// Been away for a few days, again... 
// This digest contains discussion Clock Without Hands, we mourn
// the passing of a NanciNet member, and more...
// Enjoy...[BP]

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Subject: NN: Clock Without Hands 
   Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 14:33:47 -0400 
   From: "kenn lippert" (lippert@nauticom.net> 

Yeah, I know I am WAY behind the times.

After my first listen to this record my reaction was: "I cannot imagine 
a mood, occasion, situation, or need that would ever prompt me to play 
this CD again."

I let it sit for a week and felt guilty so I put it on again.  (I guess  
"guilt" isn't covered in the list above).

Except for a very few exceptions (and not whole songs, just a phrase 
here and there) I would never attribute this writing to Nanci Griffith.  
I find it severely wanting for poetry and creativity.  Sure some of the 
lines and melodies are "catchy", and some of the topics covered are 
serious and emotional (and worthy of better effort), but this cannot be 
the storytelling genius that I have grown to love.

Then I was reading the liner notes and saw that apparently, Nanci's 
mother died last year.  So now I feel guilty again for finding banal 
something that is obviously deeply emotional and important to Ms. 
Griffith.

"Shaking Out The Snow" doesn't bother me so much for the raw emotion 
that Nanci *forces* into it, it bothers me because the lyric is so trite 
and predictable.

As an aspiring, but talentless writer myself, I have so often admired 
the ability of great song writers like Nanci and Kate Campbell to tell 
stories that are so intensely real with characters of depth and 
substance - all related through two short verses, a chorus and a 
bridge.  I find it hard to understand the amount of talent it takes to 
bring fictional or non-personal stories to life with such intensity that 
we listeners think "that must REALLY have happened to her, how else 
could she describe it so well?"  Then to find out the whole thing is 
fictional, or real but second or third hand.  Now comes "CWH" and Nanci 
seems to being more personal than ever, and her writing suffers for it 
in my opinion.  Yes I know some of her most heart wrenching songs are 
her most personal, ("Good Night to a Mother's Dream" comes to mind), but 
they just do not work for me on this record.  The messages sound 
forced.  The emotions black and white.  The soul is gone.

On a strictly technical level, the whole record is very boomy and bass 
heavy.  I had to check the equalizer in iTunes to make sure somebody 
hadn't jimmied it.

On the bright side, the same CD shipment brought "Time the Revelator" 
and "Cadillac Jack's Number One Son".  Gillian Welch and David Rawlings 
continue to amaze, their harmonies are other worldly; and I can see why 
Kate Campbell calls Kevin Gordon "Simply the best".

kenn "discuss or ignore as you see fit" lippert

| kenn lippert     lippert@nauticom.net
|
| "Reach me down my Tycho Brahe,
| I would know him when we meet...
| Though my soul may set in darkness,
| it will rise in perfect light;
| I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."
|                                             -Sarah Williams
|
| "See Kate Campbell"  http://www.KateCampbell.com
|
| "The moon, the music, and me."
|      -Vince Bell "Texas Plates"

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Subject: NN: Clock Without Hands Part Deux 
   Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 14:38:54 -0400 
   From: "kenn lippert" (lippert@nauticom.net> 


Oh and another thing:

That stupid CD with its attempt to open up some damn application that 
points me to the record company's web site screws up iTunes.  I had to 
kill it with impunity.

Just play the damn music, stop trying to sell me something, I already 
paid for the CD.

kenn "bitter: it's not just for breakfast" lippert

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Subject: NN: Fwd: A Death in the Family 
   Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 10:44:19 -0700 (PDT) 
   From: "Bill Page" (bpage3@yahoo.com> 

Folks, I received the following today:
> Subject: A Death in the Family
> 
> Dear Bill,
> 
> I am sorry to announce the death of my old friend and Nanci fan, Nancy 
> (Filly) Cassel, probably known on your list as Nannynan, on 30 May 2002 
> at  the age of 56 of pancreatic cancer.
> 
> Being unskilled in the ways of the Nancinet, I send this message 
> directly to you in the hope you will post it.
> 
> Nanci Griffith lit up Filly's life, for which I cannot thank her enough.
> 
> Best,
> Jerry James

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Subject: Re: NN: Fwd: A Death in the Family 
   From: DvBGardner@genelogic.com 
   Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 14:11:28 -0400 
 
Bill Page wrote:   
(((I am sorry to announce the death of my old friend and Nanci fan, Nancy
(Filly) Cassel, probably known on your list as Nannynan, on 30 May 2002 at
the age of 56 of pancreatic cancer.>>>

Bill -- thank you for forwarding this information. How incredibly sad to
have to go at such an early age.  My heart goes out to Filly's family and
friends. And how very sad for all of us on this list to lose one of our own.
We should dedicate a certain time and day to think of Nannynan collectively
to give her a true nancinet send off. 

