From: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V2008 #337 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-joni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Unsubscribe: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe Website: http://jonimitchell.com JMDL Digest Monday, December 29 2008 Volume 2008 : Number 337 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- Holiday greetings ["Marion Leffler" ] Re: Songs that could make me cry NJC [Joseph Palis ] Re: into the wild and other movies - NJC [Joseph Palis ] Re: into the wild and other movies - NJC [Vince ] Just as I dreamed of a little short lived peace...NJC [Jeannie ] songs / singers i can no longer listen to njc [Mags ] willy the shake NJC [Mags ] Re: songs / singers i can no longer listen to njc [Catherine McKay Subject: Holiday greetings Hi friends, since I spent Christmas in bed with a nasty flu I couldn't wish everybody happy holidays in time so now I hope for you all to have a very good new year! I got to get back to the couch and daytime television which is all I am good for right now but as soon as I have fully recovered I'll be back. For now let me just say how touched I was reading about the calls and visit to Bob Murphy. And Laura, sorry about your mother's and your loss. Since Christmas is a celebration of birth, death seems more inappropriate than at other times. I am hoping I am making sense, still got a high temperature. Marion, in a cold but snowfree part of Sweden ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:49:08 +0000 (GMT) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: Songs that could make me cry NJC Chiming in way too late for all the wonderful posts in the last month.B A happy holiday season to all JoniAmigo/as. Songs that make me cry: I can't remember any recent songs that make me cry. However there are music that never fail to make me misty-eyed when I hear them, no matter who performs it. Satie's Gymnopedie. - It's probably the associations I have with this piece of glorious music that make me teary-eyed. Every time. Even the Blood Sweat and Tears version. Most moving of all is a jazz version of pianist Jacques Loussier and his trio. Wagner's Liebestod - so okay, there is a vocal involved here, but this final song in 'Tristan and Isolde' always makes me stop whatever I am doing and sit down and get misty-eyed. Best version is Waltraud Meier's and it is on youtube. Barber's Adagio for Strings - very poignant and pastoral and quietly effective. And although this is an old old thread already, but for me any Tom Waits album will be a proper introduction to someone wanting to discover Waits-landia. I am partial to his Swordfishtrombones album which is musically groundbreaking as well as emotionally potent, but I understand that this may turn off potential Tom Waits fan from his music because of some degree of inaccessibility to 'tuneful' music, but ... Warmly, Joseph in quasi-urban/rural North Carolina np:B Antony & the Johnsons - Shake That Thing ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:26:11 +0000 (GMT) From: Joseph Palis Subject: Re: into the wild and other movies - NJC Hi Vince and other cinephiles~ Sorry for re-hashing this old thread but I also found Sean Penn's 'Into the Wild' very interesting. There is something appealing about people who venture out into the world and discover not only the edge of the world but also their inner selves. ITW is a film worthy of Herzog -- compelling and at times also uncomfortable to watch. One can argue that Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) realized too late that having a romantic notion of being alone has its price but I'd like to think that he came to some kind of peace within himself. Eddie Vedder's music to the film is apt but a bit contrived for me. Song scores should capture what's not seen in the movie, not a kind of narration. But that's just me, of course. Despite this, I got the soundtrack with Eddie Vedder on vocals as I thought the music can stand alone on its own merits without the accompanying visuals. Recently saw Gus Van Sant's 'Milk' and was surprised to discover that Hirsch played a very different character there than the one he played in ITW. The initial images of 'Milk' was for me, its most powerful as it mixes documentary footage with live action. Josh Brolin has a subtler role but for me he is teh most effective. Vince, I actually saw 'Alpha Dog' too. I like Nick Cassavetes' 'Unhook the Stars' and especially 'She's So Lovely' from a decade ago or so, so I have watched all of his films since then (even 'The Notebook' which is the film I liked the least in his oeuvre). In 'Alpha Dog', even Justin Timberlake did a good job. Saw quite a lot of films this season. The most memorable ones are: Let the Right One In - a Swedish film about a teen-aged vampire, but oh so very touching Happy-Go-Lucky - The lead character, Poppy can be annoying but so real and human, but then I watch any film Mike Leigh directs. And I'm sure you'll hate me for this, but I actually find 'Synecdoche, New York' oddly appealing and artistically daring. Things we don't associate with Hollywood these days. The film is ambitious that did not quite achieve the grand narratives of its story, but the ones that worked, really were thought-provoking. 