From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V3 #102 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Saturday, December 13 1997 Volume 03 : Number 102 Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Re[2]: Latest [Neal Copperman ] Re: ecto-digest V3 #100 [Riphug ] utter ramblings [forum@inlink.com] Re: ecto-digest V3 #101 ["lanblind" ] Vega and more ["Mark Anthony Miazga" ] Re: utter ramblings [Chris Sampson ] Re: utter ramblings [Neile Graham ] re: Suzanne Vega ["J. Wermont" ] Re: request.../Desireless [Riphug ] A Man Called Orst [sspan ] Re: Fields of the Nephilim [Paul Blair ] the dought is over [basil@naxs.com (Brad Hutchinson)] Vonda Shepard [Rbbrbndgrl ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 02:37:25 -0500 (EST) From: Neal Copperman Subject: Re: Re[2]: Latest On Thu, 11 Dec 1997, JEFFREY HANSON wrote: > Atlantic should > have released Jewel's follow-up album at least a year ago, but instead > they've decided to milk "Pieces of You" for all its worth, and now she's > being ridiculed on Saturday Night Live and The Billboard Music Awards > for singing the same songs over and over again. Which is totally untrue, > since she's one of the most prolific songwriters around. Not TOTALLY untrue, since she is singing the same songs over and over again, at least on tv and radio. Neal np: Music of Bali ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 10:58:35 EST From: Riphug Subject: Re: ecto-digest V3 #100 In a message dated 97-12-12 10:29:42 EST, lanblind@teleport.com writes: << As any info on Katell Keineg, my second most played cd besides my own (haha)...I found her by accident (sounds like Sade on acid then Vega-ish) and want to know where she is from and if she has any more albums and what they are like????Anyone??? >> I love Katell Keineg, too! As far as I know she has two full-length CD's out (and a few singles). I thought she was Canadian...but...... Wait....here's what she wrote about herself on her webpage: <> Weird, eh? The two CD's are "O Seasons, O Castles" and her newest -- "Jet". Here's the link/URL for her website: The Katell Keineg Home Page *hugs and kisses* Jill :D ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 12:50:02 -0600 (CST) From: forum@inlink.com Subject: utter ramblings > Suzanne Vega... loved the edginess of the first? one... y'know which >one I mean... The one after wasn't bad, either... Then... "Luka"... still had >>the lyric content, but I didn't like it as much as that first one... >"Straight >Lines", ... can't remember any other titles... actually both SOLITUDE STANDING (her second one album with the hit LUKA) and her first album (eponymously titled i do believe?) were songs pretty much written at the same time. one reason that SUZANNE VEGA'S second album might not have been as strong as the first (i liked them both actually) is the whole sophomore slump phenomenon which is not a myth but based on practicality. what usually happens is a singer/songwriter is writing songs and songs and songs, and then finally (hopefully) gets signed and releases a solo album. sifting through their entire repetoire of songs they usually cull the best of the best of their catalog and that makes up the first album. if the second album follows soon after, without enough a lag time to write more quality songs, the majority of the album ends up of just leftover songs that didn't quite make it onto the first album. this is obvious in sophomore albums like LIONHEART (KaTe Bush's second album, which KaTe has stated is her least favorite album) or LIZ PHAIR's WHIP-SMART as just two examples (no i am not comparing the two PUHLEASE give me some credit, i was just using examples). Where the first album is so successful, the second album is rushed out in the hopes of cashing in on the success, without a chance to really write more mature songs. It will be interesting to see what will happen with JEWEL, whose first album, I thought really sucked. well in comparison to what she could have released. the early inner-change concerts in san diego i have and even the two promo's atlantic released (SAVE THE LINOLEUM and PHYLLIS NEEDS A BRA - or whatever that "you were meant for me" promo was) were better than that full length, that i never listen to. her new album will either suck worse, or be brilliant. it a give or take. if she is going down the same path she is on though, she may find herself in a horrid backlash (alright it has already started i know) and whatever she puts out will be ridiculed and hated. too bad too, because she could have gone an indie route and become