From: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org (ecto-digest) To: ecto-digest@smoe.org Subject: ecto-digest V16 #989 Reply-To: ecto@smoe.org Sender: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-ecto-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk ecto-digest Tuesday, January 7 2014 Volume 16 : Number 989 To unsubscribe: e-mail ecto-digest-request@smoe.org and put the word unsubscribe in the message body. Today's Subjects: ----------------- Re: Favourite albums and EPs of 2013 [Sue Trowbridge ] Favourite albums and EPs of 2013 [Andrew ] Year's bests and out-of-step-ness [neile ] Meagan Chandler [Ellen Rawson ] Re: Year's bests and out-of-step-ness [Tim Jones-Yelvington ] Re: 2013 - a rather long one, for so little [jessica spurling ] Re: Miley Cyrus, Sinead O'Connor, Amanda Palmer, etc. [Birdie Breeze Subject: Re: Favourite albums and EPs of 2013 On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 10:24 AM, Andrew wrote: > > So I don't post that much here but I thought I'd share some of my > favourites from the past year. Warning: this is a long one, as I enjoyed so > many releases, and even a top 100 that I compiled in Excel wasn't > exhausting. Oh, and some of the albums aren't too ectoish but I included a > short note and a sample song for the interested. > > > ALBUMS: > > 13. John Grant, 'Pale Green Ghosts' > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlCyBSFDaN0 > It's a bit of a mixed bag but man, the peaks here just floored me / left me > an emotional wreck. Worth noting are the aching backing vocals by the only > one Sinead O'Connor. I wanted to second this one. "GMF" is without a doubt my favorite song of 2013, though every time I share it with someone, I have to add another acronym: "NSFW!!!!!!!!" http://youtu.be/xIxZZdYPh3Q - --Sue ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 07:34:01 -0800 From: Adam Kimmel Subject: 2013 - a rather long one, for so little Happy New Year, all. I'm sorry that this is so long. I realised, as I finished, that this might work in my favour: almost everyone will give up before they get to the end. Well, it's gamble. It has been lovely reading everyone's lists for the year - a LOT of material and artists I am unfamiliar with, so it's all good stuff for the future. Well, hopefully. My own list is a far cry from thirteen because I still spent the year listening to classical music, but I have ventured into new music this year, with mixed results. So here are my hits and misses of the year: Top albums: "Regardless" by Thea Gilmore. By a mile - I can only repeat that this album took me quite by surprise and reinvigorated my love for Thea and her music and music in general. "AIMS" by Vienna Teng - Wow!! What a magnificent, powerful album this is, what a change from her last couple, as if she's been inspired and energised by some wonderful force. It's fantastic, it really is - politics, electronica, passion, all rolled up in one brilliant work. "Warp and Weft" by Laura Veirs. Thoroughly enjoyable - intelligent, tuneful, playful. I still don't know if I'd count myself as a Veirs fan, or even how often I'd go back to this, but that's two albums in a row from her that I've had in my top of the year, so there must be something there. "Silver Gymnasium" by Okkervill River. A double whammy of "Stage Names" and a stunning live show had me buying up all their back catalogue a few years back, but nothing moved me like the combination of those first two experiences. Still, I took a chance with this and love it. Again, it's fun, playful and tuneful and quite eccentric. "Charge" by David Ford. Not his best, and at first I was disappointed in this, but it's very much grown on me. Still one of the great unsung singer/songwriters around. "Dear River" by Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo. New to me, and I really, really like this. I bought her two earlier releases after hearing it, but this is my favourite so far, and I look forward to hearing more from her. "American Kid" by Patty Griffin. Mixed feelings about this, but when it's good it's very, very good, and seeing her do these songs live left a vivid impression on me. It's also good to see "Silver Bell" get an official release, after all these years. I will be forever grateful to whoever it was (please remind me and take a bow!) who sent me a copy of this way back when, in return for some novelty shot-glasses from the UK. Bubbling under: "I Awake" by Sarah Blasko. A late addition, and I've only managed to listen to it once all the way through, but it's made an immediate impression and I love it. It will be interesting to see if this love holds through repeated listenings, but still... Also, "Build Me Up From Bones" by Sarah Jarosz. A big thank you to JoAnn for introducing her to me. Although she, like Emily Barker, are already three albums in, I look forward to following where she goes next. Disappointments: Over the Rhine's "Meet Me at the End of the World", which doesn't have the epic sweep of "Films for Radio" or the playful quirkiness of "The Trumpet Child" and is two (short) CDs of music that I found tuneful, sophisticated and ever so slightly dull. I was disappointed in Anna