From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V7 #2 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Tuesday, January 2 2001 Volume 07 : Number 002 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: The Best of 2000 [ArtfulMdrr@aol.com] Susan McKeown in NYC Friday (Jan 5th) [Michael Curry ] Luna Taylor in NYC tonight [DanStark ] Neile's top 10 of 2000 [Neile Graham ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 23:16:47 EST From: ArtfulMdrr@aol.com Subject: Re: The Best of 2000 Hello, everyone!, Meredith wrote that she'd like to see this in 2001: "-- Mass demonstrations across the country on January 20, protesting the fact that the man being sworn in as President is not the man we the people elected to that office." Being a resident of the Washington metro area myself, I see that idea as being nothing but feasible. For my part, I've been planning to sit outside the White House ( or rather the pedestrian park directly across from it, for fear of being shot by the Secret Service - note the fact that it abbreviates to S.S. ) and politely hold up signs pointing out his idiocy ( pro life, pro *DEATH* penalty ) after he's signed in. Before he's signed in, I urge everyone to bury your local press in an onslaught of letters in attempt to rescue our democracy. We think our country is stable now, but it only takes one person in the Executive of any government to alter the rules of the game. Also, the president recently received a raise in salary of 100% - yes, $400,000 a year. The raise makes it increasingly apparent exactly what kind of person has a bid at the office in the first place, and what class he's from. The president of France delivered a lovely speech in which he made it a priority to restore democracy by proclaiming politics open again to everyone, and by taking steps to eliminate partisanship. France: we love your bread, and now we love your president. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 01 Jan 2001 23:21:47 -0500 From: Michael Curry Subject: Susan McKeown in NYC Friday (Jan 5th) From Susan's January 2001 newsletter........ >>>>>>>SUSAN McKEOWN IN CONCERT - NEW YORK CITY <<<<<<< > >Susan's back at FEZ next week to start off the year with a >performance with Jon Spurney, Lindsey Horner and Allison Miller on >drums. Come early to get a seat and you can also enjoy performances >by Quibecios band Matapat at 8pm and Celtic-influenced >singer/songwriter Casey Neill at 9pm, as well as the wonderful TIME >Cafi cuisine. > > >FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 at 10:00pm >FEZ UNDER TIME CAFE >388 Lafayette in Manhattan >Reservations: 212-533-2680 >http://www.feznyc.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 02 Jan 2001 00:27:38 -0500 From: DanStark Subject: Luna Taylor in NYC tonight Just a reminder about Luna Taylor's CD release show at the Baggot Inn, NYC, 7pm tonight. No cover. :) http://www.geocities.com/luna_taylor ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 1 Jan 2001 22:56:02 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Neile's top 10 of 2000 My top 10 of the year (my November and December list are forthcoming, but I wanted to strike while the iron was hot for 2000). (Not in order.) Eliza Carthy, angels & cigarettes This is Eliza's first pop album after years of traditional work, and it goes to show that she has the chops and talent to spare for both genres. This album reminds me so much in vocals and overall sound of Linda Thompson's solo album, _One Clear Moment_ that it's uncanny, but it doesn't have the dated sound of that album, and it uses strings--strings!--in a way that works for me rather than detracting from the songs. The songwriting in intriguing--she's getting lots of press about the songs that begins, "I've given blowjobs on couches" but the album is much more than that--though it does have a touch of gritty gut honesty that that line exemplifies. Hannah Fury, The Thing That Feels This is a disc I utterly obsessed on this year. Hannah Fury is like "Hammer Horror" Kate Bush crossed with Tori Amos' piano work. The section of songs based on Gregory Macguire's _Wicked_ is really evocative of the feel of the novel for me and besides that, they're fine songs on their own. First of June, creepy, crawly things [CD-R album] Another obsession, and another Tori-like sound, though Tori with an acoustic or more mainstream rock band, not so electronic on her own band sound it now. I'm sad that I have to make the Tori comparison but the sound is rather Tori-esque, sounding mostly like "Little Amsterdam" from _Boys for Pele_ . The album is odd and enjoyable. Sounds like Christine Fellows, 2 Little Birds The best songs here are brilliant, haunting, all those wonderful things. Kind of like Cat Power or Kristin Hersh with a touch of Veda Hille. Very indie feeling. The disc as a whole is a tad uneven, but when it's good, it's great, and this is overall extremely promising. Patti Smith, Gung Ho This is Patti Smith back to the height of her powers. I think I like this one even better than her fine _Gone Again_ or at least as well, and at least as well as my favourites of her early work. I can't believe how wonderful her reappearance is. We've listened to this steadily since we got it. Classic rock. She proves she will be able to rock and to galvanize people into the new millennium. Broadcast, The Noise Made by People I'm not sure how to describe how this is different from their first album. In many ways it's very like _Work and Non Work_, but seems even a step closer to a light kind of pop with all kinds of wonderful echoes of '60s jazzy-pop. A collection that can be take as superficially delightful pop, or listened to more deeply for the experimental, haunting undercurrents. I love this. Great soft vocals, too, and the band was interesting live. Laika, Good Looking Blues A new Laika disc! Very much in the same vein as their earlier discs, which is delightful to me. I could listen to their intriguing mix of vocals, electronics and traditional instruments forever. Well, at least one wonderful disc longer now. Full of great hooks. Highly recommended for anyone who like ectronica. Basque, Radiate I love this gorgeous mix of vocals and bass. Seely, winter birds This is really lovely. Seely sounds like early Stereolab in many ways, but really is all the things I like about Stereolab and none of the things that I've grown less interested in over time. Really lovely vocals, good songwriting--sort of updated '60s pop ethereal. They deserve to be better known, on ecto and elsewhere. I think this one is even better than their first disc (even though there are some male(!) lead vocals here). "Planes circle do" and "sandy" seem the epitome of their music, and I particularly love these songs PJ Harvey, Stories from the City, Stories From the Sea That's a wonderful rough pop album, full of great PJ Harvey vocals and for the first time I can _really_ hear the Patti Smith influences in her work. A great album. 1999 Tops Discovered this year: Terami Hirsch, All Girl Band I have been listening to this disc with embarrassing frequency. A captivating mix of sounds, strong piano, interesting vocals, and intriguing lyrics. Jorane, vent fou A new obsession. Discoveries of the year--the artists whose albums spent many weeks in my disc player this year: Splashdown Hannah Fury Terami Hirsch Jorane Marvin Pontiac basque The Galerkin Method Josette's Eye Christine Fellows First of June Disappointments of the Year: Bellatrix, It's All True Wah! Bellatrix, my favourite weird band, has gone totally bouncy pop! Cat Power, The Covers Record I love Chan Marshall's scattered way of approaching music, but none of these covers do anything for me. - --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 ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V7 #2 ************************