From: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org (mad-mission-digest) To: mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Subject: mad-mission-digest V3 #333 Reply-To: mad-mission@smoe.org Sender: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk * If you ever wish to unsubscribe, send an email to * mad-mission-digest-request@smoe.org * with ONLY the word unsubscribe in the body of the email * . * For the latest information on Patty's tour dates, go to: * http://www.spectra.net/~ducksoup/pattyg/patttyg.htm * OR * go to http://www.amrecords.com * then click "tour" and fill in the blanks :) * . * PLEASE :) when you reply to this digest to send a post TO the list, * change the subject to reflect what your post is about. A subject * of Re: mad-mission-digest V3 #xxx or the like gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. mad-mission-digest Saturday, November 27 1999 Volume 03 : Number 333 Today's Subjects: ----------------- MM: *****Rave Review***** # 2 ["Donald Henn" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 26 Nov 1999 17:50:58 -0500 From: "Donald Henn" Subject: MM: *****Rave Review***** # 2 Because I haven't gotten it all out of my system yet, & because after going through the lyrics archives, (Thanks to Rachel) the titles to more of the songs that impressed me most.The one that I made reference to as starting out with "I've been on your trail for 6 years", was "Half a person" .MM"er Mike acerbo credits the Smiths for the song ,and the lyrics archives credits Morrisey. I suppose it's a Smiths band member. The line is actually "I've spent 6 years on your trail", & it is the 2nd line rather than the first. I was surprised to discover that it's the same song with the "16, clumsy, & shy"line in it. I thought it was another example of her great writing & lyrics & was disappointed to find out she didn't write it. Unfortunately, it was merely an example of her great performance abilities. I also discovered the song that she said was "from the point of view of a dead person" , was "Top of the world", another great performance. Another that I thought was excellent, but didn't catch the title of was "Twisted road" from the "Anywhere But Here" soundtrack. I looked for the song that had the line, "As the bombs rained on the world" & was very surprised to find that it was from "Makin' Pies". I really like that one also, it was the 4th time I heard it, & hadn't caught that line previously. Two more that I thought were outstanding, (There are so many, no wonder I had a hard time remembering them all. At most concerts I've gone to, I rarely find more than 4 or 5 worth remembering.) are "Swing Me", (Also listed under "Love in my Lips") & "One More Girl" . I think that all of the preceding songs were performed at least twice over the 3 concerts I attended. For me, "One More Girl" was among the best of her newer material. The strains in the title line are similar to the title strains of Jackson Brownes' "The Road" from "Running on Empty". As I recall the song , there's an eerie similarity of thoughts & emotions behind what inspired them, although Jacksons' are from a definitely masculine point of view & Pattys' are from a definitely feminine point of view. I certainly hope nooone infers that I'm saying Patty plagiarized, she certainly doesn't need to. Perhaps it was a subconscious influence, & of course, it is entirely possible that both felt the same type of inspiration independently. As I look back over this & *****Rave Review***** # 1, I find that I've only mentioned 1 song from her CDs that she performed (Peter Pan), probably because the new material is more stimulating, & those who know Pattys' music and couldn't attend would be more interested in her new material. Anyway, as I look at her titles from the CDs, Patty was her usual bad self on "Mary", (For those who weren't able to get to the Sessions session, I thought "Mary " was the masterpiece of the set, & easily her best version of it so far. Be sure to catch it when it airs.) "Flaming Red" , "Change", (Two of her best rockers that I'm always glad to hear) "Moses", & "Sweet Lorraine". Well, I think my memory is running dry. So many great Patty songs, so few brain cells! I think I have a vague impression of her doing "Not Alone" ,but it would have been anti- climactic after the impact it had on me in the context of the close of "Niagara, Niagara" . I'm amazed at all of the great names that pop into my mind as I listen to & consider Pattys' music-Billie Holiday, Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell, Patsy Cline, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Baez, Roberta Flack, Grace Slick, Alanis Morissette, & even The Doors for a moment.Someone who reviewed Fiona Apple (One of the few artists still contending for attention in my musical consciousness since my "Discovery" of Patty) compared her favorably with a couple of established stars & added that they were just reference points until Fiona established her own imprint upon us. I agreed with what the reviewer said, but Pattys' a whole 'nother thing. While Fiona was compared due to overall style, when one of those names come into my mind, I consider it just a directional move from Pattys own inimitable core, the first song I heard from her, "Blue Sky" (Performed on David Letterman) grabbed me immediately, & reminded me of noone. Her imprint was firmly established after seeing her for the first time in Boston. These names started coming to me over the weekend after the Philly & NY concerts as I listened to her CDs & the rarities tape on the way home & they drew me more deeply into her musical genius ( Not a word that I use lightly.) Before I started this, I listened to her CDs at the very high volume levels that I prefer & was again surprised at the way her music keeps growing on me. A few songs that I barely noticed the first few times I played them, seemed to suddenly spring to life, most notably "Christina". On one tiny critical note, the first one since Patty grabbed my attention with "Blue Sky", she made an apparently offhand remark at one of her Fez shows about something "Before she became cynical". If Patty is cynical, she shows precious little of it in her music, & I think that what little she does show is richly deserved by the targets of it. She certainly doesn't show it in her public demeanor. In any event, I wouldn't criticize HER for it, because whatever forces shaped this majestic musical persona, she is currently creating & performing the best music on the planet. Cynicism is something that I resist in myself anytime I perceive it. To allow it to take you over is to suppress the best feelings we are capable of. I especially resist it when I'm confronted with mentally aggressive people who try to perpetuate their own by infecting others with it. I usually disarm them by agreeing with them that people are generally selfish, but they always seem to back up when I try to discuss what selfishness means & what it really is that we want for ourselves. Usually, they are enamored of power because they don't have the imagination or courage to find emotional balance. Most of the negativity I see in people, in my opinion, is born of ignorance rather than selfishness. I realize that the purpose of this site is for Pattys' fans to communicate with each other & celebrate her music, I do that, & I hope I didn't go on too much with my unconnected opinion. To close on another positive note, one perception I have of Patty that I haven't mentioned, is that she has what I would call a steely-eyed fixation on her art. That will serve her well when she breaks over the music world like a huge wave. If her music & public demeanor is any indication, that & her humility will keep her from being distracted by fame & fortune, & she will hopefully continue producing that great music for a long time to come. I met Dave from Carlisle, Pa before the the Philly concert,(E-mail me Dave) & he told me that Patty wanted to build her career deliberately & evenly. Good Luck on that, Patty!! Any serious music lover that gets into Pattys' music will be laid low by the tremendous body of work already compiled. Once the water (We are water?) starts spilling over the dam, the flood is inevitable. "If you had the real thing, how would you tell.? Liars can say it all just as well." Patty Griffin "Christina" Don ------------------------------ End of mad-mission-digest V3 #333 *********************************