Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 58
January 16, 2019
Travel Off The Beaten Path: Birmingham, Alabama
Travel Off The Beaten Path:
Birmingham, Alabama
It may seem odd to list a city under the category of "off the beaten path". There are highways that lead to the capital of Alabama, to be sure.
Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, ALBut, it's also a fact that both TSA agents I encountered on a recent trip to Birmingham, in Toronto and the airline rep in Atlanta, questioned why a nice lady like me would be on my way there. I saw a distressing amount of poverty in the outlying suburbs - empty houses falling down on every block, properties seemingly untouched since the subdivisions were built in the mid-twentieth century.
But, there are jewels that still sparkle in the matrix of a Southern belle who may have seen better days, and ones that are worth preserving and visiting while you are touring the American South. A boost to the local economy, based largely on small businesses and not so many large box stores would only benefit. You can check with organizations like the Birmingham Black Business Directory, and general tourist information at Birmingham.org.
Birmingham AL downtown skylineThere are some definite plusses to a visit to Birmingham:
• It's so affordable! You'll find both meals and accommodations at prices you won't see anywhere south or north of here.
• The whole downtown is within walkable distance, with streets of scenic architecture punctuated by small parks.
Walking Through Birmingham, ALHere's a walking tour of Birmingham that will easily fill up a weekend with some interesting spots to check out. Start towards the northwest, on 6th Avenue North near the Alabama Power Company building.
Civil Rights DistrictYou are never far from the ghosts of the past in Birmingham, and the struggle for Civil Rights that continues today. Right at the intersection of 16th Street and 6th Avenue North, you'll find the 16th Stret Baptist Church. It was the site of a bombing when members of the Ku Klux Klan exploded several sticks of dynamite attached to a timing device on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The blast killed four little girls and injured 22 others. The horrific bombing set the stage for an added push that resulted in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The church is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, AlabamaAcross the street, along 16th Street, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute houses exhibits and other information about the era.
Poignant sculptures dot Kelly Ingram Park, directly across 16th Street and bordering 6th Avenue North. It's where leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and other civil rights groups, met during the chaotic period to organize.
Sculptures, Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham AL
Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham AL
Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham AL Straight Outta Mid-CenturyAny movie location scouts out there? While Birmingham's general skyline is fairly modern, you'll find streetscapes that look as if they've been untouched since the 1950s or 1960s. If you're a fan of mid-century architecture, you'll love the vibe.
Alabama Power Company
Birmingham, Alabama downtown
Birmingham, AL
First United Methodist Church is a historic church at 6th Ave. and 19th Street, North in Birmingham, Alabama. It was built in 1891 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
There are a number of small parks you can wander through as well, including Linn Park, with the Birmingham Public Library, and government buildings on one side, facing the Birmingham Museum of Art on the other.
Linn Park, Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Public Library - old and new
Jefferson County Courthouse doors (Birmingham AL)
• Check out the link to find out more about the Birmingham Museum of Art
Birmingham Museum of ArtBirmingham Theatre DistrictIt would make a lot of sense to plan a weekend trip around a show at one of the city's fabulous performing arts and theatre venues. Here's a quick look at the details.
Alabama Theatre / Alabama Walk of FameThe Showplace of the South since 1927, Alabama Theatre on 3rd Avenue North is a jewel box venue so pretty that you might just want to catch a show to be able to check it out. The venue features a combination of live music, classic movie screenings - including sing-along and costumed shows, and the music of the Mighty Wurlitzer organ - orchestral concerts, ballet, and more.
Public domain image from the United States Library of CongressHistoric American Buildings SurveyAlabama Theatre, 1811 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, Jefferson County, ALColor Transparency photograph taken August, 1996 by Jack E. BoucherRed Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre It's been the only year-roiund professional musical theater company in Alabama, with bigger shows during the summer staged at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre in the Alabama School of Fine Art, and a home base at the Cabaret Theatre in the basement of the historic Kress Building. 301 19th Street N. | 205.324.2424 | redmountaintheatre.org
Tallulah Bankhead's stone at the Alabama Walk of FameLyric TheatreBuilt in 1914 for traveling vaudeville shows, the Lyric Theatre has superb acousitcs and a decor reminiscent of the opulence of yesteryear, with marble floors and staircases, a 28-foot mural in the lobby, and intricately decorated boxes in blue and gold. 1800 3rd Ave. N. | 205.252.2262 | lyricbham.com
Lyric Theatre & Alabama Theatre - Birmingham, ALThe Carver Performing Arts Theatre / Alabama Jazz Hall of FameFounded in 1978, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Alabama's jazz greats.
The Carver Theatre opened in 1935 in the Fourth Avenue District, originally a movie house. It was historically one of the few places African Americans could attend first-run film screenings during the days of segregation. It closed in the 1980s, to be revived by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1993 as the Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts. The facility includes a large section of permanent museum exhibits along with a 515-seat theatre.
McWane Science Center, Birmingham, ALMcWane Science CenterIf you have kids, or just a child-like sense of curiosity, the McWane Science Center has a lot to offer. It's seen millions of visitors since opening in 1998, drawing them with a combination of exhibits and interactive displays.
You'll find aquariums with fascinating fish and sea life, interactive and designed to keep kids busy for hours, including the Bubble Room, a race track, and IMAX Dome Theater, and of course - the dinosaurs!
As they tell it, the state of Alabama is the "best place east of the Mississippi River" to find dino remains. The Center houses actual fossils from several local species, including the Alabama tyrannosaur or Appalachiosaurus, a 22 foot long cousin to the dreaded T-Rex, the Nodosaur, an armed spiky herbivore, the Dromaeosaur, a 9 foot long cunning carnivore in the Raptor family, and the Pteranodon, a flying lizard.
Truman Capote's stone at the Alabama Walk of FameHungry or Thirsty?I try to find the places that are busy with locals, and that's what guided me to these picks - all of them located in the downtown core.
• Just coffee please? The stylish Revelator Coffee Company on 3rd Avenue North (facing the McWane Science Center) is a coffee roaster as well as coffee shop, so you can expect the finest brews of the bean here.
• Casual dining done right - The Paramount offers a tasty menu of fresh foods, crafty beers and cocktails, and a small gaming arcade section to keep the kids young and old amused. The prices will please your budget, and your tastebuds will enjoy the handcrafted burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and more.
