Music Notes for 2001 updated December, 2001   ** New Titles ** 2001 - Previous Months Lori's Pick for 2000 Here's some recommended new arrivals on the musical scene. The musical muse was very busy this year. We saw a proliferation of many new and familiar artists producing great work that is noted below. I extend my best wishes for a holiday that brings you joy, renewal, hope, and peace. Remember to check out our listening station featuring new releases too. --- Lori, The music buyer! Melissa Etheridge, Skin Emer Kenny, Fades into Day Dolly Parton, Little Sparrow Si*Se, Si*Se Various artists, Women of the Heartland Various artists, Every Tone a Testimony: An African American Aural History Various artists, Gifted: Women of the World Cris Williamson, Ashes Zaremaya, Seeing Sound Hearing Color Recommendations from earlier in 2001... Aaliyah, Aaliyah India.Arie, Acoustic Soul Gwen Avery, Sugar Mama Marcia Ball, Presumed Innocent Jonatha Brooke, Steady Pull Eva Cassidy/Chuck Brown, The Other Side Mary Chapin-Carpenter, Time*Sex*Love* Ginni Clemmens, Underneath Hawaiian Skies Kate Clinton, Read These Lips Cowboy Junkies, Open Enya, A Day Without Rain Emmylou Harris, Anthology Nina Gerber, Not Before Noon Nanci Griffith, Best of… Nanci Griffith, Clock Without Hands Cindy Kallet, This Way Home Alison Krauss, New Favorite k.d. lang, Live by Request Alix Olson, Built Like That Saffire, Ain't Gonna Hush Suede, On the Day We Met Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir, Say Yo' Business Lucie Blue Tremblay, Because of You Various artists, Rolling Stone Compilation of Female Singer-Songwriters Various artists, Songcatcher soundtrack Lucinda Williams, Essence order Jonatha Brooke Steady Pull, CD only $18.95. In March, she begins a national tour to promote this release. Brooke blends the raw sensitivity of her earlier work with the wiser, edgier vibe of an artist who is maturing and evolving, and her funk and rock-inspired rhythms and catchy melodies reflect her personal growth. order Eva Cassidy/Chuck Brown The Other Side, CD only $18.95. The first Eva Cassidy CD ever released! And it definitely showcases her extraordinary talent. Her version of the overly-covered song, "Over the Rainbow," will so moving and may perhaps be noted as the definitive rendition of this classic tune. Chuck Brown's gravelly baritone vocals are the perfect counterpoint to Eva's sultry, haunting, bluesy, wailing alto voice. order Kate Clinton Read These Lips, CD only $15.95. She's back and we're glad she is! This hilarious feminist comedian brings to us another great disc filled with social and political commentary with insight, wit, and sanity. Brings comic relief to all of us trying to make sense out of a world that quintessentially nonsensical! order Nanci Griffith Best of…, CD only $16.95. One of my personal favorites. I don't know how the songs were selected to represent Nanci's best work. There's simply so much of it! order Cindy Kallet This Way Home, CD only $16.95. I was shocked when I read that this long-time folk artist has a new release. Her other two titles (that I know of) are wonderful. I've admired her talent for a long time. So I am delighted that Cindy Kallet has released another one! She hasn't had a new album in many years. Her poetry, alto vocals, and finger-picking guitar playing is soothing and, at the same time, evocative. order Enya A Day Without Rain, CD only $18.95. It's been five years since Enya has released anything new! This album is worth the wait. Fluid, dreamy, calming, and beautiful, Enya's melodies and soothing vocals are complex yet effortlessly received. Wonderful music to create a peaceful environment. order Gwen Avery Sugar Mama, CD only $15.95. My music rep from Ladyslipper loved this release so much that she gave it as a holiday gift to all of her friends. It is her current favorite. Avery has been a contributing vocal and keyboard artist, on many women's music albums, for almost three decades. It is wonderful to see her first album released! Expertly produced by Linda Tillery, you'll hear a variety of musical styles including jazz, blues, and folk interpretations. Very highly recommended. order Lucie Blue Tremblay Because of You, CD only $16.95. Like Enya, it has been far too long for a new release from this Canadian women's music artist. On this album, you will hear original compositions about life and love captured in Lucie Blue's