May she rest in peace and live in the full light and glory that awaits all
of us across the great divide.
Donate

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Subject: NN: Information required 
   Date: Sun, 16 Jun 02 11:54:16 +0100 
   From: "John Edward Graveling" (kai21@dial.pipex.com> 

Have any of our knowledgeable West Coast fraternity ever heard of a female
artist, Kathrin Shorr? She has just sent me a copy of her cd, "The Seed",
which was released about 3 years ago. It is very much in the early Lucy
Kaplansky, Joan Armatrading mould. It would seem that she hangs out in North
Hollywood and plays the clubs and bars in the area. Her press pack is
interesting and she has done a limited amount of touring. She has contacted
me with a view to touring the U.K. I need some more information before
starting a dialogue with her, so anything anyone can add would be greatly
appreciated and dealt with in the strictest confidence.

John Graveling


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Subject: NN: Be Good Tanyas (NNC) 
   From: "Ken Stiffler" (ksmsc@kmsx.net> 
   Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 21:22:37 -0400 
 
Just want to add my two cents to previous comments about the Be Good Tanyas.
They appeared at the Boardwalk Arts Festival in Virginia Beach last night.
They played probably about eight songs or so during 40 minutes of a
scheduled 90 minute set. Then the rain came down and they had to stop. Till
then, I was really enjoying their sound. Rather than trying to go into
detail about the range of what they do, I'll just call it "ethereal
bluegrass". Nice harmonies.

www.begoodtanyas.com

And I think this is my first cross-list post to both the Nields Nook and
NanciNet. Thanks go to people on both lists whose combined recommendations
led me to brave the gap between severe thunderstorms yesterday to check out
some good music. The Nook is still running a 100 percent success rate,
though it's going to take a long while before I discover as many good
artists from Nook recommendations as I've already picked up from the
NanciNet (and still counting). I can only listen to so much new music at a
time, you know?

Ken
And (NNC) applies to both lists , too.   :)

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Subject: NN: Like A Serious Remembrance Nancy  
   From: "Kenneth A. Steffel" (hickorywind@inos.com> 
   Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 16:33:37 -0400 
 
Just reading the news of NannyNan's passing from this earthly realm. made
me recall this (her) post, of  10 March 2000.
~~~~~~~~~~
At 10:05 AM +0000 3/10/00, Pugsley, R.M. wrote:
>but can someone please tell me how to pronounce 'Fleadh'?
> (if that's how you spell it)

I am told it's pronounced Flah (rhymes with ha). I'm pretty sure you spelled
it right. My theory on the Irish spelling is that they purposely put in all
those extra consonants that aren't pronounced so that the British can't
figure them out.

Nanci with a Y

Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all these 
really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth explodes and
it's like a serious bummer.
~~~~~~~~~~
A Requiescat for you, Nancy with a Y.
one-love.   ken.


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Subject: NN: Roger Day 
   From: "Lisa Speck" (lcherow@cox.net> 
   Date: Wed, 12 Jun 2002 20:44:57 -0700 
 
Hi all,

I've been away from Nancinet for about a year and have always been just a
lurker but I received this new kids' music CD by Roger Day called "Ready to
Fly" and am so curious.  Nanci sings on one of the tracks.  Does anybody
know anything about this collaboration?  Indigo Girls are also joining in on
another track.

LCherow@cox.net

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Subject: NN: Who needs record companies? 
   Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 10:22:14 -0500 
   From: "Ed Maier" (evmaier@sbcglobal.net> 

This article warms my heart. (grin>

http://www.nationalreview.com/shiflett/shiflett061902.asp

Ed Maier

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Subject: Re: NN: Fwd: A Death in the Family 
   Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 11:13:53 -0700 (PDT) 
   From: "JAMES WARD" (jward39212@yahoo.com> 

Heartfelt condolences are extended to all friends and
family of Nancy Cassel.  I believe it would bring a
smile to Nanci G. to know that she lit up the life of
someone whom has passed at such an early age.  I know
your posting touched me.....a total stranger!

James Ward

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