• Looking for something upscale? The Café Dupont is the brainchild of chef Chris Dupont, a native of New Orleans who brought his know-how from years of working with luminaries like Emeril Legasse to his "slow food" philosophy. You'll find an imaginative menu that features locally grown produce and meats. Located in a charming circa-1870 storefront building in the city's historic North End
• Staying over night? The Vault Bar & Lounge is the place to be for creative cocktails and dancing to DJs till late.
Drone shots above the city:
Birmingham, Alabama
It may seem odd to list a city under the category of "off the beaten path". There are highways that lead to the capital of Alabama, to be sure.
Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, ALBut, it's also a fact that both TSA agents I encountered on a recent trip to Birmingham, in Toronto and the airline rep in Atlanta, questioned why a nice lady like me would be on my way there. I saw a distressing amount of poverty in the outlying suburbs - empty houses falling down on every block, properties seemingly untouched since the subdivisions were built in the mid-twentieth century.But, there are jewels that still sparkle in the matrix of a Southern belle who may have seen better days, and ones that are worth preserving and visiting while you are touring the American South. A boost to the local economy, based largely on small businesses and not so many large box stores would only benefit. You can check with organizations like the Birmingham Black Business Directory, and general tourist information at Birmingham.org.
Birmingham AL downtown skylineThere are some definite plusses to a visit to Birmingham:• It's so affordable! You'll find both meals and accommodations at prices you won't see anywhere south or north of here.
• The whole downtown is within walkable distance, with streets of scenic architecture punctuated by small parks.
Walking Through Birmingham, ALHere's a walking tour of Birmingham that will easily fill up a weekend with some interesting spots to check out. Start towards the northwest, on 6th Avenue North near the Alabama Power Company building.
Civil Rights DistrictYou are never far from the ghosts of the past in Birmingham, and the struggle for Civil Rights that continues today. Right at the intersection of 16th Street and 6th Avenue North, you'll find the 16th Stret Baptist Church. It was the site of a bombing when members of the Ku Klux Klan exploded several sticks of dynamite attached to a timing device on Sunday, September 15, 1963. The blast killed four little girls and injured 22 others. The horrific bombing set the stage for an added push that resulted in the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The church is designated as a National Historic Landmark.
16th Street Baptist Church, Birmingham, AlabamaAcross the street, along 16th Street, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute houses exhibits and other information about the era.
Poignant sculptures dot Kelly Ingram Park, directly across 16th Street and bordering 6th Avenue North. It's where leaders of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and other civil rights groups, met during the chaotic period to organize.
Sculptures, Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham AL
Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham AL
Kelly Ingram Park, Birmingham AL Straight Outta Mid-CenturyAny movie location scouts out there? While Birmingham's general skyline is fairly modern, you'll find streetscapes that look as if they've been untouched since the 1950s or 1960s. If you're a fan of mid-century architecture, you'll love the vibe.
Alabama Power Company
Birmingham, Alabama downtown
Birmingham, AL
First United Methodist Church is a historic church at 6th Ave. and 19th Street, North in Birmingham, Alabama. It was built in 1891 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.There are a number of small parks you can wander through as well, including Linn Park, with the Birmingham Public Library, and government buildings on one side, facing the Birmingham Museum of Art on the other.
Linn Park, Birmingham, AL
Birmingham Public Library - old and new
Jefferson County Courthouse doors (Birmingham AL)• Check out the link to find out more about the Birmingham Museum of Art
Birmingham Museum of ArtBirmingham Theatre DistrictIt would make a lot of sense to plan a weekend trip around a show at one of the city's fabulous performing arts and theatre venues. Here's a quick look at the details.
Alabama Theatre / Alabama Walk of FameThe Showplace of the South since 1927, Alabama Theatre on 3rd Avenue North is a jewel box venue so pretty that you might just want to catch a show to be able to check it out. The venue features a combination of live music, classic movie screenings - including sing-along and costumed shows, and the music of the Mighty Wurlitzer organ - orchestral concerts, ballet, and more.
Public domain image from the United States Library of CongressHistoric American Buildings SurveyAlabama Theatre, 1811 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, Jefferson County, ALColor Transparency photograph taken August, 1996 by Jack E. BoucherRed Mountain Theatre Company Cabaret Theatre It's been the only year-roiund professional musical theater company in Alabama, with bigger shows during the summer staged at the Dorothy Jemison Day Theatre in the Alabama School of Fine Art, and a home base at the Cabaret Theatre in the basement of the historic Kress Building. 301 19th Street N. | 205.324.2424 | redmountaintheatre.org
Tallulah Bankhead's stone at the Alabama Walk of FameLyric TheatreBuilt in 1914 for traveling vaudeville shows, the Lyric Theatre has superb acousitcs and a decor reminiscent of the opulence of yesteryear, with marble floors and staircases, a 28-foot mural in the lobby, and intricately decorated boxes in blue and gold. 1800 3rd Ave. N. | 205.252.2262 | lyricbham.com
Lyric Theatre & Alabama Theatre - Birmingham, ALThe Carver Performing Arts Theatre / Alabama Jazz Hall of FameFounded in 1978, the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Alabama's jazz greats.The Carver Theatre opened in 1935 in the Fourth Avenue District, originally a movie house. It was historically one of the few places African Americans could attend first-run film screenings during the days of segregation. It closed in the 1980s, to be revived by the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame in 1993 as the Carver Theatre for the Performing Arts. The facility includes a large section of permanent museum exhibits along with a 515-seat theatre.
McWane Science Center, Birmingham, ALMcWane Science CenterIf you have kids, or just a child-like sense of curiosity, the McWane Science Center has a lot to offer. It's seen millions of visitors since opening in 1998, drawing them with a combination of exhibits and interactive displays.You'll find aquariums with fascinating fish and sea life, interactive and designed to keep kids busy for hours, including the Bubble Room, a race track, and IMAX Dome Theater, and of course - the dinosaurs!
As they tell it, the state of Alabama is the "best place east of the Mississippi River" to find dino remains. The Center houses actual fossils from several local species, including the Alabama tyrannosaur or Appalachiosaurus, a 22 foot long cousin to the dreaded T-Rex, the Nodosaur, an armed spiky herbivore, the Dromaeosaur, a 9 foot long cunning carnivore in the Raptor family, and the Pteranodon, a flying lizard.
Truman Capote's stone at the Alabama Walk of FameHungry or Thirsty?I try to find the places that are busy with locals, and that's what guided me to these picks - all of them located in the downtown core.• Just coffee please? The stylish Revelator Coffee Company on 3rd Avenue North (facing the McWane Science Center) is a coffee roaster as well as coffee shop, so you can expect the finest brews of the bean here.
