 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
|
| What's
on Disc by Thomas Schulte |
|
| |
|
NEW
WOMEN ON DISC *****
 Gretchen
Lieberum offers jazz vocals and subdued trip-hop on her Brand
New Morning. Already hugely successful on MP3.com,
this eminently listenable recording should take her farther as a
rare example of 'haute hop.' However, I would really like to hear
her in an acoustic jazz setting.
 Louise
Goffin (http://www.louisegoffin.com)
offers her own mix of quality vocals and hip electro sounds on Sometimes
a Circle (Dreamworks). Here the forward-moving, slippery,
quick-paced beats lend a brisk, horizontal motion to the vertical
soaring and floating of Goffin's effective pop vocals. Goffin is
the daughter of '60's husband wife singing duo Carole King
and Gerry Goffin.
Ja, a.k.a Janice Franco, is a smooth, multi-lingual jazz
vocalist. In an acoustic jazz setting she performs Brazilian and
jazz standards on Passion of My Soul (BAP Records;
http://www.cdbaby.com/jamusic).
Important in this production is the subtle but effective percussion
from BAP Records founder Larry Fratangelo, a journeyman world-class
percussionist. Delivered in a classic style, this album recalls
the popular success of peerless American jazz talent and fresh Bossa
Nova rhythms that first fused in the '60's. Ja delivers this material
in Portuguese, Italian and English.
 The
success of Katrina Carlson's Apples for Eve (Kataphonic
Records; http://www.katrinacarlson.com/)
released September 11, 2001 was closely tied to the Kenneth A.
Carlson film Go Tigers! (http://www.GoTigersFilm.com)
released September 14. The tragic events of that time did nothing
to help neither the film nor Carlson's record. Classically trained
for opera, Carlson exudes technique on this album of radio-ready
pop songs. Also a film and television actress, Carlson is surely
well acquainted with ups and downs of show business and is already
working on a sophomore release to include Goo Goo Dolls members
and other musical guests.
Erin O'Hara finds in West African polyrhythms a shifting,
constantly interesting unique rhythmic bass for the ebullient, fun
Indestructible Joy (Mother Trucker Records; http://www.erinohara.com).
This Irish singer has a rich voice and gives us dark, sincere tones
and bright, glistening upper register singing. Guitarist Tom
Gavin joins Erin on this sophisticated folk-rock album.
A tough and triumphant rock sound comes from Marianne Pillsbury
on The Wrong Marianne (http://www.mp3.com/mariannepillsbury).
Full of vigor and energy, thee songs are pure fun even when Marianne
defiantly proclaims, "I'm not your layaway girlfriend." This 5-song
DIY EP promisingly presages her full-length due out this spring
on Bondage Records, San Francisco.
Singing and playing acoustic guitar in her rock trio Katie Garibaldi
delivers her 13 originals on After the Storm (http://www.katiegaribaldi.com).
Sung softly and sincerely, these are fine songs on the third album
from a hard-working adolescent alt-folk artist charming her way
with sad and celebratory love songs delivered with authenticity
and melody.
 There's
a sad, majestic beauty to Nina Nastasia's songs, like a slow-moving
distant funeral march against stark landscape. On The Blackened
Air (Touch & Go), her second Steve Albini produced
album, Nina surrounds her self with musical talent that works with
David Bowie, Indigo Girls and even Cirque du Soleil.
This large, talented ensemble present varied and understated arrangements
of cello, viola, accordion and more behind her dark and direct vocals
and guitar.
Gothic darkwave electronica serves as the background to medieval-styled
vocalist Regan providing a slow-melt dance track for fetishists
public and private. After a college career in Classical music, she
has turned her talents toward the dark side on The High Priestess
(High Priestess Productions;
http://www.the-high-priestess.com).