Calvi's "One Breath". there's nothing wrong with it, it just doesn't stray too far from the template of her debut: bit voice, big drums, epic sound. There are a couple of moments when she tries something a bit different, and I'll bet it sounds fantastic live, but as a pure listening experience it underwhelmed me. Similarly, I'd hoped for better things from London Grammar, having loved "Strong" when I heard it on 6Music. As an album, however, their debut kind of plods along rather too lethargically for my tastes. I'd still buy their next one, just to see how they develop (the same's true for Anna Calvi) but otherwise I don't see this becoming a regular in my playlists. Okay, deep breath.... Least favourite album of 2013: (I really don't mean to antagonise, I just find myself completely out of step with ecto this year. Has it made me doubt my place in ecto? Sure has.) Julia Holter's "Loud City Song" is in with a real chance, the musical equivalent - for me - of a muzzy, nagging migraine. To be fair, it was a late addition to my collection and I've only managed to listen to it five or six times, but the last time was following along with the lyrics, which made the experience even more painful. The clear winner, however, was a real surprise to me, but I've listened to it twenty times or more and still can't remember a note of it. Step forward Goldfrapp's "The Story of Us", an album I found so boring it gave me cramps. Luckily, I can count on the fact that very few people will have read down this far! Anyway, happy new year everyone... Adam K ____________________________________________________________ FREE ONLINE PHOTOSHARING - Share your photos online with your friends and family! Visit http://www.inbox.com/photosharing to find out more! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 19:24:51 +0100 From: Andrew Subject: Favourite albums and EPs of 2013 So I don't post that much here but I thought I'd share some of my favourites from the past year. Warning: this is a long one, as I enjoyed so many releases, and even a top 100 that I compiled in Excel wasn't exhausting. Oh, and some of the albums aren't too ectoish but I included a short note and a sample song for the interested. ALBUMS: 1. Owl Eyes, 'Nightswim' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxBPf3ZXf-E What a debut! Glossy, shimmering, dreamy 'underwater' electropop with lovely vocals. Every track is a perfect pop song. I won't get tired of this one for a long time. 2. Goldfrapp, 'Tales of Us' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMzYlfGKC8Q Nearly all tracks are dreamy, downtempo, and drumless but never dull nor deadening. The lyrics of each song tell a different, often dark story. A mesmerising listen. 3. VV Brown, 'Samson & Delilah' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1QnXK9XP9Q Somewhat reminiscent of Light Asylum and Grace Jones, particularly the scorching, violent synths and commanding vocals of "Igneous" and "The Apple". On the other side of the spectrum are the vulnerable "Knife" which reduces me to tears and the heavenly opener "Substitute for Love". Awesome stuff. 4. Born Gold, 'I Am an Exit' http://soundcloud.com/borngold/7-boy-foundry The highest-placed male-sung album on my list, it's a 80/90s europop throwback but packed with some genuine emotion which somehow strongly resonates with me. 5. Little Boots, 'Nocturnes' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fsZQC_pDZA A night-time journey of synths and drum machines. The songs are loaded with hooks ("Confusion" has two choruses!), at times emotional ("All for You" and "Strangers" are achingly beautiful), or euphoric ("Satellite" and "Shake"). And you can dance to all of it! 6. Diane Birch, 'Speak a Little Louder' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmwdtTBx3yo Echoes of Stevie Nicks, Tori Amos, First Aid Kit, Adele and Florence Welch here... but Diane makes it all her own. There is a wide range of styles displayed throughout the album, and there is no throwaway track here (the bonuses on the deluxe edition are all excellent as well). 7. Autre Ne Veut, 'Anxiety' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qhHUmL0U6k Another male-voiced album here, this time it's experimental R&B but again, full of raw emotion it just resonates with me personally, sometimes to the extent that it's painful for me to listen to this. 8. CFCF, 'Outside' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BotUaUYlHHo Paper Bag Records have releases some great albums this year and this is my favourite. It sounds like an ambient version of Peter Gabriel between Security and Us. A very soothing listen. I believe the track I've linked has backing vocals from Feist. 9. Beyonci, 'BEYONCE' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLPDd__vn78 I've always admired her skills as a performer but this is the most honest and experimental album she's ever released. 