the fact that the band had more control over the recording process this time around. Check it out! ;-) Joe ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 10:54:20 -0700 From: "Shelly DeForte" Subject: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo Hello all! I just joined yesterday after a 5 year hiatus and I see lots of familiar names already! :) I took the train from San Francisco 5 years ago to see Happy in Philadelphia - and unless I missed it, she hasn't come out to the West Coast yet. I like to check up every once in a while just in case.. and while I was searching yesterday, I saw that it looks like there's going to be a concentration of shows around October 5th, which happens to be my birthday. So, my question is : Is she sharing the bill with Project Lo or is this a collaboration? If I came out for the shows would I get enough Happy for it to be worth it?? Are there rumors of more shows, or just the 5th and 6th? Thanks all! - - Shelly - ---------------------------------------------- Shelly DeForte Web Design shelly@cybermagician.com Web Tools http://www.cybermagician.com Programming ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 12:31:55 -0600 (MDT) From: Neal Copperman Subject: Re: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo On Mon, 7 Aug 2000, Shelly DeForte wrote: > I just joined yesterday after a 5 year hiatus and I see lots of familiar > names already! :) I took the train from San Francisco 5 years ago to see > Happy in Philadelphia - and unless I missed it, she hasn't come out to the > West Coast yet. heh, I'm sure everyone who shared that hotel room will remember the sleepy woozle :) Welcome back. (Gees, was that 5 years ago???) > Is she sharing the bill with Project Lo or is this a collaboration? > If I came out for the shows would I get enough Happy for it to be worth it?? > Are there rumors of more shows, or just the 5th and 6th? Actually, if you are making a cross country trek, I'd synch it up to correspond to the second ectofest. See http://www.ectofest.org/ for details. > Shelly DeForte Web Design > shelly@cybermagician.com Web Tools Does that mean this time you will have enough money to get home? neal np: lucinda williams - lucinda williams ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 11:55:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Sue Trowbridge Subject: Mary Margaret O'Hara Christmas EP If anyone has been searching for MMOH's Christmas EP, go to eBay -- there are two copies for sale right this very minute, and one is currently going for $5 and the other a mere $2.47. Chalk me up as another Susan Court fan. I purchased her CD HIGH RELIEF after hearing her MP3s and was not disappointed. A great find! - --Sue Trowbridge * albany, california trow@slip.net * http://www.interbridge.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 16:03:25 EDT From: RedWoodenBeads@aol.com Subject: John & Mary entry This goes to whoever it is that said they were working on the John & Mary entry. I'll have a Cowboy Junkies article done soon. =) It is nearly impossible to think of John & Mary without 10,000 Maniacs coming to mind. After all John Lombardo, was one of the most influencial members of 10,000 Maniacs, and he carried much of the sound he'd cultivated in his former band into his partnership with singer/violist Mary Ramsey. In addition, guitarist Robert Buck and drummer Jerome Augustyniak (both longtime members of 10KM) were heavilly involved with both John & Mary studio albums. But the contemplative, vivacious music that resulted from John Lomabrdo and Mary Ramsey's six-year duo-ship is some of the most strikingly original and breathtaking material to be heard, beautifully defined by Lombardo's enthralling 12-string acoustic guitar and Ramsey's rich, classically trained vocals and viols. John C. Lombardo was one of the most important founders of 10,000 Maniacs and wrote most of the band's material between 1981 and 1986. Due to disagreements with several of his bandmates and financial trouble with their label Elektra, he departed the band in late 1986 following a lengthy tour in support of the album THE WISHING CHAIR. Returning to the Buffalo area, he became involved with several bands, and formed The Hopheads in 1988. Around this time, he spotted Mary Jeanne Ramsey performing with a classical ensemble by the name of The Lexington String Trio. Enamoured by her hauntingly subtle vocals, and rich, awe-inspiring viola work, he asked her to jam with his group. It was difficult for Ramsey's viola to be heard over the loud rock sound of The Hopheads, and so the two departed to begin work on their own, dreamy little folk world. Performing around the Buffalo area and supporting 10,000 Maniacs on their 'Time Capsule' tour, John & Mary quickly gained attention from the "enlightened" Buffalo underground. They signed as free agents to Rykodisc and began work on their debut record. The result was the superb VICTORY GARDENS (1991, Rykodisc). It was a quiet, folkish record dominated by Lombardo's keen sense of melody, with haunting undertones that seemed to lurk somewhere just beneath the sweet, chiming atmosphere. That combined with the thoughtful lyrics and Rob Buck's shimmering trademark guitar style made the album draw comparisons to old 10,000 Maniacs records (particularly THE WISHING CHAIR) but there were clear distinctions between Ramsey and Natalie