I still love and relish the discovery of new music. I love my past favorites, but I'm always thrilled to find new artists to follow. This year a trend in the music I've purchased has been what I'm going to call- "Smart Lady Pop." Being the mother of two young girls, I'm constantly on the lookout for female positive music- role models of creativity and with fresh energy- to turn to as alternatives to the copy cat, over-stylized, voice-enhanced, dress-up dolls of the trendy pop music scene. While I'll let my girls listen to the latest songs and even buy a few that don't totally offend me, I like to offer them some choices and in voices that I think they'll like. I don't want to shove Nina Simone at them full throttle all the time! So far, it seems to be working. Imagine my super-thrill when Hazel pronounced a Neko Case song from the "Hunger Games" soundtrack as her favorite!
Smart Lady Pop for me is made up of girls and women who write their own music, play their own instruments, dress the way they want and generally do their own thing. I hit the jack pot this year with a plethora of bands that have these qualities!
First off- Girl In A Coma. How can a band named after a Smiths song go wrong? They are amazing, two sisters and a friend from San Antonio with Latino roots and a strong connection to the punk and alternative scene. I love the story of how they started, two friends- Phanie Diaz and Jenn Alva wanting to start a band and discovering that a little sister had an amazing voice. Nina Diaz's voice is strong, unusual and thrilling. She does some interesting things with her voice that I find fascinating. I like that they also sing in Spanish and do some very unique covers. I came very close to trying to take H. to a concert in Ybor City over the summer. I re-thought that, but what a great first concert that might have been! I also love that they look like real women, not dolls made up to look like pop stars.
Check out their album "Exits and All the Rest", it's pretty great, also dig into their back catalog for a pretty cool cover album- "Adventures in Coverland." BONUS! I just found this link for two free songs, one that features Nina Diaz singing with Carla Morrison (someone I will also be looking into!) Latino Alternative Pop is the next big thing, don't you know? Check back soon for more bands I've discovered in my search for Smart Lady Pop.
A lovely way to spend 15 minutes. Who knew Thurston Moore could be so soothing? You can put it on in the background or watch the film, which is very relaxing, by the way. I must check out this website... La Blogotheque. Meet you there?
About a month ago, I turned on Fresh Air and was delighted to hear an interview with one of my favorite singers, Nellie McKay. I almost slammed on the brakes and screamed when I heard what her latest record is- a tribute to Doris Day. I love Doris so very, very much and I think Nellie McKay is one of the most interesting young singers out there right now. She does a cabaret style that hearkens back to Blossom Dearie. But Nellie also sings about feminism and crime in New York amongst other things (she also occasionally raps.) She is charming, seems quite intelligent and is definitely very musically talented. The songs on the album are a dedication to Miss Day, her endless appeal and magical talent with a song. Nellie arranged the songs- keeping them fresh and adding her own touch without taking them too far from their original. This song is actually one of my favorite Bossa Nova songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim- so it's double the fun for me! Take a listen for yourself...
I knew the second that the jazz radio DJ said "This next artist has a different voice that is unusual and takes some getting used to, or at least for me, I'm not sure if I like all her album but I do like this song." I prepared myself for something delightful- because a different, unusual voice is something that I usually enjoy a lot. Well, I was bowled over when I heard the voice of Kat Edmonson singing "(Just Like) Starting Over" it took me a few moments to realize it was John Lennon's song. It was simply sublime and beautiful and I can't believe this jazz radio DJ even thought two seconds about playing this and possibly offending someone with this "unusual voice." I went home and immediately looked up her music and found her on Youtube:
Then I busted my weekly budget and bought the album on iTunes. The rest of her album is gorgeous. Please check it out for yourself. She does amazing covers of "Lovefool," "Just Like Heaven" and jazz standards such as "Night and Day" and my all time favorite song- "Summertime." Anyone who can take songs from The Cure and The Cardigans and turn them into jazz standards is awesome in my book. Her phrasing reminds me of Billie Holiday but the tone of her voice reminds me of Blossom Dearie, she has that same little girl quality, then there is the breathiness that reminds me of Chet Baker. She is a fine singer and if she continues- will fit nicely in the pantheon. And I haven't even mentioned the band- they are amazing. Living jazz at it's finest.
This is for all you Potter fans- Beatrix- not Harry. Last night I was browsing the classical music section on iTunes. I was looking for new dance music for the girls. I found a collection of ballet music that included selections from something I had never heard of- The Tales of Beatrix Potter Ballet.
I couldn't believe it!!! How have I not known about this??? Did you know, and why didn't you tell me? The music was delightful and charming, I immediately found the whole ballet and bought it. Then I searched youtube to see if there was a video sample. Glorious day! I found many. The ballet was originally composed for a TV version in the UK in 1971. Later it was adapted and performed on the stage. Here is a sample of the stage version:
I mean COME ON! I thought I had seen the most adorable Beatrix Potter adaptation with the animated series as seen here... The Tale of Two Bad Mice. But this ballet is just over the top, I could hardly take it last night as I was watching it with the girls. I was squealing with delight as each new character appeared. The TV version is even more delightful because of the sets and lighting- (I tried to embed this but couldn't) Here I present to you my dream come true-- the dancing squirrels of Squirrel Nutkin! You can get the whole 1971 TV show on Netflix. Ours is coming this week!!! EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!