• Casual dining done right - The Paramount offers a tasty menu of fresh foods, crafty beers and cocktails, and a small gaming arcade section to keep the kids young and old amused. The prices will please your budget, and your tastebuds will enjoy the handcrafted burgers, sandwiches, salads, soups, and more.
• Looking for something upscale? The Café Dupont is the brainchild of chef Chris Dupont, a native of New Orleans who brought his know-how from years of working with luminaries like Emeril Legasse to his "slow food" philosophy. You'll find an imaginative menu that features locally grown produce and meats. Located in a charming circa-1870 storefront building in the city's historic North End
• Staying over night? The Vault Bar & Lounge is the place to be for creative cocktails and dancing to DJs till late.
Drone shots above the city:
January 9, 2019
Travel Germany: 100 Years of Bauhaus
From a media release:
#CelebratingBauhaus
100 Years of Bauhaus
Germany is celebrating 100 years of the Bauhaus. Come and join us!
The famous Bauhaus art school opened in Weimar in 1919, and during its short lifespan it moved to Dessau and then to Berlin. The architecture, art and design that was created there is still revered around the world to this day. To mark the centenary, Destination Germany is inviting culturally minded travellers to explore the birthplace of Modernism.
Discover the many facets of the Bauhaus movement and visit interesting places, exhibitions and events marking this occasion.
• Check Out The Programme
The great Centenary in 2019 will be a celebration in true Bauhaus fashion: experimental, multifarious, transnational and radically contemporary. The Centenary programme 100 years of bauhaus provides the framework. In keeping with its motto ‘Rethink the World’, the Bauhaus Association 2019 will join regional, national and international partners in facilitating a rediscovery of the Bauhaus heritage and its present and future significance
New museums, a big opening festival, a modernist trail across Germany, exhibitions and much more besides: read here about the major initiatives and highlights in the Centenary Programme.
Opening Festival
From 16 until 24 January 2019 the opening festival for 100 years of Bauhaus at Berlin’s Akademie der Künste will invite visitors on a creative and experimental journey around the legendary Bauhaus stage.
Concerts, installations, puppet and straight theatre, dance and film, workshops and lecture demonstrations, games and festivities: The programme offers numerous different events and formats for Bauhaus experts and novices, which enable the re-discovery of the superb historic testaments of Bauhaus, as well as the legacies and stimuli of this art form for the present and the future.
The festival programme’s artistic director is Bettina Wagner-Bergelt, who has invited many artists from all over the world to Berlin to revive the spirit of Bauhaus in the tradition of Oskar Schlemmer, Wassily Kandinsky, László Moholy-Nagy, Paul Klee and many others.
Oriented on Bauhauswoche 1923 (Bauhaus Week 1923) and the legendary Bauhaus Festivals, a creative atmosphere of experimentation and research, learning and teaching, joining in and thinking ahead will be ensured. Art and technology, light, colour, sound and movement and the relationship between humankind and machine will play a key role in the programme. The Virtual Reality Installation "Das Totale Tanz Theater" is a collaboration between the Interactive Media Foundation and the internationally acclaimed choreographer Richard Siegal and Artificial Rome. The installation explores the relationship between man and machine in a dancing manner and lets the visitors immerse themselves in the virtual stage world of “Das Totale Tanz Theater”.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the patron of the opening festival, and will officially open the event on 16 January 2019.
Three leading Bauhaus research institutions (the Bauhaus-Archiv/Museum für Gestaltung in Berlin, the Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau and the Klassik Stiftung Weimar), the Federal Government, represented by government officials for culture and media and the Federal Cultural Foundation, as well as representatives of eleven federal states, have joined to form the “Bauhaus Verbund 2019”.
Other Highlights:
bauhaus imaginista
The exhibitions and events in the bauhaus imaginista series will trace the impact of the Bauhaus and the responses it elicited in the context of major geopolitical shifts down the twentieth century.
Grand Tour of Modernism
From north to south, from east to west, the Grand Tour will guide visitors through a hundred places and a hundred years of modernist architecture.
Check out the link for more.
#CelebratingBauhaus
100 Years of Bauhaus
Germany is celebrating 100 years of the Bauhaus. Come and join us!
The famous Bauhaus art school opened in Weimar in 1919, and during its short lifespan it moved to Dessau and then to Berlin. The architecture, art and design that was created there is still revered around the world to this day. To mark the centenary, Destination Germany is inviting culturally minded travellers to explore the birthplace of Modernism.
Discover the many facets of the Bauhaus movement and visit interesting places, exhibitions and events marking this occasion.• Check Out The Programme
The great Centenary in 2019 will be a celebration in true Bauhaus fashion: experimental, multifarious, transnational and radically contemporary. The Centenary programme 100 years of bauhaus provides the framework. In keeping with its motto ‘Rethink the World’, the Bauhaus Association 2019 will join regional, national and international partners in facilitating a rediscovery of the Bauhaus heritage and its present and future significance
New museums, a big opening festival, a modernist trail across Germany, exhibitions and much more besides: read here about the major initiatives and highlights in the Centenary Programme.
Opening Festival
From 16 until 24 January 2019 the opening festival for 100 years of Bauhaus at Berlin’s Akademie der Künste will invite visitors on a creative and experimental journey around the legendary Bauhaus stage.
Concerts, installations, puppet and straight theatre, dance and film, workshops and lecture demonstrations, games and festivities: The programme offers numerous different events and formats for Bauhaus experts and novices, which enable the re-discovery of the superb historic testaments of Bauhaus, as well as the legacies and stimuli of this art form for the present and the future.
The festival programme’s artistic director is Bettina Wagner-Bergelt, who has invited many artists from all over the world to Berlin to revive the spirit of Bauhaus in the tradition of Oskar Schlemmer, Wassily Kandinsky, László Moholy-Nagy, Paul Klee and many others.
Oriented on Bauhauswoche 1923 (Bauhaus Week 1923) and the legendary Bauhaus Festivals, a creative atmosphere of experimentation and research, learning and teaching, joining in and thinking ahead will be ensured. Art and technology, light, colour, sound and movement and the relationship between humankind and machine will play a key role in the programme. The Virtual Reality Installation "Das Totale Tanz Theater" is a collaboration between the Interactive Media Foundation and the internationally acclaimed choreographer Richard Siegal and Artificial Rome. The installation explores the relationship between man and machine in a dancing manner and lets the visitors immerse themselves in the virtual stage world of “Das Totale Tanz Theater”.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the patron of the opening festival, and will officially open the event on 16 January 2019.