Merchant. Unlike Merchant's outspoken narrative style Ramsey became her frantic, energetic subjects, such as the immigrant Marika in the upbeat "Red Wooden Beads" and the restless houswife in "The Open Window". Her personal reflections were no less astounding, beautifully executed in the exquisite folk lullabies "Piles of Dead Leaves" and "Rags of Flowers". Lombardo's lyrics were as contemplative and intriguing as ever, from the visionistic tale of "Pram" to the, surprising confessional attitude of "We Have Nothing", the later featuring backround vocals from Ronnie Lane of Small Faces. No doubt John & Mary had attracted a following that spanned the U.S. and Europe, primarilly amongst 10,000 Maniacs fans. Mary Ramsey spent time in 1992 adding her viola and violin skills to 10,000 Maniacs' fifth album OUR TIME IN EDEN. But she and Lombardo would be back in the studio before long. This time a whole clique of like-minded musicians, including Blue Rodeo's keyboardist Bob Wiseman, innovative Canadian vocalist Mary Margaret O'Hara, superb mandolinist Stan Barton, pioneering singer/songwriter/guitarist Alex Chilton and ofcourse Buck and Augustyniak, were involved and the result was the more atmospheric THE WEEDKILLER'S DAUGHTER (1993, Rykodisc). The sophisticated topics remained similar, from tales of dislexia ("Clare's Scarf"), to rejoicing in a time of peace ("Two World's Parted"), to thoughtful recollections ("Angels of Stone", "One Step Backward"). The sound was more fleshed out, retaining its predecessors folk edge. 'Weedkiller' also revealed more of a confidence in Ramsey's enchanting vocals, and recording in general. It contained her first sole composition, "Maid of the Mist" as well as her own arrangement of the traditional "The Poor Murdered Woman". Between 1993 and 1994 John & Mary toured in and around Buffalo with Brad Jones (bass), former Psychedelic Furs member John Ashton (lead guitar) and founding Violent Femmes percussionist Victor DeLorenzo (drums). Cuts from these performances were made into the cassette release JOHN & MARY AND THEIR BAND LIVE. Available in 1994 exclusively through John & Mary's fan club, this excellent live collection included lead vocals from Lombardo on the 10,000 Maniacs single "Can't Ignore the Train" as well as a cover of the Psychedelic Furs' "Pretty in Pink". The record that would prove to be John & Mary's final duo release became a sought after collector's item and was later re-issued by 10,000 Maniacs' website at highly limited supplies on compact disc. In 1994 Lombardo and Ramsey officially became members of 10,000 Maniacs. Although their work in the band has been interesting and just as innovative, Lombardo himself has promised that future John & Mary projects will surface at some point in the future. Purchasing John & Mary's music isn't so much a matter of what to get, but how to get it. In 1999 www.maniacs.com made the remaining new copies of VICTORY GARDENS and THE WEEDKILLER'S DAUGHTER available through mailorder, but these supplies were quickly devoured. Since then it has become increasingly difficult to locate copies of these albums. They occasionally turn up on ebay.com, and that's where I advise you to look first. If your ebay search ends fruitless, then hunt for them on the web, as a number of used CD sites have been known to aqcuire these discs. You can even check your local second-hand CD stores. If all else fails, e-mail some nice 10,000 Maniacs fan who has a CD burner, for these albums are essential and you should go to the most rediculous and fanatical lengths to own them. As far as JOHN & MARY AND THEIR BAND LIVE goes, original pressings are pretty much impossible to locate. I myself was fortunate enough to acquire one of the 1999 CD issues, but more than likely your best bet is to get someone to burn or tape you a copy. But trust me, whatever it takes is very worth it. John & Mary's world of elegant folk melodica is priceless. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 1 Jan 1970 00:00:00 -0500 (EST) From: Jay Behel Subject: Re: John & Mary entry On Mon, 7 Aug 2000 16:03:25 EDT RedWoodenBeads@aol.com wrote: >But trust me, whatever it takes is very worth it. >John & Mary's world of elegant folk melodica is priceless. Amen! Jay \"When I dare to be powerful-to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it begins to matter less and less whether I am afraid.\" Audre Lorde ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 15:52:42 -0600 (MDT) From: Neal Copperman Subject: Re: Mary Margaret O'Hara Christmas EP On Mon, 7 Aug 2000, Sue Trowbridge wrote: > If anyone has been searching for MMOH's Christmas EP, go to eBay -- there > are two copies for sale right this very minute, and one is currently going > for $5 and the other a mere $2.47. Usefull info... (Sue, next time mail me privately!!!!) :) Actually, now it's $10 and $5.50. I think I'll wait til the next one shows up, as I feel bad bidding given that I know the top bidders on both discs. Surprise, surprise, they are both ectophiles [once I've met even]. (Hi Vickie and Emily) neal np: Lucinda Williams - Lucinda Williams (The other page I am supposedly working on. All ectoguide comments make it look like Lucinda only has one album, so if anyone has anything to say about her older albums [and you should, cause they are excellent], speek up.) