From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V10 #199 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Sunday, July 18 2004 Volume 10 : Number 199 Today's Subjects: ----------------- New Artists ["thecritics" ] Poll: Best new music 2004 [Stefan Adler ] Re: Poll: Best new music 2004 [Neile Graham ] woj **Change Subscription E-mail** [JavaHo@aol.com] Re: the presidents impact on the music business [Gary Davis ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 00:37:28 -0700 From: "thecritics" Subject: New Artists Here we go with my bi-annual spiel... First, I'd like to turn your attention to Sierra Swan. Recently bumped off the Atlantic Records roster, she's currently a free agent with a completed album in hand. A poised performer with a voice that seems bigger than the material she's singing, she's definitely got that certain something we all look for in an artist. Right now, her album, entitled "Queen of the Valley," is awaiting a buyer but from what I understand, she's releasing it this year with or without a label. http://www.sierraswan.com/ Pilotdrift is an eclectic troupe out of Texas. Bits of Sparklehorse, Calexico, The Flaming Lips, and everything else in between. Shockingly unsigned. http://www.pilotdrift.com/ Kate Earl is a lovely young lady from Alaska who recently moved to Los Angeles and has quickly gotten some action: demo airplay on KCRW and Indie 103.1FM, an album produced by Tony Berg, and opening slots for Patrick Park, The Like, and Paloalto. She has this gentle, relaxed tone about her akin to Cat Power and Nina Nastasia but with perhaps a more mainstream songwriting style. Her innocent onstage demeanor seems unreal until you meet her. She's an angel. http://www.thegolddarling.com/ Ray Lamontagne. Um, yeah. Probably best new artist of the year. Most likely many people heard about this, but earlier this year his album caused a fairly active bidding war in which RCA came out the victor. I have to say that there are moments on this record that make me want to throw out words like "classic" and "legendary." But there are no words to describe "Burn My Skin" and "Hold You In My Arms." You'll see. It surfaces September 14th. http://www.raylamontagne.com/ Maimou. Before you read on, go to http://www.maimou.com/ and let the Flash mp3 player on their site automatically play "Crush." Wow, this sounds promising but this is nothing compared to their live shows. Juliana Sheffield is a goddess in these parts and Zach Baird is the programming genius behind all their musical gadgetry. They recently pressed a limited edition release of their debut album that you can only get at their shows. Those not in the Los Angeles area, I feel for you. But settle for their EP. It's a worthy preview of things to come. I feel out of my element posting about an East Coast artist, but here goes... Laura Burhenn owns a beautiful, dramatic voice that she certainly puts to good use on her new album "Wanderlust." Her West Coast debut is in LA on August 6th at the Hotel Cafe. Let's make her feel so welcome that she'll move here. http://www.laboratoryrecords.com/ Shame on me for never posting about her in my years on ecto, but Renee Stahl is a seasoned veteran of the LA singer-songwriter scene. Having romped around with the best of them including Alexi Murdoch, Adrianne, eastmountainsouth, Lizzie West, Garrison Starr, Jeremy Toback, and Lili Haydn, she's better seen all by her lonesome with just a guitar in her hand. http://www.reneestahl.com/ Finally, The Haden Triplets... Honestly, I am in absolute awe of them. Probably the sweetest siblings I've ever met and undoubtedly the most talented. Many people know Petra and Rachel from their 90's baroque pop/rock band That Dog but they've now teamed up with sister Tanya to form a three-part harmony induced tour de force. Everyone I've ever taken to a Haden Triplets show has left weeping. I believe they're signed with Sub Pop now with an album due hopefully soon. Notes: I posted about Jesca Hoop awhile back. Don't know if anybody has followed up on her but she does have a self-release she only sells at her shows. It contains all the songs available on her site to download http://www.jescahoop.com/... Carla Werner is currently holed up in Australia writing the follow-up to "Departure." She hopes to return to the States in September for a few shows. Her hard-to-find EP is now available through her website http://www.carlawerner.com/... Speaking of Australia, Gregory Page will be touring Oz with Marshall Crenshaw in the coming weeks. It's his first tour down under so spread the news to any folks you know down there. Dates are posted on his website http://www.gregorypage.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 12:49:21 +0200 From: Stefan Adler Subject: Poll: Best new music 2004 I know, it's usually done at the end of a year, but for some reasons I feel strangely out of touch with what's going on musically. So I am curious what people here on this list regard as this year's best releases. My personal favourites are so far Laura Veirs - Carbon Glacier Ron Sexsmith - Retriever The Shins - Chutes Too Narrow The Decemberists - Her Majesty AI Phoenix - I've Been Gone [Letter One] Arto Lindsay - Salt I'm also listening to a lot of old Peter Gabriel records, like "III". NP: Peter Gabriel - "Games Without Frontiers" ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 08:48:37 -0700 From: Neile Graham Subject: Re: Poll: Best new music 2004 Some of these are almost certainly 2003 releases, but I got them all this year (except the Carina Round, which I include because it's a recent US release) So, my favourites thus far: Viva Voce - Lovers, Lead the Way! Jesca Hoop - Sketch Work Songs Carina Round - The Disconnection Regina Spektor - Soviet Kitsch Inner - lovetheonlyway Mudville - glory of man is not in vogue, the PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her KUMA - That Moment of Silence Before a Disaster Fiery Furnaces - Blueberry Boat - --Neile - -- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Neile Graham .... neile@sff.net/@drizzle.com ... www.sff.net/people/neile Les Semaines: A Weekly Journal ........ www.sff.net/people/neile/semaines Editor, The Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music ........... www.ectoguide.org Workshop Administrator, Clarion West ................ www.clarionwest.org ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 12:13:54 EDT From: JavaHo@aol.com Subject: woj **Change Subscription E-mail** I need to change my subscription to ecto to: JavaHo@iGlide.net Finally divesting myself of the aol addy. Also, can you have Meth give me a shout? I have a Mozilla question or two. Thanks...Lisa ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 16:31:20 -0400 From: Gary Davis Subject: Re: the presidents impact on the music business At 01:55 AM 7/15/04 -0400, you wrote: > >Earlier someone mentioned something about the current administration's impact >on the music industry. I'm just curious, could anyone expand on this, or >maybe point me in a direction on the web where I could learn more? No doubt there are a number of things one could point to. One that may not immediately spring to mind for most people is that Bush has pursued a policy of devaluing the American dollar against foreign currencies. In the last year the dollar has dropped like a rock against the pound, euro, yen, etc. This ends up raising the cost on foreign product. So for music fans, this means the price of imports is skyrocketing!!! Likely the other side of that coin is that for overseas artists and independent labels, sales are falling. Gary ************************************************************** Gary Davis The Artist Shop The Other Road http://www.artist-shop.com artshop@artist-shop.com phone: 877-856-1158, 330-929-2056 fax:330-945-4923 INDEPENDENT PROGRESSIVE MUSIC!!! ************************************************************** Artist Shop Radio Check out the latest Artist Shop newsletter at http://www.artist-shop.com/news.htm ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 20:07:25 -0500 From: "forwardtcm" Subject: Re: Best new music 2004 I recommend either "How To Say Goodbye" or "Surfacing To Breathe", both by Susan Robkin. STB is her latest, released only a month or two ago. Excellent stuff! - --Doug - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Stefan Adler" > I know, it's usually done at the end of a year, but for some reasons I feel > strangely out of touch with what's going on musically. So I am curious what > people here on this list regard as this year's best releases. ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V10 #199 ***************************