Three leading Bauhaus research institutions (the Bauhaus-Archiv/Museum für Gestaltung in Berlin, the Stiftung Bauhaus Dessau and the Klassik Stiftung Weimar), the Federal Government, represented by government officials for culture and media and the Federal Cultural Foundation, as well as representatives of eleven federal states, have joined to form the “Bauhaus Verbund 2019”.
Other Highlights:
bauhaus imaginista
The exhibitions and events in the bauhaus imaginista series will trace the impact of the Bauhaus and the responses it elicited in the context of major geopolitical shifts down the twentieth century.
Grand Tour of Modernism
From north to south, from east to west, the Grand Tour will guide visitors through a hundred places and a hundred years of modernist architecture.
Check out the link for more.
Classic Pop: Damon Mitchell - Elise (Independent / March 2, 2019)
Classic Pop:
Damon Mitchell - Elise
(Independent / March 2, 2019)
• Stream the lead single on Spotify
Pure pop - melodic, catchy, earworm pop - with a retro flair is what you'll find on the debut release of 22 year-old indie artist Damon Mitchell.
He's got a nice flair for piano pop with memorable hooks. Heist is a love song that throws a criminal streak into the usual cute-meet sentiments, with plenty of changes to keep it musically interesting. He brings out the Hammond organ for Just A Face, and a more sombre tone.
Damon's vocals work best with a relatable lower end that does the storyteller lyrics of songs like License Plate justice. With fiddles and songs about love lost, it's a touch of country on the release.
Salo hits a nice groove between the hypnotic beat and the kinetic vocal line. They lyrics are both poetic and observant.
You tear your dress but never put up a fight
Another dollar in the bank for a lonely night
I say, it's all right...
The World In Her Eyes is a highlight of the release, a throwback to those mid-century days of orchestral pop, with horns and jazzy chord changes. Elise is the first single off the release, available now, with a retro rock-pop groove that showcases his thoughtful lyrics.
The production on the EP is nicely clear and understated, with a lot of musical layers. The one fly in the ointment is that his vocals don't quite match the quality of the musicianship on offer, with a raspy edge that could use a little more sensitivity on this kind of material.
Damon recently appeared on stage as a guest guitarist/vocalist with America on their timeless hit, "Horse With No Name." He's got a lot of help on the release, including notable guest artists like Charlie McCoy (Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel), and Tris Imboden (Chicago, Kenny Loggins).
It's an enjoyable release if you love classic, melodic pop music - the album drops March 2, 2019.
Track List:
1. Heist
2. Just A Face
3. License Plate
4. Salo
5. World In Her Eyes
6. Elise
Personnel:
Damon Mitchell; Vocals, Guitar, and Keyboards; Brian Arrowood (track 2); Fiddle; Audie Blaylock; Lead Guitar (track 2); Nick Bowcott; Second Lead Guitar (track 6); Nick D' Virgillio; Drums (tracks 1, 2, and 3); Jacob Dupre; Flugelhorn (track 5); Sean Geyer; back vocals (track 1); Tris Imboden; Drums (tracks 4, 5, and 6); Kim Keyes; Backing Vocals (track 2); Dave Martin; Bass Guitar and Percussion; Charlie McCoy; Harmonica (track 3); Max Mitchell; Keyboards and Organ
Stay Connected:
https://www.facebook.com/TheDamonMitchell/
https://www.instagram.com/thedamonmitchell/
https://twitter.com/_damonmitchell
https://soundcloud.com/damon-mitchell-316296414/sets/elise/s-Sa4uw
The lead single Elise is out now:
Damon Mitchell - Elise
(Independent / March 2, 2019)
• Stream the lead single on Spotify
Pure pop - melodic, catchy, earworm pop - with a retro flair is what you'll find on the debut release of 22 year-old indie artist Damon Mitchell.
He's got a nice flair for piano pop with memorable hooks. Heist is a love song that throws a criminal streak into the usual cute-meet sentiments, with plenty of changes to keep it musically interesting. He brings out the Hammond organ for Just A Face, and a more sombre tone.Damon's vocals work best with a relatable lower end that does the storyteller lyrics of songs like License Plate justice. With fiddles and songs about love lost, it's a touch of country on the release.
Salo hits a nice groove between the hypnotic beat and the kinetic vocal line. They lyrics are both poetic and observant.
You tear your dress but never put up a fight
Another dollar in the bank for a lonely night
I say, it's all right...
The World In Her Eyes is a highlight of the release, a throwback to those mid-century days of orchestral pop, with horns and jazzy chord changes. Elise is the first single off the release, available now, with a retro rock-pop groove that showcases his thoughtful lyrics.
The production on the EP is nicely clear and understated, with a lot of musical layers. The one fly in the ointment is that his vocals don't quite match the quality of the musicianship on offer, with a raspy edge that could use a little more sensitivity on this kind of material.
Damon recently appeared on stage as a guest guitarist/vocalist with America on their timeless hit, "Horse With No Name." He's got a lot of help on the release, including notable guest artists like Charlie McCoy (Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel), and Tris Imboden (Chicago, Kenny Loggins).It's an enjoyable release if you love classic, melodic pop music - the album drops March 2, 2019.
Track List:
1. Heist
2. Just A Face
3. License Plate
4. Salo
5. World In Her Eyes
6. Elise
Personnel:
Damon Mitchell; Vocals, Guitar, and Keyboards; Brian Arrowood (track 2); Fiddle; Audie Blaylock; Lead Guitar (track 2); Nick Bowcott; Second Lead Guitar (track 6); Nick D' Virgillio; Drums (tracks 1, 2, and 3); Jacob Dupre; Flugelhorn (track 5); Sean Geyer; back vocals (track 1); Tris Imboden; Drums (tracks 4, 5, and 6); Kim Keyes; Backing Vocals (track 2); Dave Martin; Bass Guitar and Percussion; Charlie McCoy; Harmonica (track 3); Max Mitchell; Keyboards and Organ
Stay Connected:
https://www.facebook.com/TheDamonMitchell/
https://www.instagram.com/thedamonmitchell/
https://twitter.com/_damonmitchell
https://soundcloud.com/damon-mitchell-316296414/sets/elise/s-Sa4uw
The lead single Elise is out now:
Pop Single: Lil T-Shirt - Summer (Independent / November 29, 2018)
Pop Single:
Lil T-Shirt - Summer
(Independent / November 29, 2018)
• Stream the single
• Stream the album
Summer is a new single and video from Stockholm, Sweden based Lil T-Shirt - a slow, hypnotic RnB flavoured pop song married with the dark visuals of a video where the character of the singer gets his just desserts...