unique, thoughtful, and moving style. order Mary Chapin-Carpenter Time*Sex*Love*, CD only $18.95. One of our favorite performers, Mary Chapin-Carpenter returns with a stunning new set of songs. She says of the recording process, "I haven't had such a good time in ages." No doubt if she enjoyed the hard work of recording this release, we will have a good time listening to it! order Nina Gerber Not Before Noon, CD only $16.95. Many of you will recall Nina Gerber tasteful guitar accompaniment on most of Kate Wolf's albums. Her touch on the guitar is distinctive and lovely. It is great to see that she has released an album of her own! In it, you will hear a mixture of intricate instrumental tracks and songs with great guest vocalists including Terry Garthwaite, Lucy Kaplansky, Vickie Randle, and Greg Brown. order Alix Olson Built Like That, CD only $15.95. One of the Amazons, Heather, was very pleased to see that we were going to carry Olson's debut album. Olson is an award-winning spoken word performer and poet. This CD features collaborations with Catie Curtis and Pamela Means. Her commentary on the current socio-political climate is honest, incisive, and thought-provoking. Alison Bechdel writes that Olson "is a red-hot, fire-bellied, feminismo-spewin; volcano. Plus she rhymes. Listen to her now." order Saffire Ain't Gonna Hush, CD only $16.95. We love this blues trio. And their current release finds them at their uppity best! Loads of humor, passion and rollicking soul make their songs catchy and fun. order Lucinda Williams Essence, CD only $19.95. Williams doesn't release albums very often, so we are delighted to see that she has this new one available for our listening pleasure. She is a profoundly talented songwriter and poet and her unique vocal style adds depth and breadth to the images she presents in her lyrics. order Various artists Songcatcher soundtrack, CD only $17.95. This disc if full of great Appalachian music. Famous artists include the talented Gillian Welch (also on the great soundtrack of "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?"), Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Hazel Dickens, and Roseanne Cash. This CD is one you will want to catch! order Emmylou Harris Anthology, CD only $26.95. This two-disc set features one of our favorite artists and contains over 40 tracks of her greatest works. order Marcia Ball Presumed Innocent, CD only $16.95. Over the course of her three-decade career, Ball has earned a huge and intensely loyal following. An accomplished pianist and a passionate, playful singer, she fuses New Orleans and Gulf Coast R&B with blues and reflective balladry expressing the truth of human experience. order Cowboy Junkies Open, CD only $16.95. A collection of hypnotic, ethereal music is balanced with their dynamic, grit rocking alter-ego. This CD is their darkest, heaviest album featuring beautiful tales of the journey of life. order Linda Tillery & the Cultural Heritage Choir Say Yo' Business, CD only $16.95. This acclaimed a cappella group has expanded the boundaries of vocal music. This CD contains songs spanning a wide breadth of styles from African-American spirituals to originals compositions by Bobbie McFerrin to Eastern European music. Guest artists include drummers from Senegal and Venezuela, Odetta, Wilson Pickett, and my favorite, Laura Love. order Various artists Rolling Stone Compilation of Female Singer-Songwriters, CD only $16.95. This new collection spotlight the singer-songwriters who played active roles in the 1970s. It is packed with essential tracks by the women who defined this genre and whose influence is universally acknowledged today. Includes Laura Nyro, Joan Baez, Janins Ian, Bonnie Raitt, Kate Bush, Phoebe Snow, and Buffy Sainte-Marie. order India.Arie Acoustic Soul, CD only $18.95 . A dynamic performer who blends acoustic music, hip-hop, and R&B. With a voice to rival Lauryn Hill, with debut album also contains distinctly feminist lyrics. order Alison Krauss New Favorite, CD only $16.95. I don't know if these two wonderful movies, "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Songcatcher" have started a wave of bluegrass and traditional American music revival, but no matter the reason, I am glad that an interest and market exist for this wonderful music genre. In the male-dominated genre of bluegrass music, Alison Krauss is one of the few women artists who is not only successful but is highly regarded by many extraordinary musicians such as Mark O'Connor, David Grisman, and Ralph Stanley. This album is poised to become the most successful of Alison's numerous gold and platinum recordings. order Aaliyah Aaliyah, CD only $18.95. This pop/hip-hop diva and Detroit native has scored two platinum albums as well as two platinum soundtrack singles. This, her first full studio album in five years, should be no different as Aaliyah offers up an outstanding collection of new songs. order Nanci Griffith Clock Without Hands, CD only $19.95. Over the last decade, Nanci Griffith has become of the most beloved artists of well-crafted, folky/country pop, and singer/songwriter storytellers selling millions of CDs and filling concert halls coast to coast. She is also one of my personal favorites because her songwriting is exceptionally poetic and her lyrics speak to the highs and lows of the human experience. Her singing, marked by distinctive timing, phrasing, and creative musical arrangements only add to this artist's appeal and listening enjoyment. A wonderful album. order k.d. lang Live by Request, CD only $19.95. This emotional performance from the A&E series of the same name spans lang's career from her compelling and entirely memorable rendition of Roy Orbison's "Crying" to "Constant Craving" to songs from her 2000 release, Invincible Summer. If you are k.d. lang fan, this album is definitely one you'll want in your collection. order Ginni Clemmens Underneath Hawaiian Skies, CD only $15.95. Call me sentimental, but I fondly remember listening to Ginni singing her beautiful ballads way back in the 1970s. I will always have a huge warm place in my heart for Ginni Clemmens, one of the founding mothers of the Women's Music Movement. In celebration of her 65th birthday, Ginni produced a sing-along CD of her beautiful original and musically accessible songs. Currently living in Maui, Ginni found that this setting inspired many of these tunes. Listen for "Broken Open," one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. order Suede On the Day We Met, CD only $15.95. This live recording is terrific. Period. Too bad Suede doesn't tour and promote her artistry as much as she ought to so people know who she is and like her work as much as I do! I really like this album and if you listen to it the store, I have a hunch you will pleasantly surprised too. Includes "Moondance," "Dream a Little Dream," "Built for Comfort," and "Sugar in My Bowl." order Various artists Women of the Heartland, CD $13.95. Jam packed with incredible musicians and singers, this album is an aural feast. Gorgeous voices, personal lyrics relevant to women's lives, and exceptional musicianship you'll find on this album. Singers include a "Who's Who" in contemporary music: Dar Williams, Gillian Welch, Victoria Williams (I love her quirky voice.), Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Iris DeMent, Mary Chapin-Carpenter, and Lucinda Williams. order Melissa Etheridge Skin, CD $18.95 Personal experience and art come together to provide a musical catharsis reflecting Etheridge's own journey. This disc features an eclectic mix of musical styles and is more introspective than her previous albums. order Si*Se Si*Se, CD $16.95 This self-titled debut is a romantic stroll in two languages. Singing in both Spanish and English, vocalist Carol C is smooth and soulful, accompanied by a mix of atmospheric down temp electronica and vibrant live instruments. order Various artists Every Tone a Testimony: An African American Aural History, two-CD set $24.95. This release is an ambitious effort of 59 tracks that document oral and literary traditions from an unparalleled number of artists and activists. You'll hear music, oratory, poetry and prose from legends such as Bernice Johnson Reagon, Elizabeth Cotton, Sonia Sanchez, Muddy Waters, Langston Hughes, Angela Davis, and Nikki Giovanni. order Emer Kenny Fades into Day, CD $16.95. If you like Loreena McKennitt or Sinead O'Connor, you will probably enjoy Emer Kenny's ethereal voice and creative, celestial-gone-hip hop harp playing with techno beats and pop sensibilities. Traditional Irish instruments and understated vocals beautifully reinforce Kenny's thoughtful and introspective lyrics. order Zaremaya Seeing Sound Hearing Color, CD $15.95. I was immediately drawn to this CD while purusing my music catalog because I thought its title was so clever. With women's voices, harp and acoustic vibrational instruments such as Tibetan bowls, gongs, tingshas, and chimes, this CD is a beautiful aural assemblage presentation and journey of healing through music. order Dolly Parton Little Sparrow, CD $16.95. This woman continues to amaze her fans! And this album is amazing. Even if you are not a fan of traditional country music, Little Sparrow is still worth a serious listen. Although it's not bluegrass, it is still Dolly exploring different arrangements. Backed by the Irish group, Altan, on several tracks and harmony vocals contributed by Alison Krauss and Maura O'Connell, this CD is a stunning collection of new songs and terrific reinterpretations of other peoples' songs as well as her own earlier work. order Various artists Gifted: Women of the World, CD $16.95. This 2001 release brings together eight extraordinary female vocalists from cultures around the globe. Celebrating the female experience--from the sacred realm of the Goddess to the everyday experience, you will hear fantastic artists like Sheila Chandra, Susheela Rama, Susana Baca as well as artists from Mali, Spain and India. Proceeds benefit Witness, a non-profit human rights organization involved in a variety of women-oriented projects. order Cris Williamson Ashes, CD $16.95. This 2001 release from long-time legendary women's music artist is excellent. It has already been compared to her best-selling and ground breaking album, Changer and the Changed. Cris even views the songs on this release to be some of her best work yet. Following the loss of a 20-year relationship, the album tracks her passage through grief and into healing and light. Contributors include stars like Bonnie Raitt, Barbara Higbie, Linda Tillery, and Teresa Trull. We have many more Music selections than can be listed here. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us.   Lori's Musical Picks of the Year 2000 This year, my musical pick goes to an experienced artist whose name is synonymous with country music. Come to the store at any hour of the day or evening and you are likely to find this wonderful singer/songwriter warming up the store with her superbly arranged new release. She is a big hit with all of the Amazons--and with good reason. So my musical pick of the year goes to: Emmylou Harris and her Red Dirt Girl CD ($18.95). Emmylou wrote all but one of the songs on this release, and they are terrific. She is also accompanied by talented singers as well including Kate McGarrigle, Bruce Springsteen, Patty Scialfa and Dave Matthews. There's not a weak song on this album. It is an attention-getting CD because everything on it works--the music, the instrumentation and the vocals. When it is being played in the store, often our customers will ask what is on the stereo because it is so well produced. Emmylou has been an esteemed and much-loved singer songwriter and musical artist for decades now. With Red Dirt Girl, she and her listeners have completely hit pay dirt!   I also want to recognize another singer, who, like Mama Cass, Janis Joplin, Kate Wolf, Sandy Denny, and Laura Nyro, left us far too early. Eva Cassidy died of cancer, in 1996, at the age of 33. Fortunately for us, someone was wise enough to have recorded much of her work. Her singing talent seemlessly crosses over most musical genres from jazz, pop, folk, and blues. Eva Cassidy's vocal renditions of familiar tunes are absolutely stunning and moving. She is the quintessential interpreter of songs. So we honor posthumously Eva Cassidy for her beautiful music and wonderful contribution to this art. Eva Cassidy's releases include: Songbird, CD $15.95. (Aptly named!) Wonderful album. Highlights include "Fields of Gold," "Wayfaring Stranger," and "Over the Rainbow." Time after Time, CD $16.95. Intrepretations of "Kathy's Song," "I Wish I was a Single Girl Again," "Ain't no Sunshine," and ""Woodstock" are lovely. Live at Blues Alley, CD $16.95. Probably my personal favorite. Listen to Cassidy interpret with such amazing vocal alacrity and playfulness when sings classics like, "Dancing to Cheek," "Blue Skies," "Take me to the River," and "Stormy Monday." Hard to believe that she was plagued with overwhelming stage fright! © 1997-2001 Amazon Bookstore Cooperative Please send comments/questions to Amazon Bookstore Cooperative This site designed by: Only Connect