From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V11 #63 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Monday, March 7 2005 Volume 11 : Number 063 Today's Subjects: ----------------- stuff -- just various stuff (Jill Sobule; Juliet Turner; KT Tusntall & Willie Mason; Tegan & Sara; JACK LADENBURG). [] new albums: kathleen edwards, ivy, shivaree ["JoAnn Whetsell" Subject: stuff -- just various stuff (Jill Sobule; Juliet Turner; KT Tusntall & Willie Mason; Tegan & Sara; JACK LADENBURG). I was doing a little premature spring cleaning and I found all this stuff under the bed. Thought I'd bung them out all at once, then start on the curtains... Jill Sobule/the unbearable crapness of mailing lists: Yeah, what the hell? I'm subscribed to Jill Sobule's, and occasionally get her charming and witty emails telling me what's up with her. Today, however, I learnt from Time Out that she's gigging in London. Unfortunately, it's the same night I'm seeing Jonatha Brooke (again). so, for any London ectos out there who aren't seeing Jonatha Brooke but are at a loose end on Tuesday night, there's Jill Sobule at the Spitz. Juliet Turner at the Borderline .....was brilliant, marred only by the herd of jackasses at the back who thought that they'd paid #10 to talk, loudly and incessantly. Even Juliet was moved to comment on it. she didn't seem as nervous as I've noticed her to be on previous occasions (mind you, one of those occasions was the Royal Albert Hall) and, although still not the most charismatic of performers, is dazzlingly charming and possesses a phenonemal voice that her cds just don't do justice. Apart from presenting some stunning new songs, she also transformed "Pizza & Wine" into something warm, bluesy and utterly enchanting. KT Tunstall & Willie Mason The next big thing(s), if you believe the press. I have it on authority (that's Mike) that KT is stunning live, but despite almost non-stop playing of her cd, there's nothing that's actually made me go, "Wow, must hear that again". It all drifts by tunefully and amiably enough, but no better than, say, Mary Lee's Corvette, Kathleen Edwards (who I see has a new album out) or Sarah Harmer. I'd say check her out, by all means, and enjoy, but don't expect a revelation. Willie Mason kind of provides a minor one, being a male singer-songwriter who manages not to whine and/or invoke the spirits of Buckley (either) and/or Drake. I'm not sure he's the "next Bob Dylan", as has been endlessly quoted, but his dead-pan vocals -- at first irritating -- have grown on me, and his lyrics have a certain charm. On the whole, my mental jury's still out on the both of them. but what the hell do I know? Tegan & Sarah What's going on, here? A full page article in the Observer a month ago, an article in Time Out last week, and a four-star review of their gig at the Water Rats in the Guardian on Friday. Have they changed their press agent? They've gone from a bargain-bin cult to being THE NEXT BIG THING all of a sudden, with all critics all mentioning the facts that they are Young! Twins! Lesbians!. Yep, every music hack's fantasy come true, in other words. JACK LADENBURG That's only in capitals so that no-one misses it. Jack is an acquaintance of mine, and a thoroughly nice guy, who is building himself a reputation on the live circuit. Well, he's played the Ginglick, and that was good enough for Vienna Teng. He has an album out, as well as a lovely website that even works with Mozilla. Check out www.jackladenburg.com for news, soundfiles and photos. I'm not even going to do the "sounds like..." routine, in this case, except to say I think he'll definitely appeal to quite a few of you. yeah, that's it. Time to do the dishes. adam k. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 06 Mar 2005 23:08:15 -0500 From: "JoAnn Whetsell" Subject: new albums: kathleen edwards, ivy, shivaree Kathleen Edwards - Back to MeHandily defeats the sophomore jinx. Somewhat edgier than Failer, and every bit as good, maybe even better. Touches of brass and piano really define the songs. Ivy - In the ClearIvy is back with their first album of original material in years. They've lost the electronica of Long Distance and while some of the songs sound like they would fit on Apartment Life mostly it doesn't sound like that album either. The first track (my favorite) is a dreamy song, sort of like a more upbeat and pop Mazzy Star, but the rest of the album follows a different course. Which is fine, since it's all good guitar pop. There are touches of something retro (70s? disco?) in some songs which are fun. Shivaree - Who's Got Trouble?The oldest of the three, but the one I'm just now getting into. The band veers in a different direction than the Breack ep, into a dark universe with lighter touches that remind me of a music box or a merry-go-round ride, with lots of electronic noises for good measure. There are lots of influences here, but I can't quite grasp them. Cabaret? Blues? Gypsy? Maybe it's not what it's made of but what it makes me think of that's important. That would be a smoky, seedy bar on a dark night, with light rain falling outside, and something vaguely dangerous going on. It's a strange and eclectic mix, and I admire Shivaree's ability to pull it off. JoAnn np: Beth Orton - Best Bit EP ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V11 #63 **************************