Lil T-Shirt came up in Rågsved, Stockholm in the Hardcore and punk music scene. But, all the while, he was working on his own flavour of RnB infused pop with a minimalist aesthetic. Out of it came his first full-length release, Flowers / Lovers, and the new single, Summer. Like the other tracks on the album the song covers young love with a modern edge.
The atmospheric video was filmed by Stockholm based filmmaker Ottilia Wahl. She's a fixture in the Swedish film and TV industry working as a freelance Assistant Director, along with writing and directing her own shorts.
Flowers / Lovers Track List:
1. 8
2. Fendi Wendy
3. Flowers
4. Down
5. Ice
6. Summer
7. Wish I Could
8. Bby
9. Guccis/Guns
Musicians: Christoffer Öberg-Runfors, vocals, drums, synths, guitars, production
Stay in Touch:
http://www.sensitivo.se/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMHKADsdQC0z6_-Otj0bLQ
https://soundcloud.com/liltshirt
https://www.instagram.com/lilteeshirt/
https://www.facebook.com/liltshirt/
Lil T-Shirt - Summer
(Independent / November 29, 2018)
• Stream the single
• Stream the album
Summer is a new single and video from Stockholm, Sweden based Lil T-Shirt - a slow, hypnotic RnB flavoured pop song married with the dark visuals of a video where the character of the singer gets his just desserts...
Lil T-Shirt came up in Rågsved, Stockholm in the Hardcore and punk music scene. But, all the while, he was working on his own flavour of RnB infused pop with a minimalist aesthetic. Out of it came his first full-length release, Flowers / Lovers, and the new single, Summer. Like the other tracks on the album the song covers young love with a modern edge.
The atmospheric video was filmed by Stockholm based filmmaker Ottilia Wahl. She's a fixture in the Swedish film and TV industry working as a freelance Assistant Director, along with writing and directing her own shorts.
Flowers / Lovers Track List:1. 8
2. Fendi Wendy
3. Flowers
4. Down
5. Ice
6. Summer
7. Wish I Could
8. Bby
9. Guccis/Guns
Musicians: Christoffer Öberg-Runfors, vocals, drums, synths, guitars, production
Stay in Touch:
http://www.sensitivo.se/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChMHKADsdQC0z6_-Otj0bLQ
https://soundcloud.com/liltshirt
https://www.instagram.com/lilteeshirt/
https://www.facebook.com/liltshirt/
Discover the Cutting Edge: The Cuneiform 2018 Compilation Album
From a media release:
Avant-Garde:
The Cuneiform 2018 Compilation Album
• Name Your Own Price
From our friends at Cuneiform Records - based in the Washington D.C. area since its founding in 1984, Cuneiform Records is widely recognized as an international force in the world of avant-garde and truly progressive, cutting-edge music.
In mid-2018 Cuneiform Records resumed releasing music after a several months sabbatical. By the end of 2018 it had released 5 new albums in both physical (CD, lp) and digital formats, in addition to 7 digital-only releases.
This 12 song compilation album, Cuneiform Records: The Albums of 2018, features over 60 minutes of simply great and utterly creative music made by brilliant musicians; selected from albums that Cuneiform Records released in 2018. It is now available to stream or download at a price of YOUR OWN choosing via Cuneiform's Bandcamp page.
CUNEIFORM RECORDS: THE ALBUMS OF 2018
TRACK LISTING
1. Thumbscrew - Words That Rhyme With Spangle (angle bangle dangle jangle mangel mangle strangle tangle wangle wrangle) (4:59)
[from Ours]
2. Thumbscrew - The Peacocks (Jimmy Rowles) (6:53)
[from Theirs]
3. Forgas Band Phenomena - Délice Karmâ / Karmic Delights ("radio edit") (5:21)
[from L’Oreille Électrique (The Electric Ear)]
4. Steve Tibbetts - Desert (4:56)
[from Steve Tibbetts]
5. Far Corner - Fork (3:52)
[from Risk]
6. Curlew - To The Summer In Our Hearts (12:30)
[from Live at the Knitting Factory 1991 / Live at D?.?C. Space]
7. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Bat Living In My Room (3:19)
[from The Opposite]
8. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Benevolent St. (4:11)
[from May You Dine On Weeds Made Bitter By The Piss Of Drunkards]
9. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Ginger Gin / Flight Of The Sims (6:53)
[from The Smother Party]
10. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Dashboard Lazarus (4:20)
[from Bent At The Waist]
11. Alec K. Redfearn and The Seizures - The Hole (7:28)
[from Exterminating Angel]
12. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Black Tar and White Slavery (4:06)
[from Every Man For Himself & God Against All]
Cuneiform Records: The Albums of 2018 by Thumbscrew
Avant-Garde:
The Cuneiform 2018 Compilation Album
• Name Your Own Price
From our friends at Cuneiform Records - based in the Washington D.C. area since its founding in 1984, Cuneiform Records is widely recognized as an international force in the world of avant-garde and truly progressive, cutting-edge music.
In mid-2018 Cuneiform Records resumed releasing music after a several months sabbatical. By the end of 2018 it had released 5 new albums in both physical (CD, lp) and digital formats, in addition to 7 digital-only releases.This 12 song compilation album, Cuneiform Records: The Albums of 2018, features over 60 minutes of simply great and utterly creative music made by brilliant musicians; selected from albums that Cuneiform Records released in 2018. It is now available to stream or download at a price of YOUR OWN choosing via Cuneiform's Bandcamp page.