Producer Nick Launay (http://www.Launay.com)
has worked with Kate Bush, Killing Joke and more. These are
a good starting point for appreciating the seductively sinister
beat music. |
|
| |
|
| APRIL
2002 REVIEWS >>>>>>>>>> |
|
| |
|
Various
Artists
Backcomb 'n' Beat: Dream Babes, Vol. 3
RPM Productions
http://www.rpmrecords.co.uk
Continuing their examination of classic girl group sounds of the
'60's, this volume focuses on the years 1964-1969. These were the
years that also gave us the birth of psychedelic rock and these
singers, while dulcet and innocent in voice, are swathed in heavy,
beat music harder and more mysterious than vocal pop of today. The
singles collected here are British independent productions, the
creations of Joe Meek, Mark Wirtz, Mike d'Abo and more. This was
a productive time for girl groups and this disc collects such excellent
material as Sylvan's death disc "We Don't Belong," Glenda Collins
(Meek's premier girl singer) and the harmonies of the Scots singers
in The McKinleys. All this and more is exquisite material crowded
off the charts during a fertile period for girl group production.
(4) |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 Eleanor
McEvoy
Yola
Blue Dandelion Records
http://www.eleanormcevoy.net
Eleanor McEvoy, one of Ireland's popular singer-songwriters, already
has put recordings out on Columbia and Geffen. With that experience
and accessibility, Eleanor creates a warm, personal independent
recording and treats us to some of the violin playing that earned
her a seat in the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland. Eleanor's
poignant, folksy songwriting richly accented by Brain Connor on
Steinway piano has previously been found suitable for production
by Emmylou Harris, Marty Black and Phil Coulter and more. Full of
accurate hooks expressive observations; Yola is fully matured
folk-rock from a talented veteran. (4.5) |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
 47UMa
47UMa
MEGAWAVE Records
POB 15219, Lansing, MI 48901-5219
http://www.megawaverecords.com
47UMa is a wildly scintillating world pop party from track
to track. There is an interesting axis of solidity here as singer-guitarist
Gail Baker carefully, but never coldly, enunciates each word with
superior technique. She strikes a delicate balance between mechanical
precision and giving into the tropical ecstasy inspired by this
ebullient music. (3.5) |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
_________________________________
|
|
| |
|
DID
YOU MISS ANY OF TOM SCHULTE'S REVIEWS?
BACK ISSUES:
1999
| JULY |
AUGUST | SEPTEMBER
| OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
| DECEMBER
|
2000
| JANUARY
| FEBRUARY
| MARCH | APRIL
|
MAY | JUNE
|
2000 |
JULY | AUGUST
| SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER
| NOVEMBER | DECEMBER
|
2001 | JANUARY | FEBRUARY
| MARCH | APRIL
| MAY | JUNE
|
2001 | JULY | AUGUST
| SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER
| NOVEMBER | DECEMBER
|
2002 | JANUARY | FEBRUARY
| MARCH |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
_________________________________
|
|
| |
|
Outsight
brings to light non-mainstream music, film, books, art, ideas and
opinions.
Published, somewhere, monthly since July 1991. Feel free to re-print
this article.
Ratings are (1) = :(, (5) = :)
"Don't be normal, be natural!"
Visit or Join Outsight's Web ring: http://d.webring.com/hub?ring=music1432
Outsight Radio Hours Webcasts
Sundays 6pm-8pm EST @
http://www.outsight.mu
NEW MAILING ADDRESS:
Tom 'Tearaway' Schulte,
5224 Shoreline Blvd.,
Waterford, MI 48329-1670
E-mail Outsight at: outsight@usa.net |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
_________________________________
|
|
| |
|
Current
reading list:
"Teach Yourself Mathematical Groups"
"Bubblegum Rock" (Kim Cooper)
"Parliament of Whores" (P. J. O'Rourke)
"Cyberselfishness" (Paulina Borsook)
"Anna Karenina" (Tolstoy)
"Small Change: A Life of Tom Waits" (Patrick Humphries)
Get audiobooks through http://www.audible.com.
If you sign up, tell 'em "tearaway" sent you so I get a free book!
|
|
|
