From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #1298 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Wednesday, December 17 2014 Volume 16 : Number 1298 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Best of 2014 [Neile Graham ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 21:24:38 -0800 From: Neile Graham Subject: Best of 2014 I also didn't buy so very much music this year, but when I look back at 2004 things aren't so very different. I'm in agreement that the best album of the year is Lydia Ainsworth's Right From Real. My top five of the year: * Lydia Ainsworth, Right From Reel Every bit as brilliant as Paul says. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNjTDxfRPQ8 * Smoke Fairies, Smoke Fairies Smoke Fairies make their move to pop from their more folky bluesy beginnings, and do it with grace and ever-gorgeous harmonies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLCdKKgYXoE * Inga Liljestrom, two dangers A brilliant album. I love her heartbreaking style. Preview at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/two-dangers/id725181932, live samples at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB5jnNv8KvM and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFZ3HMe4K8Y * Emma Ruth Rundle, Some Heavy Ocean Painful and gorgeous. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlDCoCcCt1Q * Tune-yards, Nikki-Nack So damn much fun _and_ so powerful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbiFcPhccu8 Mostly likely to make this a top six: * Kate In The Kettle - Swimmings of the Head So oddball and individual and gorgeous. I just haven't heard it enough yet. Thank you, Mojo. Jim says it's Eliza Carthy mixed with Jorane, and I say with maybe a touch of Iva Bittova. http://vimeo.com/107795213 https://kateinthekettle.bandcamp.com/releases https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHsc49eORME Five notables: * Lia Ices, Ices Okay, I don't love it as much as Grown Unknown, but it's lovely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbiFcPhccu8 * Perfume Genius, Too Bright I adore about about 1/2 of this (and find the other half somewhat forgettable, sorry). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7OSSUwPVM4 * Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy, The Moral of the Elephant Some delightful bits for those of us who love traditional music.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32uuHKD6HCg * Imogen Heap, Sparks Yes, the grew on me quite a lot. Imogen is still good fun. She's said she thinks of herself as more of a songwriter, but her vocals are what get me every time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0lCL2hpRPM * Rvkkurrs, Innra I wanted to like this a bit more than I do, but I really like "The Backbone." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x3wO3Ul0fg * Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker, Nothing Can Bring Back the Hour Love the voice but the music sometimes is a little too pretty for me still. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE7QeBhvFbI Best older release I discovered this year: * Kyrie Kristmanson, Origin of Stars (2010) Gorgeous--coming form the jazzish side of things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-He_h4gRIVI - --Neile ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #1298 ****************************