From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V13 #696 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Tuesday, December 30 2008 Volume 13 : Number 696 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- I knew I forgot something (more best of 2008) [morayati@email.unc.edu] Recent changes to the Ectophiles' Guide ["The Ectophiles' Guide" ] Re: Of Borders and EP's [birdie ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 05:07:02 -0500 From: morayati@email.unc.edu Subject: I knew I forgot something (more best of 2008) I am crippled without my music database. I really need to stop being lazy and set it up again. I also enjoyed: Emily Bezar - Exchange Terami Hirsch - A Broke Machine Donita Sparks - Transmiticate ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 04:17:55 -0800 From: "The Ectophiles' Guide" Subject: Recent changes to the Ectophiles' Guide Latest changes to the Ectophiles' Guide 28 December 2008 New Guide entries added for: * Charlotte Gainsbourg * My Brightest Diamond * Nicole Ockmond * Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris * Soundtrack: The Hanging Garden * Three Sheets To The Wind Changes made to the entries for: * Mary Black (three additional albums) * Dresden Dolls (new album) * Amy Kuney (new album) * Lily Frost (additional album) * Aimee Mann (new album) * Natalie Merchant (new collection) * Alanis Morissette (4 new/additional albums) * Portishead (new album) * Sigur Ros (new album) * Emiliana Torrini (new album) * The Weepies (new album) * Gabriel Yacoub (new album) - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- You are receiving this email because you have asked to be notified of updates to the Ectophiles' Guide to Good Music at http://www.ectoguide.org/. If you are no longer interested in receiving these notifications, please unsubscribe yourself using the form at http://www.ectoguide.org/guide.cgi?newsubscribe&action=unsubscribe ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:02:00 -0500 From: "Karen Hester" Subject: Re: Of Borders and EP's Birdie asked: > So, I am curious.. >> Does any one here music shop at Borders? I don't shop there except when there is an artist signing and playing a mini set. Sam Phillips held a Borders tour, and Loreena McKennitt played keyboard ballads before a signing. It works fine for the more mature, non-rock-club type thing. Dunno where the chain is financially, they were talking about selling themselves earlier this year, and hoping to merge with B&N. > EP's are an interesting animal. > They are...EP's that are stand alone products, quality productions, Ahh, the EP, the perfect format. I loved 4AD EPs in the late 80s, early 90s - perfect visually, perfect aurally. You can listen so intensely - two songs, then stand up, walk to the record player, switch it over, listen to the other two songs. I'm one of those odd folks who often prefers short stories to novels - every word can be just right (A.L. Kennedy has enthusiastically claimed that some short story authors win her with their first letter). And so with EPs. Even though I would happily make tapes joining together my 4AD EPs to make something longer and handier put it on, wander off), I'm a bit iffy about the best EPs ending up stuck together as a long player - that's not how they were meant to be heard. Throwing Muses' 'Chains Chained' EP is to me the essence of early Muses, intense and insane and glorious, perhaps my favorite album Ever, if I had to choose (which I don't). I couldn't handle that giddy speed for an entire album. Belly's 'Slow Dust' was another fav EP, songs and song snippets just right, skewed sugary pop, and even though the first LP was good, it had to sag in places as EPs needn't. A great EP oversells the album that will follow. Leila Broussard's EP is on emusic, for those interested. Thanks for the recommendation, Birdie, as always. K ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 29 Dec 2008 16:50:59 -0800 From: birdie Subject: Re: Of Borders and EP's Karen Hester wrote: >Birdie asked: > So, I am curious.. >> Does any one here music shop at Borders? > >I don't shop there except when there is an artist signing and playing >a mini set. Sam Phillips held a Borders tour, and Loreena McKennitt >played keyboard ballads before a signing. It works fine for the more >mature, non-rock-club type thing. Dunno where the chain is >financially, they were talking about selling themselves earlier this >year, and hoping to merge with B&N. > > The way things are going, one would think they would merge and that Starbucks will lose a bunch of stores and so on and on in the belt tightening line of things... A lot of people have played those signing/tours but I only seem to remember anyone I know doing them, going back a few years...iTunes, Amazon, etc have all taken off in that time span. It has to be hurting them. I cannot possibly imagine advising anyone to sign an exclusive distribution deal with them. That just seems completely and totally insane to me. Better off at CD Baby, Amazon, your website, the whole nine yards that indies have available. > > >>EP's are an interesting animal. >>They are...EP's that are stand alone products, quality productions, >> >> > >Ahh, the EP, the perfect format. I loved 4AD EPs in the late 80s, >early 90s - perfect visually, perfect aurally. > Yes, I have a few of those - and just pulled out my CT ones the other day....and admired the swirling coloured covers and how they went as a set.... "You can listen so intensely - two songs, then stand up, walk to the record player, >switch it over, listen to the other two songs. " > I have them on CD but EP's on vinyl go waaaaay back - Dusty Springfield had some cool ones n the mid-60's like "Dusty in New York" - Romeo Void's first release was an EP for "Never say Never" that reu=invented the EP for the early 80's. They have come and gone over the years and morphed.... The whole garageband demo quailty EP should always be promoted as EP (demo) as it's just turned into such a muddle with the collapsing of the record industry and all kinds of first timers or people doing things on the cheap etc abounding.... Maybe we should start a year end list of things about the music scene/business that have changed in the past year that are good and bad....and a wish list of things like higher kbs downloads or better software for building libraries or reviews of the best/worst software and so on...and rating Venues....new places or places that have gone downhill or just the top fave spots.... Everything seems to be in such a state of flux....I think compiling and sharing on music stuff in general is a good idea... > I'm one of those odd >folks who often prefers short stories to novels - every word can be >just right (A.L. Kennedy has enthusiastically claimed that some short >story authors win her with their first letter). And so with EPs. > > It just goes to show how they can be wonderful little creations rather than poorly executed ways to dump music out on the cheap and make a fast (hoped for ) buck. We will all stand by quality and I think with this new economic climate - - I only want to spend on the best and I want to support indie artists I know are not created out of some business need...ie old school record or publishing company BS designed to sell commerical product. >Leila Broussard's EP is on emusic, for those interested. Thanks for >the recommendation, Birdie, as always. > > Thanks - she is simply amazing and has really struggled to stay indie and produce her music the way she wants it heard - and - has turned down every major label....not even knowing how she'd pay the rent et al... She's the real deal and you get huge huge value for the price!!! Talent and the production are simply yummy and worth endless plays - classic - timeless. She could be # 1 on acoustic pop and soul charts if she was just in it to make a buck and do the commerical thing.... The talent there is ENORMOUS. And she deserves our support for being true to herself....and art. I think she is destined to become sort of a Feist meets Bonnie Raitt meets Rickie Lee Jones.....once she is established in the public eye. She's 20 now and gets to have some fun still.... I seriously doubt she'll fall off the wagon and wind up like Jewel. It's been a thrill to see her continue to grow. Her instincts musically and businesswise are so right on and sharp! On that note... :-) Onward with the lists!!! XOXOXBirdie ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V13 #696 ***************************