CUNEIFORM RECORDS: THE ALBUMS OF 2018
TRACK LISTING
1. Thumbscrew - Words That Rhyme With Spangle (angle bangle dangle jangle mangel mangle strangle tangle wangle wrangle) (4:59)
[from Ours]
2. Thumbscrew - The Peacocks (Jimmy Rowles) (6:53)
[from Theirs]
3. Forgas Band Phenomena - Délice Karmâ / Karmic Delights ("radio edit") (5:21)
[from L’Oreille Électrique (The Electric Ear)]
4. Steve Tibbetts - Desert (4:56)
[from Steve Tibbetts]
5. Far Corner - Fork (3:52)
[from Risk]
6. Curlew - To The Summer In Our Hearts (12:30)
[from Live at the Knitting Factory 1991 / Live at D?.?C. Space]
7. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Bat Living In My Room (3:19)
[from The Opposite]
8. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Benevolent St. (4:11)
[from May You Dine On Weeds Made Bitter By The Piss Of Drunkards]
9. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Ginger Gin / Flight Of The Sims (6:53)
[from The Smother Party]
10. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Dashboard Lazarus (4:20)
[from Bent At The Waist]
11. Alec K. Redfearn and The Seizures - The Hole (7:28)
[from Exterminating Angel]
12. Alec K. Redfearn and The Eyesores - Black Tar and White Slavery (4:06)
[from Every Man For Himself & God Against All]
Cuneiform Records: The Albums of 2018 by Thumbscrew
Americana: Cindy Jollotta - Ghosts (Independent / Jan 8, 2019)
Americana:
Cindy Jollotta - Ghosts
(Independent / Jan 8, 2019)
• Check it out on iTunes
"Ghosts" is about the missed opportunities, bad choices, and regrets that become ghosts that haunt you.
The heart of folk or country music - or Americana, or roots, or whatever label you'd like to use - is the emotion. That's the essence of its enduring appeal. On the new single by Los Angeles based indie artist Cindy Jollotta, you can hear the remorse in the way she shapes every note.
I wish I could get
Another chance at
Fixing my regrets...
It's a sentiment we can all relate to. She fleshes out the feeling with her expressive alto, a voice with a sweet tone and a rough edge she can use to good effect. The video follows her through a grey rainy day on the farm, in a house full of broken crockery, and lonely fields and woods.
Jollotta plays the piano and ukelele on the single, and she's in the midst of a US tour at the moment. After a few years touring the United States with her band, The Podunk Poets, she's releases this solo project that connects honkey-tonk and bluegrass with her roots in the alt-rock world. Cindy says she proudly represents and supports LGBTQ, body positive, sex positive, and women-in-music communities.
Stay Connected:
http://www.cindyjollotta.com/
https://soundcloud.com/cindyjollotta/ghosts/s-2Dpp8
https://www.instagram.com/cindy_jollotta/
https://cindyjollotta.bandcamp.com/releases
https://soundcloud.com/cindyjollotta
Cindy Jollotta - Ghosts
(Independent / Jan 8, 2019)
• Check it out on iTunes
"Ghosts" is about the missed opportunities, bad choices, and regrets that become ghosts that haunt you.
The heart of folk or country music - or Americana, or roots, or whatever label you'd like to use - is the emotion. That's the essence of its enduring appeal. On the new single by Los Angeles based indie artist Cindy Jollotta, you can hear the remorse in the way she shapes every note.I wish I could get
Another chance at
Fixing my regrets...
It's a sentiment we can all relate to. She fleshes out the feeling with her expressive alto, a voice with a sweet tone and a rough edge she can use to good effect. The video follows her through a grey rainy day on the farm, in a house full of broken crockery, and lonely fields and woods.
Jollotta plays the piano and ukelele on the single, and she's in the midst of a US tour at the moment. After a few years touring the United States with her band, The Podunk Poets, she's releases this solo project that connects honkey-tonk and bluegrass with her roots in the alt-rock world. Cindy says she proudly represents and supports LGBTQ, body positive, sex positive, and women-in-music communities.
Stay Connected:
http://www.cindyjollotta.com/
https://soundcloud.com/cindyjollotta/ghosts/s-2Dpp8
https://www.instagram.com/cindy_jollotta/
https://cindyjollotta.bandcamp.com/releases
https://soundcloud.com/cindyjollotta
December 14, 2018
Rock for Kids: Imagination Movers - 10-4 (Independent / December 10, 2018)
Rock for Kids:
Imagination Movers - 10-4
(Independent / December 10, 2018)
• Buy it on iTunes
Take polished modern pop/rock, add family-friendly lyrics and polished production, and you've got the appeal of the Imagination Movers. After spending the last decade touring the world, the Emmy-award winning kids' show rock band has just released a new album of upbeat tracks.
Socks meditates on the joys of collecting socks in an upbeat folk/pop mode, slipping into a funky interlude that begins,
Two googly eyes, and a bottle of glue
Put it all together, and what do you do?
So Glad You're Here sings a message about acceptance to a reggae-ish beat. Tight musicianship keeps the music bouncing along, while nimble vocals and three-part harmony, and countermelodies, flesh out the song.
Talking To The Baby is a hilariously upbeat and funky pop song about baby talk that will have parents laughing along with the little ones.
Mad Hatter's Tea Party is a cool retro tune, a standout track with a driving groove and an inventive cartoon-voice rap section in the middle. It's what can happen when you approach children's music with imagination instead of saccharine.
Butterfly Wings features Lisa Loeb's sweet soprano against acoustic guitar, with lovely harmony vocals to fatten the sound. The banjo and drums come in to add layers to the song.
Parents might just pop the CD on even when the kids are at grandma's house for tracks like Stacking Game, a clever alt-rock tribute to, well, stacking things on top of each other. Tow Truck features hip-hop artist The Durbulence in an ode to everyone's favourite toy truck.
Originally based in New Orleans, friends Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott "Smitty" Smith formed Imagination Movers in 2002 as a TV show that would feature music in a kid-friendly environment. The show, seen on the Disney Channel worldwide, has run 76 episodes, and is now translated into more than 20 languages. You can check out the show on the Disney NOW app and On Demand through your cable provider.
Track List:
1. Socks
2. So Glad You're Here
3. Talking to the Baby
4. Mad Hatter's Tea Party
5. Butterfly Wings (featuring Lisa Loeb)
6. Is That Wrong
7. Stacking Game
8. Sunday Morning Song
9. Tow Truck (featuring The Durbulence)
10. Game On
11. Kindergarten Graduation
12. The Hiking Song
13. #fuzzylittlecat
Personnel:
Rich Collins - drums, guitar, bass, keys; Scott Durbin - keys, mandolin; Dave Poche - bass; Scott "Smitty" Smith - guitar
Stay in touch:
https://www.imaginationmovers.com
https://www.facebook.com/imaginationmovers
https://twitter.com/iMovers
Imagination Movers - 10-4
(Independent / December 10, 2018)
• Buy it on iTunes
Take polished modern pop/rock, add family-friendly lyrics and polished production, and you've got the appeal of the Imagination Movers. After spending the last decade touring the world, the Emmy-award winning kids' show rock band has just released a new album of upbeat tracks.
