From: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org (mad-mission-digest) To: mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Subject: mad-mission-digest V4 #162 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.quackquack.net/patttyg * 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 V4 #xxx or the like gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. mad-mission-digest Wednesday, June 7 2000 Volume 04 : Number 162 Today's Subjects: ----------------- MM: Music Suggestions [lgrady@LNMTA.bentley.edu] MM: Winnipeg ["Donald Henn" ] MM: Top 5 (or so) ["Adam Kimmel" ] MM: Winnipeg/"Not A Rave Review" [L & C Israelson ] MM: RE: recommendations ["Howes, Meghan" ] MM: jersey girl in San Francisco [Flakeybird@aol.com] MM: Re: Winnipeg ["Eryn Fleming" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 17:06:17 -0400 From: lgrady@LNMTA.bentley.edu Subject: MM: Music Suggestions While we're on the topic of music for sharing... Lori McKenna - her "Paper Wings and Halo" album is one of my favorites, but my favorite song of hers appears on the benefit CD Respond, and is called "Fireflies" I put some Eddie from Ohio and Jim's Big Ego onto every folk sampler I give to friends - they help ease the transition... If you've got a copy of Trina Hamlin's "Alone", it's a must for any compilation How about Stacey Earle? or Karen Savoca? I didn't see anyone suggest Julie Miller - "Broken Things" is an amazing song.... And of course, if you're up for all genders, Richard Shindell is a must! I could go on, but I won't... Laurel :) ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 17:39:50 -0400 From: "Donald Henn" Subject: MM: Winnipeg MMers , I decided that 12 days was too much time to kill between Winnipeg & San Francisco , so I drove back home instead of driving on to California as I had initially planned. WARNING: Not a "Rave Review" , if you are extremely sensitive or have children in the room , please use discretion. Set List: Perfect White Girls Boston Goodbye Little God Silver Bell Top of the World Swing Me Mary "Perfect White Girls" seemed to played at a slower tempo than usual , with the opening reminding me of the bluesy intro to "Flaming Red". It started out with Patty's vocal , then the bass joined in for quite awhile before the rest of the band came in. I thought it was an excellent version , & liked the arrangement. The "kiss their asses" line was eliminated , & it seemed so short , that I had the impression other lines or choruses were omitted also. "Boston" was one of two songs where it seemed to me that the vocal & musical tempos didn't seem to be in sync.(The other was "Swing Me") The reviewer for the Winnipeg Sun characterized the set as "uneven , & plagued by bad tunings". I don't know if he was referring to these songs or something else he saw. "Goodbye" was fine , but I was surprised that it wasn't as "country sounding" as the album version."Little God" was excellent - music & vocals , with Patty delivering the high , loud notes in her trademark manner , & even throwing in more "scat" than usual.It also included an excellent guitar solo. "Silver Bell" was also excellent- music & vocals. "Top of the World" had too much music for my taste. It's one of many songs that I like by Patty because they are so intense & personal , that lose their quiet passion when they are over-arranged."Swing Me" was the low point of the set. It had a weird tempo that I ascribed to trying to make it sound more country. The keyboard player joined in a duet for some of the vocals , & also played the accordion. Another case of over-arrangement. "Mary" seemed to be up to Patty's usual standards. One more note on the overall performance , while Patty's vocals were fine when she was singing near the top of her range , I had the impression that the intensity level during the rest of the vocals was not as high as when she is singing solo. It may be a strange analogy , but it made me think of a football team that suddenly develops a dominating offense or defense. The players on the other side of the ball often have a letdown in performance because they don't feel as vital to the outcome of the game as they once did. I would say that the arena was about 60-70% full when Patty started , & about 90% when she finished. The audience was not very attentive at all , & I would describe their response to Patty as poor to moderate. She got a good round of applause when she finished , but I would ascribe that to the same motivation I had when I applauded Ed Gerhard in NH. It meant MY music was getting ready to start. I stuck around for about a half hour , & I must admit that the Chicks are excellent singers & musicians , & can see why they have such a large following. The lead singer , Natalie , is blessed with the natural vocal rhythms that are one of Patty's great assets. Emily gave Patty her due before I left. While introducing one of her own songs , she praised Patty's songwriting & said that they had worn out her CD. I decided to go when they started showing slides of themselves