From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V9 #342 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Friday, December 5 2003 Volume 09 : Number 342 Today's Subjects: ----------------- grammy nominations today ["Suzanne DeCory" ] my duty as a fan (was the pop market, but I strayed) [adamk@zoom.co.uk] this mortal coil 7 for sale [anna maria "stjärnell" ] re: The Ecto list & the pop market [karen hester ] *RACHAEL SAGE: CONTEST NEWS & WINTER WHEREABOUTS!* [SpiritWe@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 04 Dec 2003 02:08:22 -0500 From: "Suzanne DeCory" Subject: grammy nominations today Through the power of prayer heart and incredible energy here, let's all send some positive light & vibes out for Kevin Bartlett! :) (email filtered and set to exclusive contacts) _________________________________________________________________ Take advantage of our best MSN Dial-up offer of the year  six months @$9.95/month. Sign up now! http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 09:28:00 +0000 From: adamk@zoom.co.uk Subject: my duty as a fan (was the pop market, but I strayed) I think everyone, particularly glenn, has said good stuff on this, and so, just to get my tuppence in, Im pretty much going to repeat them (and probably totally miss the point) I often worry when I find myself turning against an artist whose work I have, in the past, loved, liked or even found interesting. Am I being fickle? Am I being disloyal? When does loyalty become blindness (or deafness, in musics case?) It is, however, a natural cycle: we change, our lives and priorities change, and the artists change, evolve, draw on new influences, whatever. If the two courses still coincide, were lucky. With the combination of the market and the creative process being so volatile, as well as our own endless search for something to connect to, its a wonder it doesnt happen more often. The problem with artists who become successful and marketable is that, all too often, we (okay, Ill say I cos, after all, IMHO) feel they are no longer playing to the faithful, but the many, and are changing their style to fit. The difference between playing a small club, with all its intimate dynamics and nuances, and playing a stadium, where everything has to be bigger, bolder, accessible to even those in the back. And I think Hey, what happened to that private, intimate artist that was, umm, strumming my face with their fingers? The partys gotten too noisy, the artist I felt I had an understanding with is swamped by an army of bigger, bolder fans, blocking out my view. Mainstream success or not, as a fan I feel I have a duty to stay objective and be able to say I know you could do better when circumstances arise. It doesnt mean Im being disloyal, just accepting that theyre not infallible and wont always hit the mark and.well, could do better. Im wary of the lists where each album by the respective artist, regardless of its merits, is treated like the Holy Grail. Ive fallen foul of a couple of lists for not joining in the dewy-eyed adulation, and my dissent has been met with everything ranging from incredulity to outright hostility (Youre obviously hard to please Do you even HAVE the album? and, after a lukewarm concert posting: I dont care, I was just there to see [insert name of artist, in capital letters, here]!!!!) Hey, it makes a horse- race, and it makes us discerning, and it makes the music a very personal thing that doesnt always fit in with the zeitgeist. I know Peter Hammill, after 30 years, is an erratic and inconsistent artist, capable of turning out the odd dud album, but I also know he can turn out incredible stuff, so I continue to buy his albums every time, and judge each one on its own merits. A lot of artists I love have turned out, (IMHO!!) disappointing albums, recently  Bob Mould (what was with THAT, Bob?), Indigo Girls, Carina Round, the Eels  but Ill still buy their next ones with interest. On the other hand, REM need to do something pretty spectacular to get my interest after the dismal (and critically acclaimed) Reveal, and Laura Loves Pagan Place made me wonder if it was the same artist who created Octoroon. I have a minor rule --- if you love someone, but they turn out 3 cds in a row that dont do anything for you, maybe its time to move on. Keep an ear out, though: you never know, you might just bump into them again, wandering the same emotional corridors as you. adam k. - ----------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://webmail.zoom.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 03:46:18 -0800 (PST) From: anna maria "stjärnell" Subject: this mortal coil 7 for sale Hi.. okay doing some clearing out and found this mortal coil's song to the siren on vinyl..7 inch edition..just two tracks. not mint condition but in pretty good shape. if anyone wants it get in touch. for trade or sale. anna maria __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2003 17:28:30 -0800 (PST) From: karen hester Subject: re: The Ecto list & the pop market I'm glad we're getting beyond the 'elitists who don't like x because they're popular' argument, we've a thousand and one snobberies and opinions but they're all more interesting and complex than that! New artists often get more praise because we want them to be around and have the opportunity to produce what we think they're capable of. Neile wrote: >What I find heartbreaking is absolutely loving an artist's >work and then >being disappointed by their later work. For me this has nothing to do >with their popularity on ecto or in the wider world, but in my own ears >and head. I can see how people can mistake this for 'getting too popular' - we can't be disappointed by new artists in the same way, so it's often someone with an established career. Also, when we feel disappointed with someone who has put out something that we really love, those are often artists who made a name for themselves with that album... the more people who loved it, the more popular they are, the more people who will not like the next one, perhaps. Plus we expect more of our favourites. I wasn't fair to Under the Pink or Pele, it took me until Choirgirl to realise