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 16:21:22 -0600 (MDT) From: Neal Copperman Subject: more ebay While not buying MMOH, I also found: Happy's MWABT for a penny Laurie Anderson's United States Live (4 CDs) for $5 Both of these are highly recommended purchases at normal prices, and pretty ludicrous not to be snatched up at these prices (assuming they last). neal The Death of Cool - Kitchens of Distinction ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 18:51:47 EDT From: RedWoodenBeads@aol.com Subject: Re: 10,000 Maniacs, Natalie Merchant, Jen Turner and Furslide In a message dated 8/6/00 11:04:42 PM Pacific Daylight Time, owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org writes: << I'm with you up to the point - but for me it's Natalie's voice that comes close to being my favourite thing! Accordingly, while I love everything Natalie is doing, for me 10,000 Maniacs lost a bit of lustre after her departure. >> Afraid I must say noooooo way. ;-) Personally I feel that 10,000 Maniacs have evolved steadilly, as musicians, as performers and as songwriters, and it is my view that the new record is the best yet. They are drawing on their punk roots while at the same time bending all kinds of boundaries and coming up with all sorts of new sounds and melodies. Their shows are devestatingly good, so innovative, so stimulating. This is a band that's really going places. Long live 10KM. Now my opinions are a bit more complicated on Natalie's solo career. Her first album, TIGERLILY, is absolutely excellent. She was writing superb music that flaunted a real diversity, as is apparent from the folkish, countryish "Cowboy Romance", the guitar-driven "Wonder" and "I May Know the Word", the quiet, personal "The Letter" and "River" (really a lot of the album is quiet and personal) and the slinky, trippy "San Andreas Fault". A big thing that really drew me into this album was Jennifer Turner, who I think is a pheonomenal guitarist. It's rare to hear a woman with such a killer attack and strength and its rare to hear a guitarist period that's so original and natural. I've spent hours working out her riffs to "Wonder", "I May Know the Word", "Jealousy" and "Carnival". She's stunning. Natalie's next album, OPHELIA, really dissapointed me. It's not because Jen Turner didn't play on it, but because I felt the innovation and creativity had just left Nat's writing for some completely freak reason. The songs all sounded far too similar, all thumping a sleep-inducing slow-pace that really wore on me after a while. Plus, the melodies were really un-inspiring. In addition, I think there were too many different musicians (and people in general) involved and so it ended up sounding cluttered and over-produced. The live album was really mediocre, nothing like the powerful, creatively energized shows 10,000 Maniacs are putting on these days. Too bad. But, there's still more to Jen Turner's story! I'm not sure if any of you have heard of her new band, Furslide, but I strongly reccomend their debut album ADVENTURE (1998, Meanwhile). It's very different from TIGERLILY, more angst ridden and flaunting an obvious Hendrix influence, with raucous vocals sung angrilly through firmly grit teeth. The lyrics express a definite femenine rage. the great thing about it is you really get to hear Jen let loose and squeeze out her own edgy guitar riffs. Man, I love this list! your fellow obsessive music psychopath Joe ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 17:54:10 -0500 (CDT) From: "Xenu's Sister" Subject: Re: Mary Margaret O'Hara Christmas EP On Mon, 7 Aug 2000, Neal Copperman wrote: > On Mon, 7 Aug 2000, Sue Trowbridge wrote: > > > If anyone has been searching for MMOH's Christmas EP, go to eBay -- there > > are two copies for sale right this very minute, and one is currently going > > for $5 and the other a mere $2.47. > > Usefull info... (Sue, next time mail me privately!!!!) :) > > Actually, now it's $10 and $5.50. I think I'll wait til the next one > shows up, as I feel bad bidding given that I know the top bidders on both > discs. Surprise, surprise, they are both ectophiles [once I've met even]. > (Hi Vickie and Emily) Sorry, I thought you'd go for one and I'd go for the other. I can tell you for sure that I'm not going above my high bid, which I'll go ahead and tell you is $10. If you want to go higher, go ahead. I won't outbid you. Don't feel bad. :-) Vickie ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 19:41:59 -0400 From: meredith Subject: Re: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo Hi! Shelly returned: >I just joined yesterday after a 5 year hiatus and I see lots of familiar >names already! :) I took the train from San Francisco 5 years ago to see >Happy in Philadelphia - and unless I missed it, she hasn't come out to the >West Coast yet. Woozle!!!!! When you disappeared some of us feared the worst ... that we'd freaked you right off the list. ;> Welcome back!! >Is she sharing the bill with Project Lo or is this a collaboration? As far as I know it's a collaboration, but admittedly I don't know much. Thanks to Neal for bringing up the ectofest option. :) I would recommend that too -- Happy will definitely be doing her own set, and it promises to be very special. Plus, the other artists on the bill that day aren't half bad either. :) +==========================================================================+ | Meredith Tarr meth@smoe.org | | New Haven, CT USA http://www.smoe.org/~meth | +==========================================================================+ | ectofest 2000: sat. sept. 2, 2000 kenosia park, danbury, ct | | http://www.ectofest.org | +==========================TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!