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' made me teary eyed several times. But this may be because of the recent family tragedy I had that made me connect to it, but yep, I got teary-eyed. And I used to think that films that make me cry are emotionally manipulative, ha! Finally, Arnaud Desplechin's 'A Christmas Tale' is what 'The Family Stone' should be IMO. This is not a Christmas film for people wanting to get a warm and fuzzy feeling after watching the film. This is a bit nihilistic but nothing like any of Michael Haneke's films. It has very funny scenes and dialogues that are refreshing as they re unexpected. The following acclaimed films that I saw were also engaging but did not really connect with me: Slumdog Millionaire Milk Australia The Dark Knight Rachel Getting Married I am eager to see Frost/Nixon, Doubt, My Winnipeg, Revolutionary Road, The Reader Am wondering what our Jonifriends from Oz think of 'Australia'? Thoughts? Also, among our Winnipeg-based friends, what do you think of Guy Maddin's 'My Winnipeg'? This is teh film I have wanted to see but the Triangle may not be able to screen this film at all. A warmly joyous Sunday to all, Joseph np:B Harry Taussig - Rondo to Death ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 09:42:07 -0800 (PST) From: Em Subject: Re: VLJC - James Taylor on "Spectacle" now NJC Hi Cassy, I agree about JT's hesitant speaking style...but all in all, I guess I found the show very worthwhile, as I love JT so much. What I came away with, yet again about JT, is how very, very much I adore his guitar playing and his singing, and his HARMONY singing! he was so good with those 3 folks who were singing back-up with him. I meant to watch the credits to see who they were, but forgot to do it. Also I was again very impressed with Elvis Costello's ability to sort of meld himself, or fold himself into, his guests' music. Wondering if maybe they would be too much of contemporaries or former competitors, but I'd LOVE to see Elvis have Tom Petty on as a guest. Watched another documentary (a loooooooooong show) about Tom Petty on Sundance channel this weekend. I was happy to be reminded of his greatness and made a mental note to take a detailed (headphone) listen to his stuff. I didn't realize how they suffered for their art in getting the recordings just right. Nice to have someone to chat with and compare notes with re: Elvis's "Spectacle" show. Em - --- On Sat, 12/27/08, Cassy wrote: > From: Cassy > Subject: VLJC - James Taylor on "Spectacle" > To: "JMDL" > Date: Saturday, December 27, 2008, 1:26 PM > I finally had a few minutes to settle in this morning and > watch the episode of Spactacle I'd recorded with James > Taylor. I didn't know that James is a big George Jones > fan and covered "Why Baby Why" on his new CD > "Covers." I have not finished watching the entire > episode but had to chime in here to say that during the > various episodes there have been some commercialy sponsored > music segments one of them is sponsored by Infinity and is > called "The Inspiration Sessions." The segment > during James Taylors show is a thumbnail of Melody Gardot > and Larry Klein. The printed intro shows that Larry Klein > had a working relationship with Joni (no mention of their > being married) and comments by both Melody and Larry are > interesting. Other pairings include: Chris Cornell and > Timbaland and Dashboard Confessional and Adam Schlesinger. > > The other sponsored segment is Dell computers, who is > apparently the main sponsor of the Spectacle series has a > short series during each episode called > "Discovered" where new singer/songwriters are > profiled; today an artist called Richard Julian. I wish I > could remember all the names which have already aired. I > will have to rewatch specifically for that segment. > ***looked it up online and found the artists... profiled > below*** > > Though the music is fine and the material in the interview > is interesting I have to say, overall, that this episode is > painful to watch! James Taylor is not a public speaker by > any means, his communication forte is definitely song and > his constant "uhhh, uhhh"'s and > "umms" and almost a stammering into his answers, > long pauses and uncertainty is, to be honest, very > distracting and kind of had me fast-forwarding to the music > segments. > > At some point in time this series may be available on DVD > but the sponsored segments probably won't be reproduced > which is a shame as they have been as good as the show. The > series "Spectacle" will be broadcast on CTV in > Canada and Channel 4 in the UK beginning later this year. > "Bonfires of Sao Joao," included collaborations > with David Byrne, Bebel Gilberto and Miho Hatori. > > Richard Julian > > After three independent-label releases, New York-based > songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Richard Julian made his > major-label debut in 2006 with Slow New York (Manhattan > Records/EMI). Produced by Brad Jones and the partner-team of > Lee Alexander and Norah Jones, the album earned raves in > such publications as Entertainment Weekly, Harp Magazine, > The Washington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer, which > praised Julian's "razor-sharp acoustic-spun > vignettes" and "sparkling guitar work." > Julian has also enjoyed success as a member of The Little > Willies, a country side-project featuring himself, Norah > Jones, and Jim Campilongo; and as a co-producer, writer, and > performer on vocalist/songwriter Sasha Dobson's > bossa-tinged Modern Romance. > > K'naan > > Somalia. The name alone conjures images of unbridled > warfare and ruthless terror. But it's also "The > Nation of Poets," with a vibrant arts culture. Both > realities are reflected in the work of acclaimed > musician/emcee K'naan Warsame, a Somali native who is > now based in Canada. In January 2009, K'naan will > release Troubadour, the follow-up to his Juno Award-winning > 2006 debut, The Dusty Foot Philosopher. With Troubadour, > K'naan continues to forge his own path through hip-hop, > reggae, funk, pop and soul, in a disc that balances earnest > tales of growing up and clever, braggadocio rhymes straight > out of Big Daddy Kane's rhymebook. > > Solange Knowles > > Solange Knowles recently released her sophomore album, > SoL-AngeL and the Hadley St. Dreams, a highly personal > effort with lyrics that pull no punches. The album reflects > her affinity for the classic melodies and messages of 60s > and 70s soul, while incorporating subtle electronic > influences that she has absorbed while living and working in > Europe. Joining Knowles on the album are such acclaimed > producers and artists as Cee-Lo, Pharrell, Mark Ronson and > Motown legend Lamont Dozier. She was 16 when she released > her debut album, Solo Star. The younger sister of Beyonce > Knowles (Destiny's Child), Knowles has written numerous > songs for the group and its individual members. > > Erin McCarley > > Nashville-based singer/songwriter Erin McCarley was one of > the most rapturously received performers at this year's > influential South by Southwest music conference in Austin, > TX. Her elegantly crafted, deeply melodic songs, soaring > voice and onstage charisma sparked industry-wide frenzy, > eventually leading to a contract with Universal Republic > Records. McCarley cites influences including Fiona Apple, > Patty Griffin and Greg Laswell, and she places deep > importance upon phrasing and delivery as well as honest, > probing lyrics. McCarley's debut album, Love Save the > Empty, features the single, "Pony (It's Okay)" > and will be released in January 2009. > > Colin Munroe > > Canadian artist Colin Munroe cut his professional teeth as > a writer and producer for some of Canada's top urban > music artists before turning his attention to his own > performing ambitions. In 2007, Munroe's buzz single > "World of Pain" caught the attention of > super-producer Dallas Austin, who offered guidance and > championed Munroe to American labels. In early 2009, > Universal Motown Records Group will release Munroe's > debut album, Don't Think Less of Me, a quirky pop disc > that reflects his love of early Van Morrison, U2 and The > Beatles, as well as a production sensibility steeped in soul > and hip hop. > > Salt & Samovar > > Salt & Samovar is a five-piece rock collective intent > on writing the next great American songbook. Uniting classic > rhythm & blues, psychedelia and garage rock with a keen > melodic sensibility, their repertoire gathers the musical > heirlooms of a cherished collective past. Their revival-like > performances gain momentum from 19th century spirituals and > group song; onstage, their energy resonates clearly across > these historical lines, placing Salt & Samovar at the > fore of a new brand of American music. The band is comprised > of D.S. Moltz, Fiore Tedesco III, Dane Risch, Kelli Scarr > and Jo Schornikoff. Moltz recorded the first Salt & > Samovar LP, Old Joy, New Joy, released in January 2007. > > Thao > > With her perky strumming guitar, bluegrass tinged banjo, > dry sense of humor and uninhibited vulnerability, > Virginia-bred songwriter Thao Nguyen aces that rare trick of > creating songs that sound happy but can be very sad. > Featured on Kill Rock Stars' 2006 singer-songwriter > compilation The Sound the Hare Heard, Thao released her > first LP for the label, We Brave Bee Stings And All, in > 2008. Using everything from an acoustic guitar strummed with > a toothbrush to keyboards, horns and a full rhythm section > with her band The Get Down Stay Down, Thao delivers 11 > buoyant songs, full of catchy riffs and intimate lyrics > juxtaposed with cheeky wit. > > PT Walkley > > PT Walkley is a multitasking musician from New York City. > As a film composer, he has scored several full-length > features, including three for award-winning actor/director > Ed Burns. He also fronts NYC rock band The Blue Jackets, who > recently opened for Coldplay. The 2007 release of PT Walkley > and The Adventures of Track Rabbit caught plenty of > attention, leading to a Dewars Whisky commercial featuring > the album's ultra-catchy "Up The Walls." On > January 27, 2009, Walkley will release his debut solo album, > Mr. Macy Wakes Alone, a collection of interconnecting > story-songs that delivers a lush, cover-to-cover listening > experience. > > Matt White > > Matt White's 2007 debut album, Best Days, marked the > arrival of a gifted songwriter who draws from his own > experience. In the vein of Elton John, Jeff Buckley, and > Coldplay, White's songs are highly relatable and deeply > melodic. White, who plays piano and guitar, began his > performing career in