10. Alison Moyet, 'the minutes' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtIfQIKXjKs I have a soft spot for Guy Sigsworth productions, and his pairing with Ms. Moyet definitely turned out great. Alison's vocals and songwriting are top notch as well. 11. Sky Ferreira, 'Night Time, My Time' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFCZP1Nz3Ds This former teenage bubblegum pop revelation has turned into kind a rock chick here. It's intense and confessional, but still catchy as hell. 12. This Is Head, 'The Album ID' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jZ5_FODicc I guess I enjoy some warped indie rock sometimes, and this one is just fun and engaging. 13. John Grant, 'Pale Green Ghosts' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlCyBSFDaN0 It's a bit of a mixed bag but man, the peaks here just floored me / left me an emotional wreck. Worth noting are the aching backing vocals by the only one Sinead O'Connor. 14. Young Galaxy, 'Ultramarine' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw7cCB7v5W4 Another one from Paper Bag records: a lighter version of an Austra / The Knife mix, awash in bubbling synths. 15. Emika, 'DVA' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6zc-7CRzlo Dystopian soundscapes and detached yet oddly sensual vocals are a winning combination, especially when the songs are filled with hooks, be it a chorus or a synth sound. 16. Julia Holter, 'Loud City Song' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5M8qRN_Rl0 With Julia's otherworldly vocals and the brass and strings, this album plays like a skewed fairytale story. Despite the songs lacking the traditional verse-chorus structure, parts of them get stuck in your head, and you want to play them over and over again. 17. Veronica Maggio, 'Handen i fickan fast jag bryr mig' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zqzl_udVSkM This album from the Swedish songstress contains some of the most perfect pop songs in recent years ranging from the effervescent "Dallas" and "Jag lovar" to the subtly aching "Bas gillar hvrn". 18. Jenny Wilson, 'Demand the Impossible!' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WeJIVS8YWo Personal and political lyrics set to the marriage of middle-eastern rhythms and synths with electronic beats and looped guitars result in the best album in Wilson's career. 19. Joy Wellboy, 'Yorokobi's Mantra' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIypCv9kf9s The vocals of lead singer Joy Adegoke are alternately reminiscent of Skye, Martina Topley-Bird and Neneh Cherry. She efortlessly changes her stylings to suit songs' moods, which range from the sinister electropop of "Disconnected" to the desolated piano ballad that is "Raindrop Races". 20. Ariana Grande, 'Yours, Truly' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuRaETs7ti4 Sure, it's not the most adventurous pop-R&B album but it's just overflowing with positive energy and youthful innocence. Nearly each track packs a lot of hooks and pitch-perfect vocals in less than 4 minutes, but it's the doo-wop influenced mini-epic "Honeymoon Avenue" that's the true gem here. 21. Dido, 'Girl Who Got Away' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMb_IyOXCBw This is her return to soft electronica and there are some real gems to be found here. 22. Emma Louise, 'Vs Head Vs Heart' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G82nCznQEY Early summer's day by the sea in album form. Daylight counterpart to Owl Eyes' 'Nightswim'. 23. Serafina Steer, 'The Moths Are Real' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDiFk1RsUMI All of the album is lovely but "Night Before Mutiny" aside, the best tracks here are the most experimental ones. The deliciously wry and spooky "The Removal Man" switches the harp for church organ, while "Disco Compilation" builds up to kind of what you might expect from its title. Some honorable mentions for less-hyped albums: Azar Swan, 'Dance Before the War' http://vimeo.com/34999547 What 1982 Kate Bush could sound like if she collaborated with 1982 The Cure in 2013 NYC. Torres, 'TORRES' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8NAT7eVkVw A depressed version of PJ Harvey. Rebeka, 'Hellada' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_-xAdIkZpM Some clunky lyrics aside, this is a very accomplished debut from this Polish electropop duo. Janet Devlin, 'Hide & Seek' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGALtekQnCU Catchy, lovely folky pop which avoids being sickly sweet. Ainslie Wills, 'You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ke92kp7vIY Not quite your usual folkish album. Daughn Gibson, 'Me Moan' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6ylcflMkDU Electronic country? Sounds much better than you'd expect. (Nothing like Avicii's last singles, I swear. This is cool stuff. Mr Gibson's vocals are sex.) Hjaltalin, 'Enter 4' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkRREQlnAPU This Icelandic octet with both a male and female vocalist takes you on a dark journey. BOKKA, 'BOKKA' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aflmCuUfq-I This Polish band doesn't reveal their identities. I'm still not 100% sold on this album but "Town of Strangers" is gold. Kelli Ali, 'Band of Angels' http://soundcloud.com/kelliali/kelli-ali-the-hunter-preview A gorgeously crafted album from the singer who I'll admit I've never kept an eye on outside of the Becoming X singles. Polly Scattergood, 'Arrows' http://soundcloud.com/pollyscattergood/polly-scattergood-subsequently A mix of Nerina Pallot, Depeche Mode and Goldfrapp, the result is close to Kelli Ali's album. I also enjoyed the albums from Agnes Obel, Lorde, HAIM, CHVRCHES, London Grammar, Brooke Waggoner, Yuna, AlunaGeorge, Laura Veirs, Neko Case, Emiliana Torrini, Phildel, DIANA, Snow Ghosts, Anouk, Phosphorescent, Lady Gaga, Club 8, James Blake, Maya Jane Coles, Anna Calvi and many more. Biggest disappointments: Austra and The Knife (I probably forgot about some others as the good stuff largely outweighed the bad!). EPs: 1. HAERTS, 'Hemiplegia' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yk52XHSpmF4 Again shades of Stevie Nicks here. 2. Alice Boman, 'Skisser' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KQdMgLW-K0 Skisser = sketches, and that's what the songs are, but their rawness adds to the appeal as they appear even more personal. 3. Bree Tranter, 'Jaws' http://soundcloud.com/gaga-digi/bree-tranter-redwoods The crystal clear vocals are the focal point here but thesongs and arrangements reveal more and more layers with every listen. 4. Valentina, 'Wolves' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uljOzH5J0eM Slightly offbeat, largely piano-based material with light electronic flourishes. The vocals are like honey to my ears. 5. Man Without Country, 'Entropy Pt. I' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2w8gX4TRIg I can't tell if these shoegazey soundscapes are made by synthesizers or guitars (I'd guess the former). Spooky and enthralling. Plus some less-hyped stuff worth mentioning: Drfmings, 'Nevada' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu2EKPtTTQ0 Alice and the Glass Lake, 'The Evolution EP' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM2MEJblMlM Dune, 'Oh Innocence' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwqhu3Nbqw8 Nadia Nair 'The Bon Voyage EP' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CouJ-9i3W5k Eliza Hull, 'The Ghosts You Never Catch' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvWqReXlh3g Rosie Lowe, 'Right Thing' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UBhcUbCqBs Neither of these ladies makes particularly groundbreaking music, but each one of them has a certain je ne sais quoi about her which makes these promising debuts boding well for future releases. Whew, that was long, sorry for that! I hope that 2014 brings at least as much great music as 2013 did (at least for me). Andrew ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 08:12:31 -0800 (PST) From: neile Subject: Year's bests and out-of-step-ness On Tue, 7 Jan 2014, Adam Kimmel wrote: > (I really don't mean to antagonise, I just find myself completely out of > step with ecto this year. Has it made me doubt my place in ecto? Sure > has.) Well, if it's any consolation, I *always* feel out of step with ecto. But I think that's one of our community's strengths: while we all have disparate tastes, there's some overlap and most especially a general enthusiasm for music, particularly music by women, that gives us our common ground. The hard part for me is that I want you all to enjoy the music I enjoy as much as I do. *How* could you not love these things (or hate these things or what on earth do you hear in ___________)? For most of my best of the year list there won't be any seconding nominations to get them on the list that appears on the ectoguide, and that makes me sad. Speaking of which, everyone, feel free to add to the enthusiasm for any album anyone has listed as their top--that's how the albums can appear on that list. We include anything that gets at least two nominations. See last year's list http://ectoguide.org/best/year2012 For example of my out-of-step-ness, I didn't like *any* of the discs on the "2 nominations" in 2012 and only 2 of the 5 on the "3 nominations" list, though I did like the three top discs. This year I think I have even less common ground other than Agnes Obel. - --Neile ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 09:05:49 -0800 (PST) From: Ellen Rawson Subject: Meagan Chandler Okay, I'm going to be a bit indulgent and promote a former student. I taught Meagan Chandler back at Boulder High School during her sophomore year in the late '90s. Thanks to me, the poor kid wound up joining the SCA*, where I first heard her sing. (Okay, she also sang in the high school's jazz choir, but it wasn't the same thing.) She had talent even then. As a teenager, she could make the loudest talkers shut up during feasts at SCA events and pay attention. Anyway, she's now in Santa Fe and she's released her first album. Finally. It made the cut for Santa Fe's top 13 albums of 2013, and I rather like it. Okay, I'm biased; I admit it. However, you can hear it at Bandcamp. http://meaganchandler.bandcamp.com/ She's also a professional flamenco dancer (trained in Spain), so you'll hear that influence. There also are Middle Eastern influences. Etc. Ellen * The school's theatre director, a friend also in the English department, asked if I could bring in the SCA for a demo at the Shakespeare Festival she was hosting. We managed to hook some of the students. :) "Literature stops in 1100. After that, it's just books." - -- JRR Tolkien ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 11:29:03 -0500 From: Tim Jones-Yelvington Subject: Re: Year's bests and out-of-step-ness Neile, The only two albums on your list that I've heard (Julia Holter and Agnes Obel) I LOVE (I finally listened to Agnes yesterday after seeing her listed so many times here), so I trust the others are awesome, I'll get on them soon. ~ tim On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 11:12 AM, neile wrote: > On Tue, 7 Jan 2014, Adam Kimmel wrote: > >> (I really don't mean to antagonise, I just find myself completely out of >> step with ecto this year. Has it made me doubt my place in ecto? Sure >> has.) > > > Well, if it's any consolation, I *always* feel out of step with ecto. > > But I think that's one of our community's strengths: while we all have > disparate tastes, there's some overlap and most especially a general > enthusiasm for music, particularly music by women, that gives us our common > ground. > > The hard part for me is that I want you all to enjoy the music I enjoy as > much as I do. *How* could you not love these things (or hate these things or > what on earth do you hear in ___________)? > > For most of my best of the year list there won't be any seconding > nominations to get them on the list that appears on the ectoguide, and that > makes me sad. > > Speaking of which, everyone, feel free to add to the enthusiasm for any > album anyone has listed as their top--that's how the albums can appear on > that list. We include anything that gets at least two nominations. > > See last year's list http://ectoguide.org/best/year2012 > > For example of my out-of-step-ness, I didn't like *any* of the discs on the > "2 nominations" in 2012 and only 2 of the 5 on the "3 nominations" list, > though I did like the three top discs. > > This year I think I have even less common ground other than Agnes Obel. > > --Neile ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 18:13:04 +0100 From: Leonora Christina Skov Subject: A few corrections to my best of 2013-list Thanks for all the great best of-lists this year. They are highly appreciated. I am particularly infatuated with the new PETULA CLARK which I would never have discovered without ecto. My parents used to listen to her albums back in the 70s, but I had no idea she was still active. I love her new take on Downtown and plan to buy a few of her French albums. Also, thanks for mentioning the new THEA GILMORE which I also love. I had never paid much attention to her music in the past, but now I am wondering which of her albums to get next. What a terrific voice. I wonder if you are familiar with the Canadian/Danish duo RHYE? I only discovered them now, but apparently they released their debut album Woman last year. This song is a real gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sng_CdAAw8M The rest of the album is much in the same vein. I like it. Also, I have recently discovered the young Australian singer/songwriter EMMA LOUISE. She might have appeared on one of your best of-lists, but I am not sure. Her 2013-album Vs. Head Vs. Heart is a quiet and beautiful affair, and her voice is distinctive. I particularly love the first track, 17 hours: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U31G55HMU2Q I would have voted for this album had I known about it a month ago. And speaking of Australian singer/songwriters: Have any of you come across FLIP GRATER? Her albums arent readily available here in Denmark, but I have downloaded her debut, While Im Awake Im at War through emusic and listened to this and that on youtube. This song is a strong introduction, I think: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLk4JeEyYa4 Adam: Tales of Us by Goldfrapp was my absolute favourite album last year, but I share your feelings on the new Julia Holter. I have listened to that album so many times and tried to figure out why everybody on ecto love it. I wasnt crazy about the new Anna Calvi and London Grammar, either. The latter seemed incredibly samey to me. And I second your opinion on the new Over the Rhine. I had hoped for something similar to Ohio, Drunkards Prayer, Eve or Good Dog Bad Dog, but find the new offering rather bland. Nothing stands out so far, but I might give it a few more spins. Finally: I think Pink Martini has nailed it with Get Happy from 2013. I had only listened to it a few times when I made my end-of-the-year-list, but its easily their best album. China Forbes is channeling her inner Linda Ronstadt and/or Patsy Cline on several tracks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVFPaTkPwg All best, Leonora ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2014 03:00:01 -0500 (EST) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friends... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ******************* John Sandoval (sandovalj1@cox.net) ******************** ******************* Aly Fields (the.walking@gmail.com) ******************** *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John Sandoval Wed January 04 1967 Capricorn Aly Fields Thu January 04 1990 Yield Paul Cohen Tue January 05 1954 Capricorn Tony Garrity Mon January 08 1962 Pool of Life Greg Bossert Tue January 09 1962 OfTheTimes Troy J. Shadbolt Thu January 14 1971 Capricorn Chris Sampson Wed January 15 1964 Void where prohibited Alex Bertran Fri January 15 1971 Capricorn Denis G Parslow Fri January 17 1964 ...of the Saint Ross Alford Thu January 17 1957 Positive Sarah Morayati Tue January 17 1989 Capricorn Nancy Whitney Mon January 19 1959 slippery when wet Sarah Noelle Pratt Ferguson Tue January 20 1970 Seanympf-Aquarius David Beery Tue January 20 1976 drum Terry Partis Sun January 22 1933 Rocker Steve Hughes Thu January 24 1963 Aquarius Sarah McLachlan Sun January 28 1968 Aquarius Ilka Heber Mon February 01 1965 Mermaid Bob Lovejoy Sun February 02 1947 Aquarius Diane Burke Sat February 02 1963 slow children Timothy S. Devine Tue February 03 1970 Aquarius Stephen Thomas Fri February 04 1966 Aquarius - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 14:51:38 -0800 From: jessica spurling Subject: Re: 2013 - a rather long one, for so little I've read your entire list and enjoyed reading your entire email, and I for one don't find you out "out of step" with ecto - I appreciate every unique individual's taste and input. I have tried many songs & albums from most of the "best of" lists I've seen go by, and on every list, there's stuff I like and stuff I don't. Most lists have helped me discover something I didn't previously know and do like. I'm terrible at putting together my own best of lists and I appreciate the effort people put into these. of the things on your list that i know, I like those, so i'm excited to check out the ones I don't already know. thanks for being part of ecto and for sharing your list! - -jessica On Tue, Jan 7, 2014 at 7:34 AM, Adam Kimmel wrote: > Happy New Year, all. > > I'm sorry that this is so long. I realised, as I finished, that this > might work in my favour: almost everyone will give up before they get to > the end. Well, it's gamble. > > It has been lovely reading everyone's lists for the year - a LOT of > material and artists I am unfamiliar with, so it's all good stuff for the > future. Well, hopefully. > > My own list is a far cry from thirteen because I still spent the year > listening to classical music, but I have ventured into new music this year, > with mixed results. So here are my hits and misses of the year: > > Top albums: > > "Regardless" by Thea Gilmore. By a mile - I can only repeat that this > album took me quite by surprise and reinvigorated my love for Thea and her > music and music in general. > > "AIMS" by Vienna Teng - Wow!! What a magnificent, powerful album this is, > what a change from her last couple, as if she's been inspired and energised > by some wonderful force. It's fantastic, it really is - politics, > electronica, passion, all rolled up in one brilliant work. > > "Warp and Weft" by Laura Veirs. Thoroughly enjoyable - intelligent, > tuneful, playful. I still don't know if I'd count myself as a Veirs fan, > or even how often I'd go back to this, but that's two albums in a row from > her that I've had in my top of the year, so there must be something there. > > "Silver Gymnasium" by Okkervill River. A double whammy of "Stage Names" > and a stunning live show had me buying up all their back catalogue a few > years back, but nothing moved me like the combination of those first two > experiences. Still, I took a chance with this and love it. Again, it's > fun, playful and tuneful and quite eccentric. > > "Charge" by David Ford. Not his best, and at first I was disappointed in > this, but it's very much grown on me. Still one of the great unsung > singer/songwriters around. > > "Dear River" by Emily Barker and the Red Clay Halo. New to me, and I > really, really like this. I bought her two earlier releases after hearing > it, but this is my favourite so far, and I look forward to hearing more > from her. > > "American Kid" by Patty Griffin. Mixed feelings about this, but when it's > good it's very, very good, and seeing her do these songs live left a vivid > impression on me. It's also good to see "Silver Bell" get an official > release, after all these years. I will be forever grateful to whoever it > was (please remind me and take a bow!) who sent me a copy of this way back > when, in return for some novelty shot-glasses from the UK. > > Bubbling under: "I Awake" by Sarah Blasko. A late addition, and I've only > managed to listen to it once all the way through, but it's made an > immediate impression and I love it. It will be interesting to see if this > love holds through repeated listenings, but still... Also, "Build Me Up > From Bones" by Sarah Jarosz. A big thank you to JoAnn for introducing her > to me. Although she, like Emily Barker, are already three albums in, I > look forward to following where she goes next. > > Disappointments: > > Over the Rhine's "Meet Me at the End of the World", which doesn't have the > epic sweep of "Films for Radio" or the playful quirkiness of "The Trumpet > Child" and is two (short) CDs of music that I found tuneful, sophisticated > and ever so slightly dull. > > I was disappointed in Anna Calvi's "One Breath". there's nothing wrong > with it, it just doesn't