From: nanci-digest-approval@world.std.com
Date: December 9, 2004 11:49:22 AM CST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Subject: NanciNet Digest #04C09
Reply-To: nanci@europe.std.com

// Recommendations for holiday music, and some favorite new
// releases for the year. Enjoy...[BP]

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Subject: NN: new music recommendations
    From: Dan Gerson
    Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 11:13 AM

Mr. Kimbro wrote:

> #1 Malcolm Holcombe - A Hundred Lies
> Self-described, "an angel on one shoulder, a devil on
> the other,"  Malcolm's road-weary lyrics burn into
> your soul like those of no artist since Townes.

Okay, that's a pretty lofty statement. Respecting Shawn's taste, I'm
going to buy the CD unheard.

But let me make another suggestion along the lines of Van
Zandt...successors is the wrong word, let's say descendants. Jeffrey
Foucault. His tribute to Townes, "Miles From the Lightning", is the best
I've heard, and I'll stand on Steve Earle's coffee table and say so.
This guy is in his 20's but sounds like he's been around for much
longer.

He has 2 Cd's out. "Miles From the Lighting" and "Stripping Cane". You
can listen at www.jeffreyfoucault.com.

Happy Holidays,

Dan G.

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Subject: NN: Best of 2004
    From: John Graveling
    Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 2:12 PM

For the outstanding release of the year look no further....

ROD PICOTT "GIRL FROM ARKANSAS" (WELDING ROD RECORDS 2004)
Available: Now.
Review by Michael Mee

The girl's from Arkansas, the songs are from the heart. Rather like when
a sportsmen gets into that 'zone' where everything he does is right, Rod
Picott may just have produced the complete singer songwriter album. On
Girl From Arkansas he has captured the subtleties and presence of his
live performance in 11 songs that call up just about every feeling you
could imagine. The only cloud on the horizon is that it has to stand
comparison alongside its two predecessors, Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues and
Stray Dogs. A tough task but one that Girl From Arkansas is more than
capable of fulfilling. Although Picott has gathered round him a 'select'
band. Bass player Dave Jacques has played with John Prine and Patty
Griffin and drummer Paul Griffith with Buddy Miller and Mindy Smith this
is a true solo album. Their considerable talents are not wasted but they
are in service to songs by Picott about Picott. Like its predecessors
Girl From Arkansas is a highly personal album but where Tiger Tom
Dixon's Blues and even to a certain extent Stray Dogs were about
Picott's life this new release deals more with the inner man. Picott has
painted the listener a self portrait, warts and all. What fuels the
album is an almost obsessive desire to tell stories and to tell them as
deftly, subtlely and intelligently as possible. Picott is blessed with
the ability to write simply and clearly. On In This Town he brings his
feelings right out into the open, the listener can immediately connect
with him and them. He's helped by a singing style and that is completely
devoid of 'performance', he is the honest voice of the ordinary man,
That's Where my Baby Lives and Big Mean Men are unfussy and not drenched
in sentimentality but they can warm the heart and chill the blood.
Musically Rod Picott is a country boy, Gun Shy Dogs is charmingly sweet
while Wrecking Ball has the scent of good honest sweat in its nostrils,
he is comfortable and relaxed in the small town skin. But he's also a
wry observer, Kerosene is the kind of song that breaks out into a smile
all on its own. Girl From Arkansas is worthy of 9 for the beauty of the
writing and 9 for the gentle poetry of the performance, it would get 10
but I'm sure he's already working on the follow up and I never thought
anything would better Tiger Tom Dixon's Blues.

More info available at
www.rodpicott.com
www.milesofmusic.com
www.villagerecords.com


John "always looking for great music" Graveling

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Subject: NN: More new music recommendations
    From: Ed Maier
    Sent: Sunday, December 05, 2004 10:06 AM

I've put eight "new" ones on my Christmas list, having
listened to songs from them on KHYI (good streaming
audio site), or knowing the artist. They are

1. Lori Mckenna- Bittertown
2. Alison Kraus and Union Station: Lonely Runs Both Ways
3. Tracy Grammer: The Verdant Mile
4. Railroad Earth: The Good Life*
5. Guy Clark: The Dark*
6. James McMurty: Saint Mary Of The Woods*
7. Debra Cowan: The Long Grey Line  **
8. Guy Clark: Keepers

Most of these can be ordered from (http://www.villagerecords.com>
*can also be found at (http://www.sugarhillrecords.com>
** only from (http://www.fallingmountain.com/cowan.html>

Not all of the above are new releases.

Ed "I finished my sunroom!" Maier
Arlington, TX

Waaaaay OT: Sunroom Pics
(http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/eddie1551/album?.dir=/a842&.src=ph>

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Subject: NN: Education
    From: steve johnson
    Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 9:47 AM

Folks,
   Re-watching the "Winter Marquee" DVD; think UT-Austin ought to give
Nanci an honorary Doctor of Humanities.  She's that good.  Hell, if THEY
can give a cat an MBA ?!
Hey Dems, we were close-keep trying.  Educate!
For Christmas music, I recommend Linda Eder's new DVD: "Christmas Stays
the Same."  Have a Kleenex handy...