not-being-Little Earthquakes didn't mean they weren't amazing albums! This 'turning against an artist' phenomena seems partly due to chronology. When I discover a musician mid-career, love the great album I've just heard but then find that I don't like the artist's back-catalogue, that's a pity. However, it doesn't result in much of a sense of disappointment because anticipation isn't at play, not so much time has been invested, and there isn't a feeling of 'betrayal' (too strong a word now, but I'd have used it as a teenager!) when a musician does something else which I dislike. Do many people here like first albums because they have special qualities? I'm sure I've written about this before ... there are the first albums that have been played live for ages, like the Pixies' first ep - so they're great. Then there is the early music which is special because it is young and unformed and pure, like Kate's demo tapes - those are adorable and otherworldly in some ways, but another listener would find them not very musically accomplished, and prefer the Dreaming! There are many first albums that are very distinct - the person is being themself, not filtered through [stuff stuff stuff, music business]. I think Glenn wrote about this when reviewing Vienna Teng's album - a first album is an opportunity to try and fail and be raw and be true and not worry about poise and perfect craft and public face. Sometimes those are striking albums that can never be followed up. Or maybe as listeners we lean towards liking unusual bits in music and think they were intended by the musician, but they were mistakes, and eventually they learn not to make them! I've observed that in some local live bands. Karen (p.s. a cousin put up a few of my lotr photos at http://www.vblasto.com/lotr.html, these are the week before the parade) __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Free Pop-Up Blocker - Get it now http://companion.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2003 01:48:31 EST From: SpiritWe@aol.com Subject: *RACHAEL SAGE: CONTEST NEWS & WINTER WHEREABOUTS!* "mellow grooves to soothe the work-heavy soul...Sage adds urban beats to folk." BOSTON HERALD "Sage has a folk-noir sound on songs that spring from personal poetry." CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Welcome comely newcomers & hello again, fabulous familiars, to the latest edition of our MPress Records/Rachael Sage Newsletter! We'd like to begin by kvelling over some very exciting news, and then just beneath is a current list of Rachael's winter tourdates (including some shows this weekend along the East Coast). As always, please keep checking www.rachaelsage.com for updates - as we're constantly adding new gigs! OK groovy people, here we go... 1. **RACHAEL SAGE WINS NATIONAL SONGWRITING CONTEST!** We have just learned that Rachael has won First Prize in the CSN 2003 Songwriters Producer Project contest! The Prize Package for her winning entry, "Bravedancing", will include: *Alesis HD24 Hard Disc Recorder * Tascam DM24 Digital Mixer * JBL LSR25P Studio Monitors * Shure KSM27 Studio Mic * A Subscription to Rockrgrl Magazine * ARV $9,500 ...Congratulations to all the other prizewinners - including our friends Edie Carey, who won Grand Prize with her track "Compromise", and Jenny Bruce who was a Runnerup with one of our favorite songs, "Amsterdam". For more details and a full list of winners/finalists, visit: www.chicksingernight.com/contest. 2. **RACHAEL IS FEATURED ARTIST AT GOGIRLS MUSIC** Check out indie music guru Madalyn Skylar's interview at http://gogirlsmusic.com, where Rachael is a featured artist for December! 3. **RACHAEL ON "NEW SONGS FOR PEACE" WEBSITE** Rachael's song "Child" is being featured on this very cool website...please check it out: http://www.newsongsforpeace.org/songs-sage1.html 4. **RACHAEL ON 'NET RADIO** Onekindradio.com is currently featuring Rachael's song "Back to Freedom" alongside The Chemical Brothers and Type O Negative. Check out their December playlist at: http://www.onekindradio.com. === **RACHAEL SAGE UPCOMING TOURDATES** Friday, December 5 The Smith Opera House - 8pm (FULL BAND!) for more info call 315-781-5483 82 Seneca Street Geneva, NY Saturday, December 6 Cyber Cafe West - 8pm (FULL BAND!) opening set: local indie artists "Jules and Dami" for more info call 607-723-2456 176 Main Street Binghamton, NY Sunday, December 7 Live at O'Muzak - 4pm Special House Concert call (203) 776-9325 or email meth@smoe.org for details and reservations New Haven, CT Monday, December 8 (FULL BAND!) IOTA Club & Cafi - 8pm Opening for the Michelle Malone Band! for more info call (703)522-8340 2832 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA Saturday, January 3 Full Moon Resort for more info call (845) 254-5117 Valley View Road Oliverea, NY Saturday, January 10 Club 111 - 10pm (FULL BAND SHOW!) Also performing: Went and Ann Klein for more info 718.858.2806 111 Court Street @ State Brooklyn, NY Friday, January 16 (FULL BAND SHOW!) Fez - time TBA GoGirls Music Fest: Benefit for "Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls" Also performing: Jen Chapin and more! for more info 212.533.2680. 380 Lafayette Street (at Great Jones Street) New York, NY January 24-29 MIDEM Conference More Info TBA Cannes, France Wednesday, February 4 Eddie's Attic - time TBA for more info: 404-377-4976 515-B North McDonough St. Decatur, GA Thursday, February 5 Furman University - 12pm Campus Bookstore Greenville, SC Saturday, February 7 The Evening Muse - time TBA 3227 N. Davidson Street Charlotte, NC Sunday, February 8 The Moonlight Cafe - time TBA 628 Montgomery Highway Birmingham, AL February 26-29 National Folk Alliance Conference (complete MPress Records Showcase schedule TBA) San Diego, CA s e e y a a t a s h o w & d o n ' t f o r g e t t o g l o w ! xoxoxoxoxox, TEAM MPRESS ===== www.rachaelsage.com * 1.877.878.SAGE "melodically beautiful and lyrically poignant." - - V E N U S MA G A Z I N E "melodies that will break your heart without making you feel manipulated in the process" - - R O L L I N G S T O N E . C O M ===== ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V9 #342 **************************