his native New York City, graduating > from public parks to intimate clubs like Joe's Pub. As > his following grew, he signed with Geffen Records, which > released the EP Bleecker Street Stories in 2006. White's > songs have been featured in several films and television > series, including Shrek the Third, "The Hills" and > "Men in Trees." > > The Virgins > > Recently named one of Alternative Press's "100 > Bands You Need to Know," The Virgins are a downtown New > York quartet comprised of songwriter/performer Donald > Cumming, bassist Nick Zarin-Ackerman, guitarist Wade Oates, > and drummer Erik Ratensperger. Their self-titled debut was > released on Atlantic Records in June 2008, and reflects > musical influences like The Velvet Underground as well as > the band's unpretentious ethos. They have received a > flurry of ecstatic press accolades, and The Virgins' > first single, "Rich Girls," debuted as > MySpace's "Single of the Week" on May 5th. > Their music has also been featured on the cult TV series > "Gossip Girl." > > > If Iraq's biggest export was broccoli, would we still > be there ? ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:07:32 -0500 From: Vince Subject: Re: into the wild and other movies - NJC On Sun, Dec 28, 2008 at 10:26 AM, Joseph Palis wrote: > > ITW is a film worthy of Herzog -- compelling and at times also > uncomfortable > to watch. One can argue that Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) realized too > late > that having a romantic notion of being alone has its price but I'd like to > think that he came to some kind of peace within himself. > > Recently saw Gus Van Sant's 'Milk' and was surprised to discover that > Hirsch > played a very different character there than the one he played in ITW. > > Vince, I actually saw 'Alpha Dog' too. I like Nick Cassavetes' 'Unhook the > Stars' and especially 'She's So Lovely' from a decade ago or so, so I have > watched all of his films since then (even 'The Notebook' which is the film > I > liked the least in his oeuvre). In 'Alpha Dog', even Justin Timberlake did > a > good job. and what connects thiese three films is Emile Hirsch, who played the evil drug lord teenagers in Alpha Dog. And Justin Timberlake in Alpha Dog - a very compelling, believable performance, and he lit up the screen with his energy in every scene. Joseph, thanks for your film comments as I value them highly. Vince ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:13:36 -0800 (PST) From: Jeannie Subject: Just as I dreamed of a little short lived peace...NJC Israel and Palestine are at it again, shedding blood on the land once more. A dream for peace for those constantly pissed off people seems impossible and it's so damn sad. Tourism going into the Holy Land has been shot down again and the profits begin to dwindle and everybody loses. It seems I don't want to experience the so-called Holy Land any longer. When will it end? Jeannie ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:22:18 -0800 (PST) From: Mags Subject: a few things njc a few things that stood out for me on last night's digest: pritch wrote about being moved by songs about the sea. i'm the same way, that post resonated something i've long thought about. my dad was born in liverpool and therefore grew up on the sea. when i lived in halifax, nova scotia for two years, i never felt more at home in my soul and spirit as there, sitting by the atlantic ocean, every single day i would visit. whilst i love the surrounding 'sea' that is the prairie, there's just something about living by that sea that has remained forever a part of me. i can still see it and smell the salt, and i suppose when i hear bruce's all the diamonds...that's the place the song takes me to. there is a gorgeous heartfelt song from the sound track of some mother's sons, sung by eleanor mcevoy, entitled seabird (i t hink) it's very beautiful and there's a video on youtube that i found recently... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h3J7Crihx4 it's a powerful song, accapella, which through even the highest of walls i try to build. it's sad because there are certain artists like eleanor, jonatha, shawn colvin, and patty griffin. for reasons i won't go into. but i do love this song of eleanor's so much. mike, i listened to the song you posted, let her go down, it's a great song and i keep forgetting about steeleye span and how much i like their sound. i listened to the hollies cover of same said song, it's a beauty, for certain. anne: i love your description of singing ave maria en route to visiting bob. a generous loving soul you are, glad you've found your voice again, in more ways than one ;--) . as an artist and photographer, i love seeing "light" and i hope to find one day a way to see that light in paris. there is an incredible light here on the prairie, and i'm hoping that no one gets weary of me talking about it. it is outstanding, breath taking. i guess it's about the way the light refracts , bounces off of anything it its path. i can look at it for ages and never grow tired of it. i've never seen anything like it, although, the light in southern ontario this past october came close ;-) even in trawna! cassy: the green flag song video was wonderful. visiting art galleries is something holy to me. no religious connotations meant whatsoever. it's