someone similar to ANI. instead she is going to be end up the prozac version of alanis. anyway suzanne vega's career is rather interesting to look at. i find that she has really progressed as an artist, from her early folk singer stuff to her later percussion based CD's (including the brilliant and underappreciated latest album -whose name i can't quite recall), all the while having one or two random hits (luka being one, tom's diner being the other). I look forward to her 13 early songs CD that she talked about releasing, that will feature songs from the first two album period of her life, that she never released as she deemed them too personal at the time. by the way those who are interested, in the latest AP (alternative press) magazine, there is a TOP 25 albums to look forward to in 1998. ecto-esque artists featured are TORI AMOS' new album. Apparently they cited her BOYS FOR PELE album as a pinnacle album that paved the way for artists like FIONA APPLE, but i dunno, they sort of came out at about the same time didn't they? FIONA's album just didn't become popular until half a year later and besides i whole heartedly agree with NEILE 's opinion about BfP being all mannerism, and i would throw in a comment about little to no discernable substance. but then you all have heard me bitch about that album before. Also included is ANI DIFRANCO's LITTLE PLASTIC CASTLE which is due out early of next year (february?). it will be interesting to hear the new ANI album after DILATE and LIVING IN CLIP. Everyone i know who is a big ole ani fan says there was a marked change her music right around the NOT A PRETTY GIRL album. i dunno, i don't own that many albums by her, but ANI has stated that this new album is more mature, as she is finally getting comfortable recording in the studio. ANI by the way is friends with SUZANNE VEGA so this wasn't quite a nonsequitor as you might think. also listed that might interest people, is the new HOLE album. that should be interesting to hear, especially with her recent fashion uplift - and how her new appearance is going to effect her musical stance, after all it is hard to do the whole punk rock thing while wearing donna karan isn't it? and the new BREEDERS album, (sans kelley and josephine). whatever happened to the live BREEDERS album that KIM DEAL was suppose to release as an inbetween thingie? did i miss that? Of course i would have made an entirely different list of upcoming 1998 albums to look forward to. included would be KRISTIN HERSH's new one (due out in february) LIZ PHAIR's WHITECHOCALATESPACEEGG (which is due out in march, and which actually was commented on in the side bar about albums and artists in limbo but wasn't featured in the actual article), JULIANA HATFIELD (her new EP out is suppose to be quite excellent, i need to find it used) as well as the upcoming major label debut of MARY LOU LORD. and a new and brilliant EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL album perhaps? i hope so. the amusing side bar, about albums and artists that have been in limbo forever and who take forever to release music listed as number one MY BLOODY VALENTINE (hello, loveless was 6 years ago...) also included was KATE BUSH (they were rather cruel to poor KaTe). oh yeah, and i have only heard good things from friend about the new PORTISHEAD. another used CD to track down. on my list of things to buy along with the BJORK's HOMOGENIC. you would think it wouldn't be that hard to find used, but you would be wrong. at least here in st. louis. luv irvin np: CAN - CANNABILISM III Forum for Contemporary Art 3540 Washington Avenue St. Louis, MO 63103 314/535.4660 314/535.1226 (fax) forum@inlink.com November 7, 1997 to January 3, 1998 Sabina Ott: Everywhere There is Somewhere ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 11:03:46 -0800 From: "lanblind" Subject: Re: ecto-digest V3 #101 hi and thanks for all the orders of OUT OF CHAOS...ectos are my only chance as this album is quite eclectic... sometimes you need to go to the source....thanks to Riphug re: Katell, can't wait to by the other one you mentioned. Yes, get Ghostyhead but be prepared that it is Rickie gone "songless"....just fun and poetry and obvious improv and a great drummer and some very catchy melodies but in an unheard way...very funny too...My fav is What's a matter wit it? about roadkill in Hollywood acting up...very funny and the sweet sweet Ghostyhead itself...well listen to the musical hook again and again and think of the first three lines in a certain goofy tv show about an island.........I'll say no more. again, I am offering my album to ectos only, free ship and listen, you like, you keep and you pay low, you don't like, you give away and pay only my pressing cost....peace and don't let the holidays bite you. Cyoakha, Lead Clown, Land of the Blind - ---------- > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 14:27:32 -0500 (EST) From: "Mark Anthony Miazga" Subject: Vega and more > Loving the recent talk about Suzanne Vega. Anyway, I'm among the (apparent) > minority who think _Solitude Standing_ is a better album than _Suzanne Vega_. > SV has a general sameness to it that eventually gets boring. It definitely ha s > its high points... "The Queen and the Soldier" is one of my all time favorites ; > "Marlene on the Wall" and "Cracking" also stand out to me. But _SS_ really is > the more eclectic, and I think lyrically better album. I know it's her only > hit and cliqued to say so, but "Luka" is one of Vega's finest moments ever, an > subtle song about child abuse with a first person narrative. Also, the title > track is exquisite, and "Gypsy" is sheer beauty. I love every track here. > _Days of Open Hand_ didn't do much for me, but Vega's last two albums have bee n > classics, IMHO. _99.9 F_ was superb, and _Nine Objects of Desire_, her latest , > is an underrated gem. Get them both. > > About the whole sophomore album slump, I once heard a quote in an article abot u > Tracy Chapman that went something like, "You have 20 years to write your first > album and one to write your second...". I disagree with that in reference to > Tracy (I think her first is her best still, but don't really think she > regressed much until some inconsistency in New Beginning.), but it does make > sense. > > Whoever wrote about upcoming releases really hit it on the head about what I'm > looking forward to. I'm most excited about Mary Lou Lord's major label debut, > which I hope has some acoustic stuff on it... I love her in this genre... when > she take the whole pop-rock route, she's not nearly as unique. Also: Hole, > Ani, Tori,... > > Adios... mark > > -- > Mark A. Miazga "The thing about the rat > miazgama@pilot.msu.edu race is even if you win, > Michigan State University you're still a rat." > > 206 East Akers Hall, M.S.U. -- Lily Tomlin > East Lansing, MI 48825-1372 > (517) 353-2083 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > - -- Mark A. Miazga "The thing about the rat miazgama@pilot.msu.edu race is even if you win, Michigan State University you're still a rat." 206 East Akers Hall, M.S.U. -- Lily Tomlin East Lansing, MI 48825-1372 (517) 353-2083 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 14:35:43 -0500 From: Chris Sampson Subject: Re: utter ramblings forum@inlink.com (irvin) wrote: > > one reason that SUZANNE VEGA'S > second album might not have been as strong as the first (i liked them both > actually) is the whole sophomore slump phenomenon which is not a myth but > based on practicality. [explanation snipped] At last, a plausible explanation. Thanks for the insight. Chris ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 11:58:37 -0700 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: utter ramblings Irvin write: >... and besides i whole heartedly agree with NEILE 's opinion about BfP >being all mannerism, and i would throw in a comment about little to no >discernable substance. but then you all have heard me bitch about that >album before. Nope, that wasn't me. I think Boys for Pele is brilliant. I'm one of those strange people who prefer a messy allusion to a tidy perfection. It's more evocative for me. - --Neile - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham ..... http://www.sff.net/people/neile ..... neile@sff.net The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music .... http://www.smoe.org/ectoguide - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 12:06:02 -0800 (PST) From: "J. Wermont" Subject: re: Suzanne Vega Mark Anthony Miazga wrote: > I'm among the (apparent) minority who think _Solitude Standing_ is > a better album than _Suzanne Vega_. SV has a general sameness to it > that eventually gets boring. It definitely ha s its high points... > "The Queen and the Soldier" is one of my all time favorites ; > "Marlene on the Wall" I agree with you. Those two songs really stand out for me, too. When I saw her at Lilith Fair last summer, she opened with Marlene on the Wall - it was great. But I also agree that the rest of the album is just a little too quiet and not very interesting. > "Luka" is one of Vega's finest moments ever, an subtle song about > child