I was trying to watch some clips from the Austin City Music Festival, but missed all my favorites. Then while I was perusing the ACL Flickr photo stream I ran across this very swell-looking guy. I thought, what a great look- he's got the whole 60's thing going and I could just tell by the pictures that the music was awesome! I found his name and looked up some videos. Loved them, who is this new guy? I was thinking a 20-something from the UK- who's caught on to the whole soul revival over there. Boy was I surprised to find that wasn't the case at all! I loved that song "Feels Good" by Tony Toni Tone in the 80's. I never thought about what might have happened to them. Well I found out about one third-- he is Raphael Saadiq and he's awesome. Here he is performing behind a desk in the NPR Tiny Desk Concert Series. An awesome way to listen to music, if you ask me. Imagine- in your own cramped little office space! This is amazing...
I've missed plenty of my real friend's and family's birthdays this year, but this one popped onto my radar this morning thanks to NPR. Lester Young's- 100th year birthday. He was one of the many, tragic jazz musicians who self destructed and died too young. But he left behind some beautiful music. It's amazing we can still watch and listen...
After that, if you are so inclined (like me)- you will want to hear this, the gorgeous "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat" by Charles Mingus. Mingus wrote it for Lester Young- whom some say was the original hipster with his pork pie hat and snazzy dress. Charles Mingus, yeah... that is another story for another day.
Somehow I missed the passing of one of my very favorite singers, Blossom Dearie (her real name) in February. She was one of a kind. I've always loved her interpretation of standards. She was still performing in Manhattan cabarets just a few years ago. I think this quote from the New York Times describes her perfectly:
"A singer, pianist and songwriter with an independent spirit who zealously guarded her privacy, Ms. Dearie pursued a singular career that blurred the line between jazz and cabaret. An interpretive minimalist with caviar taste in songs and musicians, she was a genre unto herself. Rarely raising her sly, kittenish voice, Ms. Dearie confided song lyrics in a playful style below whose surface layers of insinuation lurked."
Here's a song we listened to a lot when Hazel was a baby...
One of my latest acquisitions (via DVR), is the 1953 movie "Niagara" starring Joseph Cotten and Marilyn Monroe. A film noir in beautiful color. Wow, does this movie sparkle! And not just because of Marilyn, she has some competition in the beautiful landscape and intriguing shot set ups. It involves the weekend two couple's lives intersect at honeymoon cabins at Niagara Falls-the Canada side!
The plot is pretty simple, but the acting and directing are top notch. Although there is the stick-out-like-a-sore-thumb acting of Max Showalter, as the extremely dumb husband of a honeymooning couple. He's always asking silly questions and overlooking the obvious. But it does make his wife, played by Jean Peters, look even more intelligent and she is the one who figures it all out anyway. (Although you do wonder why such a smart cookie married such a dolt.)
This is one of my favorite Monroe movies because she's downright mean and treacherous and she doesn't use her baby voice all the time. I also love Joseph Cotten playing a husband who doesn't quite know how to handle the life he has with this tantalizing, but slippery creature. Watch Joseph Cotten break a record with his bare hands! Ouch! He does much worse later...
Favorite quotes from this scene:
"For a dress like that you gotta start laying plans when your about 13." Smart Cookie Jean
"You kinda like that song, dontcha Mrs. Lewis?" Dufus Husband
"There isn’t any other song." Unbelievably Sultry Marilyn
"You’re husband doesn’t seem to like music." Dufus Husband again!
Fun Fact: Just figured out why Max Showalter (dumb husband) seems so darn familiar! He plays Grandpa Fred in Sixteen Candles! "Why if it isn't Sammy Baker Davis, Jr!"
I've been greatly anticipating the latest project from Stuart Murdoch- creator of Belle & Sebastian. I fell head over heals with this music a few years back, but just a few years late of their arrival. Somehow I missed the premiere- I think they came out when I was deeply immersed in Duke Ellington. The music is an extension of my beloved Smiths- which I feel was engrained on my DNA through so many nights of listening to The Queen is Dead over and over my year after high school graduation.
Now, Stuart Murdoch has created God Save the Girl, which at the outset seems to simply be Belle & Sebastian sung by girls. But it's a bit more than that. It is the music for a film that Murdoch is creating. The songs tell a story. And I don't understand how he does it, but he channels the mind of a young girl. That young girl that was sitting in my room 20 some years ago, pining, melancholy sometimes- but generally carefree, on the cusp of life-before car payments, before college, before marriage and children. Such a sweet time, but not very recognizable while one is immersed in it.
To get a real feel for the whole project, you can listen to the entire album here.
Thanks to my friend, Lydia, I got to see Jenny Lewis last night in concert at the Plaza. It was an amazing show, and solidifies Jenny's spot as one of my favorite performers. Her lyrics really speak to me, she is as confused about a lot of the same things as I am and she writes eloquently about them. Seeing her perform live is a completely different experience- her band is amazing and the music really takes hold- some bands just don't live up to their recordings- but I think Jenny Lewis surpasses them by far. This clip is from Bonnaroo, just weeks ago.