==========================+ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 17:32:47 -0700 From: "Marcel Kshensky" Subject: klezmer question Juha, In response to your klezmer question: From: Juha Sorva Subject: Ectofest, and a klezmer question On a completely unrelated note which demands rather fewer exclamation marks, can anyone recommend some good klezmer music? I know hardly anything about it, but after only recently properly listening to a klezmer album (by some obscure band) that I bought a year ago, I'm interested in hearing more. Besides that disc, I know the name Klezmatics, but that's about it. I recommend the album In the Fiddler's House which features Itzhak Perlman on violin and many of klezmer's top musicians. Also anything by Andy Statman (clarinet) is excellent. Also the Klezmer Conservatory Band is excellent. I hope that helps. - -Marcel Send your favorite photo with any online greeting! http://www.whowhere.lycos.com/redirects/americangreetings.rdct ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 7 Aug 2000 19:47:15 -0700 From: "Shelly DeForte" Subject: RE: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo > heh, I'm sure everyone who shared that hotel room will remember the sleepy > woozle :) Welcome back. (Gees, was that 5 years ago???) > > > Is she sharing the bill with Project Lo or is this a collaboration? > > If I came out for the shows would I get enough Happy for it to > be worth it?? > > Are there rumors of more shows, or just the 5th and 6th? > > Actually, if you are making a cross country trek, I'd synch it up to > correspond to the second ectofest. See http://www.ectofest.org/ for > details. > > > Shelly DeForte Web Design > > shelly@cybermagician.com Web Tools > > Does that mean this time you will have enough money to get home? hehe - That's not QUITE the way I remember it, but then I don't remember the Woozle thing either. Sigh... I'm not sure about ectofest - it's awefully soon. How long is her slot supposed to be? I'm not sure about paying airfare to CT for only 45 minutes of the Hapster. Anyhoo, I thinks about it. Shell Oh, by and by - does anybody have their finger on the pulse of mind bogglingly cheap airfare?? - ---------------------------------------------- Shelly DeForte Web Design shelly@cybermagician.com Web Tools http://www.cybermagician.com Programming ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 23:09:32 -0400 From: Jeffrey Burka Subject: Re: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo shelly sez: > I'm not sure about ectofest - it's awefully soon. How long is her slot > supposed to be? I'm not sure about paying airfare to CT for only 45 minutes > of the Hapster. Anyhoo, I thinks about it. for what it's worth, Happy played for about 80 minutes at the last ectofest. And besides, it'd be worth every penny to see Susan and Sloan on stage again, just in hopes that they'd do another duet. jeff n.r. nothing. having finished _Bee Season_ and the latest Katherine Kurtz, I seem to have run out of things to read. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 23:44:52 -0400 From: Jeffrey Burka Subject: Re: klezmer question Marcel Kshensky sez, in response to a post from Juha I *really* should have answered... > On a completely unrelated note which demands rather fewer exclamation > marks, can anyone recommend some good klezmer music? I know hardly > anything about it, but after only recently properly listening to a klezmer > album (by some obscure band) that I bought a year ago, I'm interested in > hearing more. Besides that disc, I know the name Klezmatics, but that's > about it. > > I recommend the album In the Fiddler's House which features Itzhak Perlman on > violin and many of klezmer's top musicians. Also anything by Andy Statman > (clarinet) is excellent. Also the Klezmer Conservatory Band is excellent. The Perlman album is, indeed, wonderful. I'm feeling too lazy to type anything extensive here, but I suggest you have a look at www.klezmershack.com. (Joe, if you haven't been there yet, you might get a kick out of it -- have a look at the review of _Smash, Clap_) jeff ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Aug 2000 23:32:14 -0400 From: meredith Subject: RE: Newbie (sort of) - question about Project Lo Hi! Shelly inquired: >Oh, by and by - does anybody have their finger on the pulse of mind >bogglingly cheap airfare?? Priceline.com is probably your best bet at this point. But if you're flexible you should be able to get a pretty good deal. Name the mind bogglingly cheap airfare you'd like to get, and who knows, maybe you'll get lucky. :) +==========================================================================+ | Meredith Tarr meth@smoe.org | | New Haven, CT USA http://www.smoe.org/~meth | +==========================================================================+ | ectofest 2000: sat. sept. 2, 2000 kenosia park, danbury, ct | | http://www.ectofest.org | +==========================TICKETS ON SALE NOW!!!==========================+ ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V6 #229 **************************