// The annual best-of lists, a note from Hooker, and Christmas
// musings. Enjoy. [BP]

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Subject: Re: NN: NanciNet Top Ten for 2003 
   From: Richard Hill (phototwang@insightbb.com> 
   Date: Dec 27, 2003 1:35 PM 

All the best to you all in 2004!
Here are my picks for "Bests of 2003":

1 - Rules of Travel - Rosanne Cash
2 - Identity Crisis - Shelby Lynne
3 - Twang On A Wire - Kate Campbell
4 - A Kiss in Time - Patty Griffin
5 - Country for True Lovers - Eleni Mandell
6 - Robinella & The CC String Band
7 - The Soul Sessions - Joss Stone
8 - Songs for a Hurricane - Kris Delmhorst
9 - Free Country - Joel Harrison
10 - The Beauty of the Rain - Dar Williams

then:

Stand  -  The Kennedys
eastmountainsouth
Soul Journey  -  Gillian Welch
I Can't Stop -  Al Green
World Without Tears - Lucinda Williams

In a class/category of their own:
American IV: The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
Wildwood Flower -  June Carter Cash
The Wind  -  Warren Zevon

Best "tribute" discs of 2003:
Just Because I'm A Woman: The Songs of Dolly Parton  -  various
Shout, Sister, Shout!: A Tribute to Sister Rosetta Tharpe  -  various
Lonesome On'ry and Mean: Tribute to Waylon Jennings  -  various
Livin', Lovin', Losin': Songs of The Louvin Brothers   -     various
Remembering Patsy Cline   -   various

Best DVDs of 2003:
Hacklebarney Tunes: The Music of Greg Brown - Greg Brown
All Mapped Out - Susan Werner
Live - Alison Krauss & Union Station

Most anticipated discs of 2004:
Feels Like Home - Norah Jones (due Feb. 2004)
(guests on this disc include Brian Blade, Garth Hudson, Levon Helm, and
Dolly Parton)
The Red Thread - Lucy Kaplansky (due Feb. 2004)
(name yet to be revealed) - Kate Campbell

~Richard

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Subject: NN: RE: Nanci in Cambodia 
   From: Tony Warran (tony.warran@btinternet.com>
   Date: Dec 27, 2003 12:04 PM 

I saw my nephew over Christmas. He has been travelling and was in Cambodia
about 3/4 weeks ago. He brought me his photo album to see and said that I
should see if I recognise anyone in them.

Well amazingly there were some photos of Nanci on stage at a small landmine
free concert and there was one with him! 

He said she was really nice and was interested in what they were doing there
and did not spend all the time talking about herself. He said she was very
generous and bought them all drinks. How good it is  to hear how nice she is
but then I guess I knew that already. I asked him if he got me her autograph
and he said that he never even asked her for one himself !!
Tony - London

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Subject: NN: Outpost in the Burbs 
   From: Michael Wilt (handofgrace@yahoo.com>
   Date: Dec 27, 2003 8:21 PM 

Griffsters,

Susan Krauss shared the blurb below from The Outpost in the Burbs in
Montclair NJ. Sheesh--- I met my wife at the Outpost back in 1988 when it
was just getting its feet wet as a folk venue. A week later we went to see
Nanci and John Prine at Carnegie Hall; now Nanci's playing the Outpost--a
deliciously small space compared to Carnegie. Hoo boy! I hope a lot of
NanciNetters show up, though I doubt I'll be able to make it. . .

Michael "now living near Boston" Wilt

Susan wrote:

This is one of my favorite venues.  Why do I get their
email when they're in New Jersey and I'm in
California?  It's near my mom's house and I try to
take her when I visit.  When I lived in NYC I went all
the time.((

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Subject: NN: Guitar chords 
   From: Holly Reames (hbreames@hotmail.com>
   Date: Dec 29, 2003 8:30 AM 

I discovered another great place for guitar chords over the holiday at
http://www.chordie.com

On most there's even an option to transpose up or down a key!  I haven't 
tried that option, but am fixin' to.  FYI, the majority of artists are 
listed alphabetically by first name.  There are about 40 Nanci tunes.  Have
fun!

'kay bye
Holly
"Let us go singing as far as we go; the road will be less tedious" ~ Virgil
Visit http://www.BlueRockers.com

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Subject: NN: Finger pickin 
   From: "Miller, Tracy (ICD - SF)" (tracy_miller@ml.com>
   Date: Dec 29, 2003 7:35 AM 

-- Christen (griffly@yahoo.com> wrote:
Surely someone out there plays guitar like Nanci Griffith when 
she is finger picking.  A friend of mine wants to be Nanci
Griffith, but she is struggling with finger picking.