abuse with a first person narrative. Also, the title track is > exquisite, and "Gypsy" is sheer beauty. Don't forget "Look Me in the Eye" - one of my favorites on that album. I also love "Night Vision." > _Days of Open Hand_ didn't do much for me, but Vega's last two > albums have bee n classics, IMHO. _99.9 F_ was superb, and _Nine > Objects of Desire_, her latest , is an underrated gem. I haven't been able to get into Nine Objects of Desire that much, but I do pull it out to listen to occasionally - hoping that it will eventually grow on me. 99.9 F is my absolute favorite album of hers - there are so many brilliant songs on it. Joyce ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 14:51:00 EST From: Riphug Subject: Re: request.../Desireless Hi, John! I did a quick web search and found this: Desireless ALBUMS: 1.Francois $34.99 2.I Love You - '94 $25.00 CD IMPORT PLUS 2519 S. King Road San Jose, CA 95122 Phone: (408) 238-8638 Fax: (408) 262-5534 Email: phodem@aimnet.com Here's the link/URL to the website where I found the information: CD IMPORT PLUS MUSIC EUROPEAN DANCE/DISCO/PO... And if you follow this one, you'll find a nice long listing of other possible links: Metacrawler query: "Desireless" Thanks for the challenge! Jill :D ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 19:37:03 -0800 From: sspan Subject: A Man Called Orst My take on the 'why like someone until they're popular, then stop liking them' thing is that it's not the popularity we are opposed to, it's that I for one, and I'm sure many people, hate having something crammed down our throats... radio stations today, when they latch onto a song or artist, tend to beat it to death and beyond and then some. I even remember liking Alanis when I first heard her.. but after the 8 millionth time... also I'm not a big fan of remixes. Very few are done well, Jewel's for instance don't do the album cuts justice at all. Someone mentioned Rickie Lee Jones too.. I saw her on Sessions and ABC's concert series and watched with morbid fascination.. I couldn't tell if it was a joke or what, but it was absolutely horrible... just what is she supposed to be now? Well, at least I'm pretty sure I won't be hearing her on the radio 20 times a day. - -- ++ -dave- ++ + irc.Dal.net #Panic_Beach + + Maria McKee/Grey Eye Glances/Lisa Loeb + ++ ++ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 21:04:21 -0500 From: Paul Blair Subject: Re: Fields of the Nephilim Neal Copperman wrote re FIELDS OF THE NEPHILIM: >It's got deep gravelly mail vocals... I hate it when that gravelly stuff gets in my inbox... :-) Cheers, Paul *************************************************************************= **** "Let her out? But she's a killer!" "No she's not. And give her your coat." SINED "Why me?" "Because you're perfect." Paul Blair "You have a point there..." psfblair@ix.netcom.com *************************************************************************= ****=0D@=C4 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 21:42:07 -0400 From: basil@naxs.com (Brad Hutchinson) Subject: the dought is over hi all found and rescued a copy of lisa cerbone's first cd (second if you count the real first one) and wondered if any of you might like it since i've already gotten a copy. so--it was 2 dollars and i'd be glad to mail it out for that plus mailing or even for free if someone is in a music drought and needs something new. i've been in a music drought since buying formula and diapers and day care has taken over our finances. then, for christmas, my birth mother send me some money to spend entirely on music. yay. so far, i've been good and only bought alba moore's cd since it was also used and cheap. which reminds me--kate kinneig--did i even spell it right? her jet is used and i think i remember someone posting about her at some point--can someone refresh me? should i leave it alone or snatch it up? hope you all are well. xmas break is coming and there will be NO papers to grade this year! brad Accuracy of observation is the equivalent of accuracy of thinking. - --Wallace Stevens brad hutchinson: basil@naxs.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 11 Dec 1997 05:18:41 EST From: Rbbrbndgrl Subject: Vonda Shepard Hi, I am somewhat new to the digest, I have been a lurker. I did see Happy though in concert at the March show in Philly, a ten hour drive!!! Is anyone familiar with Vonda Shepard? Does anyone have info on her, or can tell me anything about her? Thanks, Mary Ellen ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V3 #102 **************************