as children. By the time I got to the exit , they were starting in on "Let Him Fly". I listened for a moment , but as much as I liked their other music , they don't do Patty's song justice in my mind. I found out later that Patty had joined them in the song. On my way out of Winnipeg , I saw the Winnipeg Sun with Emily's picture on the front page , so I picked it up to see if Patty was mentioned. From the Winnipeg Sun , by James O'Connor. The opening acts of the Dixie Chicks "Fly" tour will rotate between Willie Nelson , Ricky Skaggs , & Patty Griffin. Winnipeggers were treated to the latter last evening. The cool-as-a-cucumber singer-songwriter (She penned the Chicks' tune "Let Him Fly" and sang it with them last night) offered an uneven set of moody country-rock plagued by some bad tunings & poor song selections. Her stoic presentation served as a stark counterpoint to the bright & bouncy Chicks. I know it doesn't sound it , but I DID enjoy the show. My criticisms are only there because my expectations of Patty are so high. Hopefully , with 5 or 6 more shows under their belt , San Francisco will be much better. Me and my red shoes Nothing can please us Patty Griffin "Flaming Red" Don ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 23:26:27 +0100 From: "Adam Kimmel" Subject: MM: Top 5 (or so) I'm quite late to pick up on this thread (very late -- I'm 40 years old, for the information of Evil Gary;) but followed it with interest. I love all the people who have been mentioned, and was thrilled that someone mentioned Jonatha Brooke (especially with the news that there's a new album on the way) --- but, but, but......... I prefer the idea of those singer/songwriters that have changed the way women in music have been looked at, who have been the template for others to follow. My choice: 1)Joni Mitchell/Court & Spark (I know, Blue is the more obvious choice, but i just LOVE this album) 2)Patti Smith/Horses 3)Tori Amos/Little Earthquakes (still one of my desert island discs, and my increasing boredom with her work since will not diminish my love for it) 4)The Indigo Girls/Swamp Ophelia (they challenge the personal and the political, and I've always felt they found the perfect balance in this one) 5)A bit of a two-way tie here --- I'm tempted to go for Joan Armatrading: although a lot of her music tends to leave me cold (although her "The Weakness in Me" is stunning), I saw her in concert recently, and she was brilliant -- charming, warm and thoroughly engaging. The obvious choices would be for "Love and Affection" or "Show Some Emotion", but I've been hearing her last cd recently, "What's Inside", and it's brilliant. So, I'd probably go for that BUT would also want PJ Harvey to put in an appearance, with "To Send You My Love" definitely representing her. I saw her twice touring this album, and they were the best live shows I've ever seen (yeah, Gary, better'n Led Zep at the Garden in '77, man!) Of course, this doesn't leave room for Patty, Laura Nyro, Janis Joplin, Bessie Smith, Billy Holliday, Mary Margaret O'Hara or....oh, god, the list just goes on and on, doesn't it? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 07 Jun 2000 15:38:03 -0700 From: L & C Israelson Subject: MM: Winnipeg/"Not A Rave Review" Sadly, this has been a recurring theme for me as well. I've seen Patty with the band twice, and thrilling as it was, it didn't come close to re-creating the goosebumps I STILL get listening to my dull-roar-in-the-background, second-generation dub of "We Are Water" on the Rarities tape. The recent Sessions At West 54th broadcast sounded great, but IMO it peaked with the first song ("Mary") and gradually lost momentum from there. And, don't even get me started on the debacle of "Blue Sky" on all those late-night shows. Unless there was some spike in sales of FR CD's that I haven't heard about, that's looking like a seriously squandered opportunity. In a nutshell, hearing LWG made me a Patty Griffin fan for life. Theoretically, actually SEEING AND HEARING the luminous talent that created LWG should be even more effective in winning over new fans, but this early response to her Dixie Chicks gig makes this somewhat less than a sure thing. Larry I in LA Donald Henn wrote: > I know it doesn't sound it , but I DID enjoy the show. > My criticisms are only there because my expectations of > Patty are so high. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 19:02:10 EDT From: Drybones19@aol.com Subject: MM: Re:Cheryl Wheeler Man, cheryl wheeler is so underrated. AMEN!!! ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 18:41:57 -0400 From: "Donald Henn" Subject: MM: recommendations MMers , I was glad to see 5 or 6 of Joni Mitchell's albums recommended , but I think the number 1 album for a developing woman should be Joni's "tour de force". Namely , "Miles of Aisles" , the best live album ever. I have most of Joni's albums & think that in every case , her "Miles of Aisles" version is superior to the studio version. Live albums have an extra dimension that I would call presence , it consists of knowing that the artist is not using take after take , or over-dubbing to get the sound they want , & of knowing that , when the the music is the only thing you hear , there are thousands of people paying attention. Joni also has many excellent songs that aren't on "Miles of Aisles" , but they are scattered throughout her other albums. "Miles of Aisles" captures her essence as none other. My other choices would be; Patty's albums , "Tapestry" by Carole King ,"Rapture" by Anita Baker , Fleetwood Mac's self titled album & their "Rumours" album. There's a lady in the city And she thinks she loves them all There's the one who's thinking of her There's the one who sometimes calls There's the one who writes her letters With his facts and figures scrawl She has brought them to her senses They have laughed inside her laughter Now she rallies her defenses For she fears that one will ask her For eternity And she's so busy Being free Joni Mitchell "Cactus Tree" Don ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 19:25:46 -0600 From: "Howes, Meghan" Subject: MM: RE: recommendations Yes, yes, "Cactus Tree". One of the finest songs ever recorded. I must also put in my two percocet-hazy (just had my wisdom teeth pulled yesterday) cents and say something about the newest releases from M'chelle N....ello (I don't trust my spelling at the moment) and Melissa Ferrick. The former is absolutely stunning--honest, raw, evocative-- and the latter is a fine example of an artist coming into her own (though "Willing to Wait" is still a fine album, and "Faking" a damn good song). One name that has been left out too happens to be my car's namesake (yes I'm one of those who has a "relationship" with her car--and no, I'm not always on drugs)--the incomparable Nanci Griffith. What a woman, what a songwriter. Saw her in Butte, MT at the Mother Lode theatre and was transported. Damn but that woman's been lonely in her life and she loves her wine and she can sing a lullaby like my mama. "One Fair Summer Evening" is perhaps the finest live album ever created at an actual fair (okay, maybe the only one)...then there's "Poet in My Window" and "Last of the True Believers"...and who could argue with a lyric like "I am fragile in the morning, I grow stronger in the day, I can sprint like a new spring door by the fall of the night---oh and love has chased me down, through the cities and the towns, til I stood beside the road and let it pass me by........can you hold me though I am inclined to leave my home and wander? Can you keep me, like a child head over heels in fields of summer..." (From "Late Night Grande Hotel") Her newer releases have been a bit disappointing, but all in all, Griffith's one of my heros (along with Lisa Simpson and Aimee Mann. My gol, but could "bachelor #2" be any BETTER?) Lord I was born a ramblin' wo-man... Best to all--Meghan in the Mile HIGH City - -----Original Message----- From: Donald Henn [mailto:donhenn@msn.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 4:42 PM To: mad-mission Subject: MM: recommendations MMers , I was glad to see 5 or 6 of Joni Mitchell's albums recommended , but I think the number 1 album for a developing woman should be Joni's "tour de force". Namely , "Miles of Aisles" , the best live album ever. I have most of Joni's albums & think that in every case , her "Miles of Aisles" version is superior to the studio version. Live albums have an extra dimension that I would call presence , it consists of knowing that the artist is not using take after take , or over-dubbing to get the sound they want , & of knowing that , when the the music is the only thing you hear , there are thousands of people paying attention. Joni also has many excellent songs that aren't on "Miles of Aisles" , but they are scattered throughout her other albums. "Miles of Aisles" captures her essence as none other. My other choices would be; Patty's albums , "Tapestry" by Carole King ,"Rapture" by Anita Baker , Fleetwood Mac's self titled album & their "Rumours" album. There's a lady in the city And she thinks she loves them all There's the one who's thinking of her There's the one who sometimes calls There's the one who writes her letters With his facts and figures scrawl She has brought them to her senses They have laughed inside her laughter Now she rallies her defenses For she fears that one will ask her For eternity And she's so busy Being free Joni Mitchell "Cactus Tree" Don ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 22:07:26 EDT From: Flakeybird@aol.com Subject: MM: jersey girl in San Francisco Ok, M&M's it is. I'll have a big bag of them at my table. I'm bringing Patty flowers and a personal note about how she's inspired my own writing and now my band is starting to take off and how I feel it's partially due to her. - -Sharyn ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 7 Jun 2000 23:38:07 -0400 From: "Eryn Fleming" Subject: MM: Re: Winnipeg I wonder if those music critics know ANYTHING about music... ~eRyN - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Henn" To: "mad-mission" Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 5:39 PM Subject: MM: Winnipeg > MMers , > > I decided that 12 days was too much time to kill > between Winnipeg & San Francisco , so I drove back > home instead of driving on to California as I had > initially planned. > > WARNING: Not a "Rave Review" , if you are > extremely sensitive or have children in the room , > please use discretion. Set List: > > Perfect White Girls > Boston > Goodbye > Little God > Silver Bell > Top of the World > Swing Me > Mary > > "Perfect White Girls" seemed to played at a slower > tempo than usual , with the opening reminding me of > the bluesy intro to "Flaming Red". It started out with > Patty's vocal , then the bass joined in for quite awhile > before the rest of the band came in. I thought it was an > excellent version , & liked the arrangement. The "kiss > their asses" line was eliminated , & it seemed so short , > that I had the impression other lines or choruses were > omitted also. "Boston" was one of two songs where > it seemed to me that the vocal & musical tempos didn't > seem to be in sync.(The other was "Swing Me") The > reviewer for the Winnipeg Sun characterized the set as > "uneven , & plagued by bad tunings". I don't know if > he was referring to these songs or something else he saw. > "Goodbye" was fine , but I was surprised that it wasn't > as "country sounding" as the album version."Little God" > was excellent - music & vocals , with Patty delivering the > high , loud notes in her trademark manner , & even > throwing in more "scat" than usual.It also included an > excellent guitar solo. "Silver Bell" was also excellent- music > & vocals. "Top of the World" had too much music for my > taste. It's one of many songs that I like by Patty because > they are so intense & personal , that lose their quiet passion > when they are over-arranged."Swing Me" was the low point > of the set. It had a weird tempo that I ascribed to trying to > make it sound more country. The keyboard player joined in > a duet for some of the vocals , & also played the accordion. > Another case of over-arrangement. "Mary" seemed to be up > to Patty's usual standards. One more note on the overall > performance , while Patty's vocals were fine when she was > singing near the top of her range , I had the impression that > the intensity level during the rest of the vocals was not as > high as when she is singing solo. It may be a strange analogy , > but it made me think of a football team that suddenly develops > a dominating offense or defense. The players on the other side > of the ball often have a letdown in performance because they > don't feel as vital to the outcome of the game as they once did. > > I would say that the arena was about 60-70% full when > Patty started , & about 90% when she finished. The audience > was not very attentive at all , & I would describe their response > to Patty as poor to moderate. She got a good round of applause > when she finished , but I would ascribe that to the same > motivation I had when I applauded Ed Gerhard in NH. It > meant MY music was getting ready to start. > > I stuck around for about a half hour , & I must admit that > the Chicks are excellent singers & musicians , & can see why > they have such a large following. The lead singer , Natalie , is > blessed with the natural vocal rhythms that are one of Patty's > great assets. Emily gave Patty her due before I left. While > introducing one of her own songs , she praised Patty's > songwriting & said that they had worn out her CD. I > decided to go when they started showing slides of themselves > as children. By the time I got to the exit , they were starting in > on "Let Him Fly". I listened for a moment , but as much as I > liked their other music , they don't do Patty's song justice in my > mind. I found out later that Patty had joined them in the song. > > On my way out of Winnipeg , I saw the Winnipeg Sun with > Emily's picture on the front page , so I picked it up to see if > Patty was mentioned. > > From the Winnipeg Sun , by James O'Connor. > > The opening acts of the Dixie Chicks "Fly" tour will rotate > between Willie Nelson , Ricky Skaggs , & Patty Griffin. > Winnipeggers were treated to the latter last evening. > > The cool-as-a-cucumber singer-songwriter (She penned the > Chicks' tune "Let Him Fly" and sang it with them last night) > offered an uneven set of moody country-rock plagued by > some bad tunings & poor song selections. > > Her stoic presentation served as a stark counterpoint to > the bright & bouncy Chicks. > > > I know it doesn't sound it , but I DID enjoy the show. > My criticisms are only there because my expectations of > Patty are so high. Hopefully , with 5 or 6 more shows > under their belt , San Francisco will be much better. > > Me and my red shoes > Nothing can please us > > Patty Griffin > > "Flaming Red" > > Don > > ------------------------------ End of mad-mission-digest V4 #162 *********************************