stray too far from the template of her debut: bit > voice, big drums, epic sound. There are a couple of moments when she tries > something a bit different, and I'll bet it sounds fantastic live, but as a > pure listening experience it underwhelmed me. > > Similarly, I'd hoped for better things from London Grammar, having loved > "Strong" when I heard it on 6Music. As an album, however, their debut kind > of plods along rather too lethargically for my tastes. I'd still buy their > next one, just to see how they develop (the same's true for Anna Calvi) but > otherwise I don't see this becoming a regular in my playlists. > > Okay, deep breath.... > > Least favourite album of 2013: > > (I really don't mean to antagonise, I just find myself completely out of > step with ecto this year. Has it made me doubt my place in ecto? Sure > has.) > > Julia Holter's "Loud City Song" is in with a real chance, the musical > equivalent - for me - of a muzzy, nagging migraine. To be fair, it was a > late addition to my collection and I've only managed to listen to it five > or six times, but the last time was following along with the lyrics, which > made the experience even more painful. > > The clear winner, however, was a real surprise to me, but I've listened to > it twenty times or more and still can't remember a note of it. Step > forward Goldfrapp's "The Story of Us", an album I found so boring it gave > me cramps. > > Luckily, I can count on the fact that very few people will have read down > this far! > > Anyway, happy new year everyone... > > Adam K > > ____________________________________________________________ > FREE ONLINE PHOTOSHARING - Share your photos online with your friends and > family! > Visit http://www.inbox.com/photosharing to find out more! ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 7 Jan 2014 08:31:14 -0800 (PST) From: neile Subject: Jesca Hoop: Undress has raised 50% of its goal (fwd) Hey, all-- Just wanted to mention this. I signed up early on, and the versions of these songs they have been posting are *gorgeous*, really highlighting the power of the songwriting. I really liked the original album, but these acoustic versions are remarkable. Whether or not you can afford to sign on, I think you can give them a listen. If so, I recommend it. - --Neile - ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Tue, 07 Jan 2014 16:28:02 +0000 From: PledgeMusic To: neile@zipcon.com Subject: Jesca Hoop: Undress has raised 50% of its goal [logo.png] 07 JANUARY, 2014 Jesca Hoop: Undress has raised 50% of its goal Hello from PledgeMusic, Just a quick note from Team Pledge to let you know that Jesca Hoop: Undress has raised 50% of its goal! Thanks for your support! Loving your work. Team Pledge Don't want these notifications anymore? Manage the type of emails you receive here:http://www.pledgemusic.com/settings/notifications/pledge_mailer+project_rea ched_50_percent Sent to neile@zipcon.com by Jesca Hoop via PledgeMusic. Unsubscribe here [open?upn=FWd67XUyZwdJS6G4nQpTsM2yek1y8qzgomjLIFISZU-2BhmAtwUNpukzzq4BFQlKr e5WgXuVdf6UpmW9zZp8gAN-2FoXRQgqozr6jrq5CNaVXjSN5RaqQwKsI6F0jKpPl1r6FruVtvg8 SwvSld4OYrijufwV-2B0HJfSiCtLA9mUjLZuEqreheIKjTRIwunpWTqVvN3ItiG6EccDAwOxQmv E-2FOC7SGQS-2BVuIsxMEPrBUGAyplFrDKLJjUE1ah4pqYZ9-2BY723lM4LSnIwb6aWJXlXOqBw - -3D-3D] ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2013 03:00:00 -0500 (EST) From: Mike Matthews Subject: Today's your birthday, friend... i*i*i*i*i*i i*i*i*i*i*i *************** *****HAPPY********* **************BIRTHDAY********* *************************************************** *************************************************************************** ****************** Stuart Castergine (no Email address) ******************* *************************************************************************** -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Stuart Castergine Mon December 30 1963 You Are Here Marvin Camras Sat January 01 1916 Tapehead Jeanne Schreiter Tue January 03 1967 Capricorn John Sandoval Wed January 04 1967 Capricorn Aly Fields Thu January 04 1990 Yield Paul Cohen Tue January 05 1954 Capricorn Tony Garrity Mon January 08 1962 Pool of Life Greg Bossert Tue January 09 1962 OfTheTimes Troy J. Shadbolt Thu January 14 1971 Capricorn Chris Sampson Wed January 15 1964 Void where prohibited Alex Bertran Fri January 15 1971 Capricorn Denis G Parslow Fri January 17 1964 ...of the Saint Ross Alford Thu January 17 1957 Positive Sarah Morayati Tue January 17 1989 Capricorn Nancy Whitney Mon January 19 1959 slippery when wet Sarah Noelle Pratt Ferguson Tue January 20 1970 Seanympf-Aquarius David Beery Tue January 20 1976 drum Terry Partis Sun January 22 1933 Rocker Steve Hughes Thu January 24 1963 Aquarius Sarah McLachlan Sun January 28 1968 Aquarius - -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 04 Oct 2013 15:33:57 -0700 From: Birdie Breeze Subject: Re: Miley Cyrus, Sinead O'Connor, Amanda Palmer, etc. This just in - fresh from the desk of the ever fab Ann Magnuson Open Letter to an Open Letter, Seriously? What the FUUUUUCK? You stare at me with your blank page staring back at me like some milky white ass flaps twerking for dollars on the agitated