I'm not sure how Nanci uses finger picks, but I strongly suggest a double
silk wrap.
If your natural nails aren't long enough then you can get tips and a double
wrap makes your nails incredibly strong. Depending on how much you play--
they can last up to 3 to 4 weeks.  

TJM

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Subject: NN: Re: NanciNet Top Ten for 2003  
   From: Tony Cox (tonycox@pacific.net.au>
   Date: Dec 30, 2003 5:08 AM 

Favourite CDs/LPs for 2003:

1) Tegan and Sara - If It Was You

This is one of the most joyous and uplifting 'new music' releases I've heard
in ages. It gets the number one spot by virtue of being my most played CD of
the year.  This is the Canadian twin sisters' second release and being the
genuinely talented musicians they are, they have come up with something
unique and magical.  The breezy (as opposed to hardcore) punkiness of the
generally pop-based songs that characterizes the sound on this album has an
authenticity and 'street-cred' to it that Avril Lavigne (bless her) could
only dream of.  During a couple of tracks there are even touches of a Be
Good Tanyas-style folk-pop-with-attitude crossover.  It's an album that
keeps on revealing new musical treasures with each play: the production is
spot-on without seeming contrived, and the way the girls use their voices
and stress certain words and syllables is at once original and highly
effective in the context of the songs.  If you get around to checking out
some samples, the best stuff (IMO) is from track 5 onwards (I told you it
was unique!)

2) Rosie Thomas - Only With Laughter.

Thanks, Conor - after reading your recommendation, I had a quick listen to
this one and went straight out and bought it. It's already a firm favourite.
Its ethereal melodiousness reminds me of Jane Siberry on top form - and that
's high praise indeed in my book.

3) Patti Griffin - A Kiss In Time

Beautiful songs, great versions. What with the free DVD and all, this is a
must-have release for all admirers.  (Actually, that goes for all four of
her CDs, IMO.)

4) The Gay (yes, really) - You Know The Rules

Pop with attitood aplenty.  Exhilarating and toe-tappingly infectious.

5) Ryan Adams - Love Is Hell

Yes, it is - as Mr Adams so evocatively illustrates.  I've got the double
ten-inch vinyl release for this: 16 songs in all, so surely qualifies as an
'album'.

6) Dar Williams - Beauty Of The Rain

I agree with those who rate this as her best release since her first. 

7) New Pornographers - Electric Version

Well crafted and perfectly executed power-pop from Neko Case et al. 

8) Innocence Mission - Befriended

I'll be honest - this one's on order (on vinyl).  I haven't heard any of it
yet, but based on reports and past form (and my admiration for Karen Peris)
I'm including it so as not to regret its omission in the event that it
proves to be the classic I'm expecting it to be!

Favourite music DVD releases:

1) An Evening With The Dixie Chicks

2) Sinead O'Connor - Goodnight, Thank You etc

Favourite live shows attended in 2004:

1) Dixie Chicks

2) Tegan and Sara (they're funny as hell, too!)

3) Wilco

Most touching movies I saw:

Lilya 4-Ever (Sweden/Russia)

Spellbound (USA)

Quite apart from all the above, I bought more albums than in any previous
year - mostly 'pre-loved' vinyl from the golden era of 1966-75, the result
of a couple of impressive and immaculately looked-after collections
appearing in my favourite collectors' shop.  Included in my purchases were
about 20 bluegrass and 25 jazz classics, so I've not been short of a thing
or two to listen to - whatever the mood.  In fact it's been a moody kind of
year on a personal level - but that's another story!

Here's hoping for a good 2004 for one and all.  Thanks for all the great
recommendations - keep 'em coming.  And thanks to David Steele for doing the
tabulating thing this time around.

Tony

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Subject: NN: Jolie Holland 
   From: Tony Cox (tonycox@pacific.net.au>
   Date: Dec 31, 2003 3:58 AM 

Wuncha just know it - you submit your list of faves and the very next day a
friend brings round a CD that leaves you spluttering for superlatives.

I'm talking about Jolie Holland's 'Catalpa'.  This would have got into my
top 3, no sweat.

Jolie is a founding member of the Be Good Tanyas - the only American member.
It was she who named the band, and she features extensively (vocally and
instrumentally) on their 'Blue Horse' CD.  She's since left the band and
been involved in a number of other musical ventures.

'Catalpa' is a CD of old-time songs reinterpreted in a haunting way that
does them maximum justice.  "When Jolie Holland sings, every word is true"
is an apt quote which appears on her Web site.  Check out these links for
some samples and you'll see what I mean: 

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jolieholland
http://jolieholland.com/sounds.html

Tony

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