From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #2730 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Saturday, March 14 2020 Volume 16 : Number 2730 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- La Vita Nuova by Maria McKee [Jeff Hanson ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 06:52:37 -0600 From: Jeff Hanson Subject: La Vita Nuova by Maria McKee The new Maria McKee album is gorgeous! Most of the songs are piano based with backing strings but all feature her soaring voice and rambling poetic lyrics. Several songs have a very English almost traditional feel to them (Down to the Heart of London, Page of Cups), as she now splits her time between L.A.and London. It is very much the next step in an ever changing musical journey (she has never been one to stay in the same musical place). The title refers to her new-found queer sensibility, which is much more obvious from her often strident pro-queer and pro-trans (and somewhat anti-cis) twitter account than this collection of songs which are more personal than political. They also reflect her growing interest in the mystical and feminine. More than anything though they reflect an artist who is confident and unapologetic, as evidenced in the Last Boy lyrics bAnd Ibm grown, I have logic and wisdom and clarity, and I know about magic and reason and the disparityb. These songs would be right at home in some kind of unique Broadway show or rock opera. Gone are the days of her country twang and if you happen to catch one of her rare shows (she no longer tours) donbt expect a greatest hits show but instead a woman creating some of her best work firmly rooted in the present, looking forward not back. Definitely going to be one of my top albums of the year! Jeff Hanson ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #2730 ****************************