Happy Hols,   Mi

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Subject: NN: RE: Education
    From: Bill Page
    Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 12:13 PM

Steve Johnson wrote:
> For Christmas music, I recommend Linda Eder's new DVD
> "Christmas Stays the Same". Have a Kleenex handy...

The DVD is from Eder's Bravo cable broadcast (2001) and is close to the
CD of the same name. I don't have the DVD, but I saw the show and have
worn out the CD.  The title song is superb, the 9/11 tribute "If I Had
My Way" will take your breath away, and the version of "Do You Hear What
I Hear?" may be the very best ever recorded.

My second favorite holiday CD from the last 10 years or so is Kathy
Mattea's "Good News."  And the new Windham Hill compilation is
masterful.

Bill "started the holiday music early this year" Page

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Subject: NN: for your holiday Ederfication
    From: Deb Thornton
    Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2004 3:25 PM

May I join the choir on the Linda Eder recommendation? Am waiting to
watch the DVD with my mama this weekend, but we've worn out two copies
of the videotape.

BUT . . . I just went to Vegas (UNLV campus, lest you think she's a
stripper of any kind) last weekend to her Christmas concert, and if you
ever, ever, ever, ever have a chance to see Eder live, you must. There
are a number of Christmas shows left, including two at the Palace on
B-Way on 17 and 18 December. For my money--and what a chunk of change
has accumulated in the last five years--she's the best live voice
anywhere.

cheers,
Deb Thornton

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Subject: NN: Old music recommendations
    From: Ron Hennessy
    Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 8:39 AM

Recently I bought a couple of DVDs of traditional, mostly classical
music:

Handel's "Messiah: the 250th Anniversary Performance."  Neville Mariner
conducts the orchestra and chorus of St. Martin in the Fields, in
Dublin,
where the oratorio premiered.  The "leggiero" style of performance seems
to
me perfect for Baroque music.  This is a superb version of the old
favorite.

"Christmas with Chanticleer: an Orchestra of Voices."  The great men's
chorus performs a variety of Christmas music down through the centuries
in
several languages .  The setting is the Medieval Sculpture Hall in New
York's Metropolitan Museum.

I recommend both highly to give away or keep.  As a church choir singer,
I
listen to these recordings as models of good choral singing.

Merry Christmas to all!

Ron Hennessy

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Subject: NN: Best of Year Releases
    From: JAMES WARD
    Sent: Thursday, December 09, 2004 9:36 AM

Happy Holidays Everyone,

As everyone is gearing up for the upcoming Holiday
Season, I thought this would be a good time for me to
recommend some of the best music I purchased this
year!

1) MARK KNOPFLER - Shangri-La
    Mr. Knopfler really delivers the goods on this
    fantastic set of mostly mid-tempo numbers.  A
    pleasure everytime I listen to it.

2) MAURA O'CONNELL - Don't I Know
    How this lady has avoided all the stardom a voice
    like hers should afford is beyond me.  Stellar
    vocals throughout.

3) TIFT MERRITT - Tambourine
    I first heard of Tift a couple years ago.  I
    was dissapointed in her first release "Bramble
    Rose".  The songs on this CD blend seamlessly
    together and create pure musical enjoyment.

4) DOLLY PARTON - Live and Well
    Nothing much on this disc you haven't heard before
    but Dolly's voice still shimmers around the lyrics
    just like "stardust".  Simply beautiful!

5) AGNETHA FALKSTOG - My Colouring Book
    The "blonde" from ABBA compiled a sweet and
    satisfying compilation of some of her favorite
    songs from the past.  All covers - I think this
    is her BEST solo effort.

6) REM - Around the Sun
    Sometimes REM can be a bit overwrought and
    distracting.  I found this disc to contain all
    of the qualities that appeal to me most about
    their music.  "Leaving New York" is stunning.

7) NANCI GRIFFITH - Hearts In Mind
    I know...I know...the album has not been released
    in America yet...but a friend sent me a copy from
    London....and quite frankly....I have almost worn
    it out.  With each playing I pick a "new"
    favorite.  It is so strange.....the first time I
    listened to the disc from beginning to end, only
    a couple songs stood out to me.  About the third
    playing I was beginning to realize exactly how good
    the music is.  After about the 5th playing, I
    came to believe this is Nanci's "MASTERPIECE".
    No other music I heard this year comes close to
    comparing to the songs on this album.  When you
    listen to "Old Hanoi", I swear, I almost smell the
    lotus flowered nights of Indochine.

Thats the list...and I'm sticking to it!  Hope each of
you have a wonderful Holiday Season filled with all
the love heaven will allow.

James Ward
jward39212@yahoo.com

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