propaganda machine crying out for attention while masquerading your plea for help as a publicity stunt; a call to arms, to legs, beckoning to what is panting between those latex clad gams, those powerful pussy pants that can be sold for so many pieces of silver, gold and Bitcoins on the open market and defiling our fathers house of prayer? Don't be fooled! It's a losing game! You think I'm going to fill up your empty void with self-righteous, self-promoting texting drivel, so much jaw-breaking jibber jabber, using this platform for a hectoring lecturing dickity dock to empower the pussy over the cock when all we're really looking for is more 'hits', more eyeballs rolling in the back of heads and onto websites to move more product? Give me a fuckin' break with your look at me I know the score, I've been around the block Good Woman of motherfuckin' Setzuan waiting all Godot-like for a royalty check that never shows because some industry spunk mogul spent it on a yacht in Anguilla BULLSHIT! Because if I even hear one lame-ass vocoder note of that siren song, I'll fall for it and start trying to win at a losers game, getting my act together and taking it on the road, screwin my head on right and no one is gonna tell me it aint while running as fast as I can WHILE YOU continue to TAUNT with more whitespace to fill! This is a vortex THAT CAN NEVER BE FILLED; that oozing, gaping GOD SHAPED HOLE aching to be crammed full of cold hard plasmatic cash because it's not like the old daze when we could use paper and a simple yellow No. 2 pencil and begin and end a good bowel movement of a punk rock riot grrl rant with a couple of well crafted paragraphs. Nooooooo! Now it's all about fuckin' word count and bullshit font size and patriarchal borders and shadings and template-tipped bullets and mind-numbing page numbering! Those ever-continuing pages that require the never-ending numbers; numbers that stretch beyond the edges of the known universe, beyond human comprehension, waaaay past the event horizon to drive us star raving mad! And the hashtags! For the sweet love of Jesus, The HASHTAGS! #fuckyouall NOOOOO, these days we dont have time to sit at a simple wooden desk with our McGuffy Reader minding our Ps and Qs, we have to PROSTITUTE OURSELVES on computers and iPhones and Humpty Dumpty Mumblety-peg Gadget Thingamajigs being thought up every day by Evil Game Changers in order to trick us into endless upgrades and all the while we continue to be faced with one huge, theocratic mullah of a blank document that just goes on and on and on and on AND ON until the 12th of motherfuckin' NEVER! No matter what I say, no matter how much I type, no matter how fast I spew my vitriol, projectile-vomit, no matter how well I craft this well justified bile that NEEDS TO BE SAID I am still faced with having to do MORE. MORE! MORE! MORE!!!! All because of YOU, you Damnable Open Letter! You who will endlessly taunt me with more empty and infinite GODDAMN white space!!!! This is why NO WOMAN can win at this game! Face the TRUTH: We're being used. Sucked into the tar baby vacuum, used as pawns in the Entertainment Game, being jerked over by The Man in our vain attempt to WRITE OUR OWN SCRIPT. We think this is a way to TAKE BACK OUR POWER? EPIC FAIL! It's all USELESS USELESS USELESS! So much cannon fodder grist for the mill like the sands through the hourglass these are the lies of our lives! Face the facts drones: There is always more to give, more to say, more to feed the insatiable beast, the one that weaves a deceitful web with our Facebook threads, our Tweetie Pie chicken shit cuneiform, our high horse hieroglyphics, our open wound expressionistic Esperanto; these walking shadow boxing matches full of sound and fury signifying not a heck of a lot when you get right down to it cuz all we are is dust in the wind. If - as our mother goddess role model Yoko Ono astutely sang- Woman is Nigger of the World, then You - YOU insidious Open Letter, are the White Supremacist Albino Dictator of The Internet and I say FIE! FIE ON THEE AND YOUR DEMON SPAWN! With immense respect, Ann Magnuson On 10/4/13 3:26 PM, Tim Jones-Yelvington wrote: > omg amanda palmer's in on it now, too? what a shitstorm. > > ~ tim > > On Fri, Oct 4, 2013 at 5:03 PM, CountryMouse wrote: >> It all started with Miley Cyrus saying in a "Rolling Stone" interview that >> her "Wrecking Ball" video was inspired by Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing >> Compares 2 U" video. Then Sinead wrote a worried open letter to Miley. You >> can read Sinead's *first* letter to Miley via the link at top of the blog >> entry linked below and then Amanda Palmer's open letter to Sinead O'Connor. >> But wait, there's more (see second link) >> >> http://amandapalmer.net/blog/20131003/ >> >> http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/miley-cyrus-mocks-sinead-oconnor-who-fires-back-in-new-letter-20131004 >> >> Sheesh. >> >> fleur (Joanna) >> >> -- >> My YouTube Channel >> My Flickr Photostream >> The Mouse House - -- www.birdiebreeze.com/birdiepix http://birdiebreeze.photoshelter.com/portfolio ------------------------------ End of ecto-digest V16 #989 ***************************