From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #1172 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Monday, July 28 2014 Volume 16 : Number 1172 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- new & newish releases [JoAnn Whetsell ] New album! / New video ? (fwd) [Bernie Mojzes ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 11:06:17 -0400 From: JoAnn Whetsell Subject: new & newish releases Someone started a conversation a couple of months ago or so about some of this spring's releases. I didn't have any meaningful thoughts to add then, but I've had a chance to spend more time with some albums, so I'm putting my two cents in now and (hopefully) rekindling the conversation. NOE VENABLE - CASCADIALovely and woodsy. This just came so nothing intelligent to say about it yet. But it's really beautiful. Fans won't be disappointed. ROSANNE CASH - THE RIVER & THE THREADPaste named this one of the top 25 albums of the year so far, and it really is a great album. A subtle mix of folk, country, blues, gospel... the musical styles of the South that the album explores. I'm pretty sure I read an article in which Cash talked about the album's stylistic diversity and how that made pigeon-holing it (and getting radio play for it) difficult, which is about as good a clue as any that something is ectophilic. There are a few short pieces about the album on NPR, which do it more justice than I am, here: http://www.npr.org/artists/15009017/rosanne-cash. Hopefully some people will be intrigued and check it out. ST. VINCENT - ST. VINCENTStrange, but in a good way. I find this more accessible and enjoyable than her last album. Paste also named this one of the top 25 albums of the year so far. NATALIE MERCHANT - NATALIE MERCHANTVery pretty, but on the first few listens it feels a bit too same-y in mood and tempo. "Go Down Moses" provides a bit of a lift, and "Giving Up Everything," though dark, is more interesting than most of the album. "It's A-Coming" is another strong track, and more up-tempo, with more of a groove. I think it's just taking a while for the songs to differentiate themselves so I look forward to listening to this one more and seeing how I feel about it in a few weeks/months. But so far I more respect it than enjoy it. Though I definitely enjoy pieces of it. SARAH MCLACHLAN - SHINE ONWell, I made a nice 4-track EP out of this, which is more than I can say for her last album, _Law of Illusions_. Sarah's voice remains beautiful, and the album starts out strongly (I love the first two tracks), but the middle is pretty forgettable (except for the lovely "Song for My Father") and it doesn't pick up again until the final, ukulele-based track. I wish the piano were more prominent on this album. TORI AMOS - UNREPENTANT GERALDINESI had high hopes based on the track "16 Shades of Blue," which I heard before the album's release (and which remains my favorite track) and people calling it her best album in 20 years (which I think is a bit ridiculous. Better than _Scarlet's Walk_? I think not. I'm not sure I would even say it's better than _Night of Hunters_, but I know I liked that album more than most people.) At any rate, it _is_ definitely one of her better albums of recent years. And I would agree that some of the songs sound like they could have been b-sides on some of her early singles. There are a couple of missteps: one embarrassing reggae-lite track and the duet with her daughter. But overall, it's a good album. I might actually buy this one. SIA - 1000 FORMS OF FEARSigh. Well, I wasn't expecting much based on the singles, but I do like Sia a lot, and I was moved by her story about overcoming social anxiety and drug addiction, and it was pretty cheap, so I gave it a chance. It's even more pop than _We Are Born_ was (akin to the songwriting she's been doing for other artists). I do prefer the songs that weren't released as singles. "Chandelier" and "Eye of the Needle" both have some weird and annoying vocal things going on that just make me wonder why they didn't do another take. Brandi Carlile has had vocal breaks and cracks on her records, more so on the earlier ones, and other artists have, but it works in a way it doesn't work here. It doesn't seem to happen on the non-single tracks, so I guess it was a creative decision. At any rate, this is probably something I'll only pull out every once in a while for a sunny day drive when I need something upbeat (even though the lyrics aren't actually that upbeat). Has anyone heard Jill Sobule's _Dottie's Charms_? I really liked the story behind the album, but there was a crush of albums when it came out and it kind of got lost in the mix. Need to listen to this more. Also, Jonatha Brooke's latest, _My Mother Has 4 Noses_, based on her show. JoAnn ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 23:34:19 -0400 (EDT) From: Bernie Mojzes Subject: New album! / New video ? (fwd) For the Eliza Rickman fans out there... - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 16:58:08 -0700 From: Eliza Rickman To: undisclosed-recipients: ; Subject: New album! / New video ? Hello! This is Eliza- toy pianist, cat lady and princess of awkward. *I have a Kickstarter up for three more days-* * * *https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/94206527/eliza-rickman-makes-her-second-album-and-a-covers * Kickstarter is a platform to help artists raise money for works in progress. For *three more days*, I am raising funds so that I can finally record a second album, as well as a covers record, both with Doug Jenkins of the Portland Cello Project. I'm also developing several new and fun merchandise items- some for backers only, and some that will be available online and at shows to come. This is extremely ambitious, but it felt right to work on all of these things at once. *Yesterday, I exceeded the goal! But I am pushing to make another music video, which is what any "extra" funds will be utilized for. All three of my music videos have been tiny masterpieces, and I would love to debut a fourth video before my double album is released!* I am excited to bring you the goods, and deeply moved by all your support. With over 600 backers believing in this project enough to pitch in their hard-earned money- I am honored! *If you are interested and able, look at this campaign as a way to pre-order my album and make it known that you would like for this new music to come to be.* There are also a couple of high end items left, including an adorable custom Eliza Blythe doll. I would not be disappointed if I ended up keeping them for myself, but I have a feeling someone else could give them a loving home. The more money we raise, the more I can do with this project. And there's so much I want to do with this new material! My apologies for the short notice of this email- I've been on tour with "Welcome to Night Vale" for almost the entire duration of this campaign, and this is my first time sitting down at a real computer! (Random video of us together performing "Foot Soldiers" that is sure to be your new favorite thing ever can be seen here !) And my apologies to those of you who may be receiving multiple notices and/or social media blasts about this campaign- just trying to be thorough. A girl's gotta hustle! Thank you for believing in my art. Thank you for telling your friends about this project. I hope to make you proud with these records! Big Love and covered in red heart stickers, eliza b [demime 0.97c-p1 removed an attachment of type IMAGE/JPEG which had a NAME of red_heart_stickers.jpg] ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #1172 ****************************