Socks meditates on the joys of collecting socks in an upbeat folk/pop mode, slipping into a funky interlude that begins,
Two googly eyes, and a bottle of glue
Put it all together, and what do you do?
So Glad You're Here sings a message about acceptance to a reggae-ish beat. Tight musicianship keeps the music bouncing along, while nimble vocals and three-part harmony, and countermelodies, flesh out the song.
Talking To The Baby is a hilariously upbeat and funky pop song about baby talk that will have parents laughing along with the little ones.
Mad Hatter's Tea Party is a cool retro tune, a standout track with a driving groove and an inventive cartoon-voice rap section in the middle. It's what can happen when you approach children's music with imagination instead of saccharine.
Butterfly Wings features Lisa Loeb's sweet soprano against acoustic guitar, with lovely harmony vocals to fatten the sound. The banjo and drums come in to add layers to the song.
Parents might just pop the CD on even when the kids are at grandma's house for tracks like Stacking Game, a clever alt-rock tribute to, well, stacking things on top of each other. Tow Truck features hip-hop artist The Durbulence in an ode to everyone's favourite toy truck.
Originally based in New Orleans, friends Rich Collins, Scott Durbin, Dave Poche and Scott "Smitty" Smith formed Imagination Movers in 2002 as a TV show that would feature music in a kid-friendly environment. The show, seen on the Disney Channel worldwide, has run 76 episodes, and is now translated into more than 20 languages. You can check out the show on the Disney NOW app and On Demand through your cable provider.
Track List:1. Socks
2. So Glad You're Here
3. Talking to the Baby
4. Mad Hatter's Tea Party
5. Butterfly Wings (featuring Lisa Loeb)
6. Is That Wrong
7. Stacking Game
8. Sunday Morning Song
9. Tow Truck (featuring The Durbulence)
10. Game On
11. Kindergarten Graduation
12. The Hiking Song
13. #fuzzylittlecat
Personnel:
Rich Collins - drums, guitar, bass, keys; Scott Durbin - keys, mandolin; Dave Poche - bass; Scott "Smitty" Smith - guitar
Stay in touch:
https://www.imaginationmovers.com
https://www.facebook.com/imaginationmovers
https://twitter.com/iMovers
Eclectic Indie Spirit: Adam Rose - Levitate the Base (Independent / November 11 2018)
Eclectic Indie Spirit:
Adam Rose - Levitate the Base
(Independent / November 11, 2018)
• Buy/Stream it on Bandcamp
Pittsburgh native Adam Rose has returned to recording after a hiatus due to illness with an eclectic offering of ambient and instrumental psychadelica. Rose plays guitar, drum kit, hand drums, piano, bass guitar, upright bass, violin, cello, utes of various kinds, didgeridoo, trumpet, and a little kazoo, combining his musicianship with a background in programming and engineering, and also produces the release.
Platinum Grime is a funky track that's reminiscent of old school TV show themes, including fuzzy guitars and wa-wa pedals over a driving beat. Swampy Thang is an inventive take on retro rock, with a meandering beat and spooky guitar line.
Slam Dandy is an upbeat power pop-rock track that showcases his guitar work in a growly mode. Freaky Fried Flapjacks is a standout track with an insistent bass line and interesting rhythms.
In The Glow is another memorable track with a laidback lounge vibe and funky organ and synth lines over a jazzy rhythm. It expands into various layers of rhythm and melody with a mesmerizing effect.
Skyline is a keyboard-driven jazzy track with a nice sense of melody. Like many of the tracks, you could imagine it as part of a movie soundtrack. Skyline Island Reprise is a lovely, if short (a mere 1:24) acoutic guitar-led jazz track.
The risk when one person does it all on an album is that it can easily slide towards self indulgence - and very few people are great on every instrument. Many of the tracks are inventive and interesting, but pieces like Riptide trip along against a repetitive and not particularly interesting motif on the synth, with various sections of guitar, and an unfortunately monotonous beat, without any of it going anywhere. He's a talented guitarist, but relies too heavily on canned electronic bass and drum sounds that don't do much for the music in terms of tone or sound, particularly on an instrumental album.
The album is his first after a debilitating diagnosis of lyme disease that sidelined a prolific music career for an extended period.
"Levitate the Base is a symbol of me overcoming tremendous pain to rise up and create an album I'm truly proud of. It is symbolic of taking all the shattered pieces of my life and forming one cohesive artform. The symbol also extends to my larger vision for humanity to rise up, and no longer be content with living lives of subservience, toil, and meaningless."
Track List:
1. Platinum Grime
2. Swampy Thang
3. Persian Fantasy
4. Riptide
5. Slam Dandy
6. Freaky Fried Flapjacks
7. In the Glow
8. Skyline Drive
9. Helena
10. Paisley Arcade
11. Skyline Island Reprise
12. Isles of Avalon
Stay in touch:
http://www.adamroseproductions.com
https://www.facebook.com/adamroseproductions
https://twitter.com/adamrosemusic
https://soundcloud.com/user-164658789
Levitate the Base by Adam Rose
Adam Rose - Levitate the Base
(Independent / November 11, 2018)
• Buy/Stream it on Bandcamp
Pittsburgh native Adam Rose has returned to recording after a hiatus due to illness with an eclectic offering of ambient and instrumental psychadelica. Rose plays guitar, drum kit, hand drums, piano, bass guitar, upright bass, violin, cello, utes of various kinds, didgeridoo, trumpet, and a little kazoo, combining his musicianship with a background in programming and engineering, and also produces the release.
Platinum Grime is a funky track that's reminiscent of old school TV show themes, including fuzzy guitars and wa-wa pedals over a driving beat. Swampy Thang is an inventive take on retro rock, with a meandering beat and spooky guitar line.
Slam Dandy is an upbeat power pop-rock track that showcases his guitar work in a growly mode. Freaky Fried Flapjacks is a standout track with an insistent bass line and interesting rhythms.
In The Glow is another memorable track with a laidback lounge vibe and funky organ and synth lines over a jazzy rhythm. It expands into various layers of rhythm and melody with a mesmerizing effect.
Skyline is a keyboard-driven jazzy track with a nice sense of melody. Like many of the tracks, you could imagine it as part of a movie soundtrack. Skyline Island Reprise is a lovely, if short (a mere 1:24) acoutic guitar-led jazz track.
