From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #1322 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Thursday, January 22 2015 Volume 16 : Number 1322 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- 2014 in review [JoAnn Whetsell ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 12:34:03 -0500 From: JoAnn Whetsell Subject: 2014 in review Like many others here, I did not acquire as much music this year as usual, and moreover I didn't spend a whole lot of time with the albums I did get. So I feel like there are more albums that I *liked* than albums that I really got to know. And there were several albumsI only listened to once or not at all yet. A good reminder of things to rediscover in 2015. The two big exceptions, which are hands down my two favorite albums of the year, are:-Mutineers by David Gray and-The River & the Thread by Rosanne Cash These two albums I listened to a lot. And I love just about every note on both of them. Other albums that I enjoyed, and that I spent a good amount of time with:-I Never Learn by Lykke Li-Love and Gravity by Mary Fahl-Nikki Nack by Tune-Yards-This Is My Hand by My Brightest Diamond-Ices by Lia Ices-Colony of Bees by Beta Radio (lovely folk; listen at http://betaradio.bandcamp.com/)-Machines of Love and Grace by Martha Tilston (a 2013 release, but I just discovered it this year and was very glad)-Tales From the Realm of the Queen of Pentacles by Suzanne Vega Other promising albums I haven't spent enough time with yet:-Eve by Angelique Kidjo-Nadzr by Clannad (more like their earlier work than their later work)-Natalie Merchant by Natalie Merchant (grew on me slowly, not sure yet how much staying power it will have)-My Mother Has 4 Noses by Jonatha Brooke-St. Vincent by St. Vincent (really like "Birth in Reverse"; overall I like it better than her last album but not as much as her first two)-Dottie's Charms by Jill Sobule-Unrepentant Geraldines by Tori Amos (I really like "16 Shades of Blue, liked the album on first listen, then less on subsequent listens; it's been a while. I don't think it's amazing, certainly not her best in 20 year like some of the critics were saying. That would make it better than Scarlet's Walk - no way! But it's certainly not bad.)-9 Dead Alive by Rodrigo y Gabriela (didn't really grab me, but I liked it better on last listen)-Allergic to Water by Ani DiFranco (I like about half of this so far, but that half is pretty strong)-Are We There by Sharon van Etten-Water Breaks Stone by Charlotte Martin-Dora by Anne Heaton (only a couple of listens so far, but I thought it was lovely)-In the Seams by Saint Saviour - -Blue Roses by Rachael Sage (haven't listened to this at all yet, need to rectify that)-The Voyager by Jenny Lewis-Tina Dico, Whispers-Emm Gryner, Torrential-Ana Tijoux, Vengo-She & Him, Classics-Peter Bradley Adams, The Mighty Storm Looking forward to new Jose Gonzalez next month and new Brandi Carlile and Sufjan Stevens in March! JoAnn ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #1322 ****************************