the best way i can describe the feeling. recently, i went to see an exhibit by donald jackson, who is well known in the world of calligraphers. it was outstanding. his renderings of letters as well as images is a vision to behold. fwiw he's the queen's personal scribe, but his gifts go far and wide beyond those borders. always and ever an inspiration and mentor . mark and travis: my thoughts are with you both. i hope that travis can come home and get better soon. there's always more, but nuff said from me in the chilly, beautiful canadian prairie. love, mags i exist as i am, that is enough ~walt whitman~ __________________________________________________________________ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:24:46 -0800 (PST) From: Mags Subject: songs / singers i can no longer listen to njc what i mean to say when i listed shawn, patty, jonatha, etc is that i can no longer listen to them because of the memories connected to that certain part of my life. i've tried and tried but can't do it. anyone else experience that? mags i exist as i am, that is enough ~walt whitman~ __________________________________________________________________ Instant Messaging, free SMS, sharing photos and more... Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger at http://ca.beta.messenger.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:33:21 -0800 (PST) From: Mags Subject: stan rogers njc hey does anyone know of a place online where i can get the lyrics as well as the sheet music for the following stan rogers songs... 45 years make or break harbour rise again barrett's privateers (yes, it's sung acapella). i've been invited into a band here, called nanny was a murphy. the gigs are at local pubs and such, and i'm honoured! anyway...if you can steer this ship in the right direction, i'd appreciate that, as we want to get into rehearsals soon. love, mags ps: i can still listen to stan! yay for that. i exist as i am, that is enough ~walt whitman~ __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 14:46:45 -0800 (PST) From: Mags Subject: willy the shake NJC willy, not sure if you are reading the list these days but i need to get in touch with you re: my aunt. would you or anyone who happens to have willys current email addy please write to me off list. i love that willy lives in my aunty's home town of wishy ;-) oxox mags i exist as i am, that is enough ~walt whitman~ __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:02:19 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: Re: songs / singers i can no longer listen to njc - --- On Sun, 12/28/08, Mags wrote: > what i mean to say when i listed shawn, patty, jonatha, etc > is that i can no > longer listen to them because of the memories connected to > that certain part > of my life. i've tried and tried but can't do it. > > anyone else experience that? > Maybe not to as great a degree. I suppose a good exorcist could help with that. Maybe a particular song or two, but not an artist's whole work. Lately I don't count on nothin', I just let things slide. I get myself pissed off enough to think about the person involved who has ruined it for me, "Feck you, you can't have this. It's mine" and take it back. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 28 Dec 2008 20:19:27 -0800 (PST) From: Catherine McKay Subject: A couple of very minor Joni mentions in the Toronto Star A couple of Joni mentions recently in the Toronto Star - nothing major, and almost not worth mentioning except I happen to have noticed them. The first one is from one of those articles with best-ofs/worst-ofs for year-end. Here's the Joni mention in the "Letdowns of 2008" section. It's hard to tell whether the writer thinks that Joni's art show best exemplifies uninspiredness, or is the best of what he felt was uninspired, so here yiz go: LETDOWNS OF 2008 Luminato: The all-night event's art component b perhaps best exemplified by Joni Mitchell's Green Flag Song, 60 wall-filling triptychs b proved to be hugely uninspired particularly after all the hype leading up to it. http://www.thestar.com/article/557939 - ------------------------------------------------------ Here's another mention that's peripheral. John Sakamoto does a weekly podcast/article called the anti-hit list with ten items on it. I included only the one that mentions Joni. He mentions a Canadian artist, Elizabeth Shepherd, that he thinks reminds him of Joni's "Hissing." I listened and it's pleasant, but I don't hear no hissin'. 6. ELIZABETH SHEPHERD "The Shining Tear of the Sun" For those of us who are coming to this Toronto jazz artist's music from a rock-ist perspective, this second-album standout should seduce anyone who's ever been transported by, say, Steely Dan's "Home at Last" or Joni Mitchell's "The Hissing of Summer Lawns." And if that isn't accessible enough, the simple yet striking online video should help, too. (From Parkdale, myspace.com/elizabethshepherd) http://www.thestar.com/article/557846 __________________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now at http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V2008 #337 ***************************** ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here: mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:joni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe -------