Lisa Germano is a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter who has released seven albums featuring her distinctive violin and confessional lyrics. Her album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim (making Spin's top 90 albums of the 90's list). She also performed as a guest on over sixty records by other artists, including Eels, John Mellencamp, Simple Minds, David Bowie, Sheryl Crow and Iggy Pop. She has also spent considerable time touring with Neil Finn, playing violin, keyboards, and providing backing vocals. She was the featured vocalist on the 1997 album Slush, which also included members of Giant Sand and Calexico.
The first album I came into contact with was her latest 2006 release, In the Maybe World, her low, wispy vocal and melancholic confessions was reminiscent of Mazzy Star, Mojave 3, or anything that brims with pure dream-pop goodness. A reading of her biography turned out to be surprising enough, given the success she had with her label, 4AD, and how it later dropped her and the dramatic events that led her to quit the music scene altogether in 1998. I could only say I am glad (very, glad) she's now back.
Geek the Girl was her fourth studio album and the most critically acclaimed (or so says wikipedia). You may download it here (link valid till 28 Dec).
Popular Chinese indie popper Cao Fang (曹方) just released a new EP after two years, called ’Farther Than The Sky' (比天空还远).
Tracks: 01. 夜晚 | Night 02. 比天空还远 | Farther than the sky 03. 最小的海 | The smallest ocean 04. 忽略 | Ignore 05. 夏末的萨克斯手 | The sax player at the end of summer
I regret to say that the new Mediamonkey 3 icon of a black silhouette against a moon/sun(?) isn't so endearing as the beaming monkey face; minimized, it rather resembled the edonkey icon and I had to hover and look twice to be sure I didn't just somehow install edonkey on top of emule. But other than that, it's all great!
(click to enlarge)
The screenshot should speak enough of a sleeker, generally improved interface, with added functionalities like rating a song with one click on the player while listening to it, more ways to view your collection (by track details, album art, or album art with details), while largely maintaining the intuitive navigation structure of previous builds. Geeks may want to check out what exactly got improved, more screenshots, or a whole forum on MM3.
Download the latest build of MM3 here. Note that this is still in beta stage and there are still bugs and unfixed issues, so before diving in, back up what you need to back up, and enjoy. ;)
Note: Left is limited press. Right is regular edition.
Salyu's new single 'iris ~ Shiawase no Hako'was released on Nov 28th. It's another touchy ballad reminiscent of 'Platform'. Salyu established herself as a stand-alone operatic pop singer in 'Salyu period' (as opposed to 'Lily chou-chou' period). The ambient ether is replaced by a crowded, glamorous cosmo. That's my feeling of her transition. Both are undoubtedly unique but somehow I miss Lily chou-chou very, very much.
Here's a look at the PV, a sweet short film about circus performers and how a pretty little girl aspires to be one of them. Her PVs are never a disappointment.By the way, there's a 'Salyu clips 2004-2007' DVD release on the same date as this single. I'm gonna grab it!
When Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant and bluegrass goddess Alison Krauss decided to come together and make a duet album, what ensues is pure MAGIC. I only got wind of the news a couple of days ago and immediately jumped at it, but had I known the news long enough to sit back and muse through the months about what kind of a music-child this might turn out to be, I'd scratch my head, bad. Admittedly I knew nothing about the works of post-Led Zep Plant, who famously and admirably dabbled in a wide range of genres, so collaboration with artists outside of classic rock wouldn't be a first, still, to juxtapose the jangly, howling Led Zep passion alongside Krauss's lightly hopping banjo notes and angelic, crystalline honey of a voice is a strange, if not downright bizarre picture.
Yet. The titans did not clash. They complemented each other so perfectly you wonder why they hadn't thought of doing this earlier, more often, and (if possible) for life. I'll quote Alanna Nash's in-depth review here--
No matter that Plant seems so subdued as to be on downers, for that's one of the keys to this most improbable meeting of musical galaxies--almost all of it seems slowed down, out of time, otherworldly, and at times downright David Lynch-ian, the product of an altered consciousness. Yet probably the main reason it all works so well is the choice of producer T Bone Burnette, the third star of the album, who culled mostly lesser-known material from some of the great writers of blues, country, folk, gospel, and R&B, including Tom Waits, Townes Van Zandt, Milt Campbell, the Everly Brothers, Sam Phillips, and A.D. and Rosa Lee Watson. At times, Burnette's spare and deliberate soundscape--incisively crafted by guitarists Marc Ribot and Norman Blake, bassist Dennis Crouch, drummer Jay Bellerose, and multi-instrumentalist Mike Seeger, among others--is nearly as dreamy and subterranean as Daniel Lanois's work with Emmylou Harris (Wrecking Ball). Occasionally, Burnette opts for a fairly straightforward production while still reworking the original song (Plant's own "Please Read the Letter," Mel Tillis's "Stick with Me, Baby"). But much of the new flesh on these old bones is oddly unsettling, if not nightmarish. On the opening track of "Rich Woman," the soft-as-clouds vocals strike an optimistic mood, while the instrumental backing--loose snare, ominous bass line, and insinuating electric guitar lines--create a spooky, sinister undertow. Plant and Krauss trade out the solo and harmony vocals, and while they both venture into new waters here (Krauss as a mainstream blues mama, Plant as a gospel singer and honkytonker), she steals the show in Sam Phillips' new "Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us," where a dramatic violin and tremulous banjo strike a foreboding gypsy tone. When Krauss begins this strange, seductive song in a voice so ethereal that angels will take note, you may stop breathing. That, among other reasons, makes Raising Sand an album to die for.
And an interview clip (with segments of songs) with Plant, Krauss and producer Burnette that's well worth checking out.
Per request(winks,Jady,bin bin), I'm throwing in a quick post on Rie Fu's latest album 'Tobira Album' released on 21st of Nov. You might think the word 'album' redundant(we appreciate its clarity) but it's in fact part of the official title. Refer to her previous album 'Rose Album'. Following this trend, we expect her next album to be 'X(a noun) album'.
I'm so lame. Forgive me.
Here's the download link about to expire. Grab it now or never!
part 1 (~60mb) part 2 (~50mb) Tobira Album (translation: Door Album)
A little introduction on Rie Fu - A Japan-based Maryland-London educated pop and folk artist who has her shot of fame with 'Life is like a boat',the ED of Anime 'Bleach'. Although anime/drama brings tremendous airplay, but please, don't define artists by anime tags. If you're not aware whether you belong to the 'anime tagging' group, think if these scenarios ring a bell:
'Oh she's the new Bleach ending.'
'They are the 4th Naruto opening.'
You get what I mean.
Thanks to Bleach, Rie Fu starts to get instant recognition. 'Life is like a boat' is an extremely melodious song, a little sad, a little melancholic, a crystal clear voice that's trademark Rie Fu. She's inspired by artists such as Sheryl Crow and the Carpenters. The oldie taste lingers in her folkish singing. One remarkable thing I find about her is how she manages to make music easy,clean and sweet. Voice is the single most powerful weapon she wields to penetrate your defense. She's a truly talented songwriter with a quality guarantee stamp on her credit. If you think 'Life is like a boat' is her limit, you'll be surprised how she stretches and goes way beyond her typical self. 'I wanna go to a place' and 'Tiny tiny melody' prove she can write as many 'Boat' classics easy breezy but she can also be humorously romantic in '5 mintues', 'Funny dream', or a bit edgy in 'Decay' and 'Conversation'.
I'd like to think there's a style-defining focus in each album. The debut eponymous album 'Rie Fu' shows her strength in writing sweet melodies. Beautiful voice, beautiful songs, but kind of two dimensional. As she promised to show more of the third dimension to the world, the 2nd album 'Rose Album' is incredibly romantic and smart. You get nostalgia fading in and out. Simply put, smart is the word. The latest release 'Tobira Album' is a lovey dovey heavily pop-oriented piece of work. It sounds bright and cheerful, with songs '5000 miles','Until I say'and 'Come to my door' paving the popish undertone. You also get a peek at the unavoidable graduation crisis in 'London' where she's currently schooling. 'What to do afterwards?' We wish you continue with song writing!
Seriously I have nothing more to write... I've exhausted all adjectives, verbs, nouns,adverbs,punctuations(not really)... So now I make way for tubie time!
Why not have a listen and decide whether you like her?
Life is like a boat
Decay
Until I say
あなたがここにいる理由 (The reason why you're here)
Live gig in London - 'The air was dry in London' I have to say she's a natural performer with great integrity. Even when the set-up is damn noisy and people are chit chatting like crazy, she still manages to pull it off great. This song 'The air was dry in London' is include on 'Tobira Album' but the title is simply 'London'.
Lisa Germano is a multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter who has released seven albums featuring her distinctive violin and confessional lyrics. Her album Geek the Girl received widespread critical acclaim (making Spin's top 90 albums of the 90's list). She also performed as a guest on over sixty records by other artists, including Eels, John Mellencamp, Simple Minds, David Bowie, Sheryl Crow and Iggy Pop. She has also spent considerable time touring with Neil Finn, playing violin, keyboards, and providing backing vocals. She was the featured vocalist on the 1997 album Slush, which also included members of Giant Sand and Calexico.