The risk when one person does it all on an album is that it can easily slide towards self indulgence - and very few people are great on every instrument. Many of the tracks are inventive and interesting, but pieces like Riptide trip along against a repetitive and not particularly interesting motif on the synth, with various sections of guitar, and an unfortunately monotonous beat, without any of it going anywhere. He's a talented guitarist, but relies too heavily on canned electronic bass and drum sounds that don't do much for the music in terms of tone or sound, particularly on an instrumental album.
The album is his first after a debilitating diagnosis of lyme disease that sidelined a prolific music career for an extended period.
"Levitate the Base is a symbol of me overcoming tremendous pain to rise up and create an album I'm truly proud of. It is symbolic of taking all the shattered pieces of my life and forming one cohesive artform. The symbol also extends to my larger vision for humanity to rise up, and no longer be content with living lives of subservience, toil, and meaningless."
Track List:1. Platinum Grime
2. Swampy Thang
3. Persian Fantasy
4. Riptide
5. Slam Dandy
6. Freaky Fried Flapjacks
7. In the Glow
8. Skyline Drive
9. Helena
10. Paisley Arcade
11. Skyline Island Reprise
12. Isles of Avalon
Stay in touch:
http://www.adamroseproductions.com
https://www.facebook.com/adamroseproductions
https://twitter.com/adamrosemusic
https://soundcloud.com/user-164658789
Levitate the Base by Adam Rose
December 3, 2018
The World’s Best Beaches for 2018©
The World’s Best Beaches for 2018©
The people at Flightnetwork.com have polled travel writers and professionals from around the world to come up with what looks like a good list of the world's most wonderful beaches.
I was asked to be one of the judges/contributors to the list, and it was a pleasure to spend some time thinking about the great beaches of the world. I think our beautiful blue globe has too many beaches for any one list to include all the best, but this is an excellent list with a number of categories. Just click on the titles to check out each list.
World's Top 50 Beaches
FlightNetwork crafted The World’s Best Beaches for 2018©, that highlights the best beaches on almost all continents, by conferring with over 1200 journalists, editors, bloggers, and agencies, who possess endless travel wisdom. The insights we received helped us create a list of beaches that will help travelers access shores that will leave a magical and indelible imprint.
Peruse through the 411 beach collection with everything from red sand beaches in Crete, and dazzlingly clear waters in Micronesia, to Jurassic-like shore in Bali, and a lush, exquisitely unique aquatic world in Rio de Janeiro. Dive into this list and get the lowdown on locating the ultimate coastlines in Africa, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, North America, and South America.
World's Top 50 Untouched Beaches
World's Top 50 City Beaches
Africa's Top 50 Beaches
Asia's Top 50 Beaches
Oceania's Top 50 Beaches
Central America and Caribbean
Europe's Top 50 Beaches
North America's Top 50 Beaches
South America's Top 50 Beaches
The Top Three:
The people at Flightnetwork.com have polled travel writers and professionals from around the world to come up with what looks like a good list of the world's most wonderful beaches.
I was asked to be one of the judges/contributors to the list, and it was a pleasure to spend some time thinking about the great beaches of the world. I think our beautiful blue globe has too many beaches for any one list to include all the best, but this is an excellent list with a number of categories. Just click on the titles to check out each list.
World's Top 50 Beaches
FlightNetwork crafted The World’s Best Beaches for 2018©, that highlights the best beaches on almost all continents, by conferring with over 1200 journalists, editors, bloggers, and agencies, who possess endless travel wisdom. The insights we received helped us create a list of beaches that will help travelers access shores that will leave a magical and indelible imprint.
Peruse through the 411 beach collection with everything from red sand beaches in Crete, and dazzlingly clear waters in Micronesia, to Jurassic-like shore in Bali, and a lush, exquisitely unique aquatic world in Rio de Janeiro. Dive into this list and get the lowdown on locating the ultimate coastlines in Africa, Asia, Australia and the South Pacific, Central America and the Caribbean, Europe, North America, and South America.
World's Top 50 Untouched Beaches
World's Top 50 City Beaches
Africa's Top 50 Beaches
Asia's Top 50 Beaches
Oceania's Top 50 Beaches
Central America and Caribbean
Europe's Top 50 Beaches
North America's Top 50 Beaches
South America's Top 50 Beaches
The Top Three:
Canadiana/Roots/Rock: Norine Braun - Through Train Windows (Braun and Brains Music / 7 December 2018)
Canadiana/Roots/Rock:
Norine Braun - Through Train Windows
(Braun and Brains Music / 7 December 2018)
• Preorder/Buy the Album
• Presave on Spotify
Blues, roots, and soul with a modern sensibility - that's the territory mined by Vancouver based singer songwriter Norine Braun. Last year, she and partner Alice Fraser participated in Via Rail's Riding the Rails tour as an Artist On Board. She traveled more than 6,000 kilometres from Vancouver to Halifax, playing music as the Rocky Mountains changed to prairies, boreal forest, urban areas, until finally reaching the Atlantic. After the experience, she was the Musician in Residence at the Banff Centre, where she penned this collection of songs about her experiences.
Norine's voice is both accomplished and intimate, like someone sitting in your living room telling stories. She takes well worn genres and breathes new life into them with insightful and poetic lyrics and musical compositions that add layers of sound and interest to simple themes.
I'm Going Home is a bright country blues rocker with a joyful message.
Set my sights to save my soul,
I'm going home...
Heading Up North is a melodic roots ballad, with just sweet vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar to flesh out the emotion. Exhale is a stand out track that trips along at 6/8 time, driven by a kinetic rhythm guitar line and a walking bass, with her ethereal vocals above the mix.
Climbing Table Mountain adds a jazzy sax line and jazzy chord changes to a strident rock rhythm and jangly rhythm guitar. It's an intriguing track inspired by the scenery and what it means.
Rock The Rolling ventures farther into jazz territory with a syncopated rhythm and a spoken word section against sax, keyboards, and a driving drum pattern. Heaven Only Knows is another standout, trippy and atmospheric, one of the few keyboard driven songs on the release.
Norine's work has garnered recognition, including the Banff Centre Musician in Residence, Canada Council For the Arts Award, Los Angeles Music Awards, Artists For Literacy award, and more.
It's an interesting release with a lot of replay value from an artist in her prime.
Track List:
1. Sleeping Buffalo 3:57
2. I'm Going Home 3:10
3. Jerkwater Town 2:55
4. Exhale 4:46
5. Climbing Table Mountain 3:42
6. Heading Up North 3:58
7. I'm Moving On 3:40
8. Rock the Rolling 3:57
9. Oh Canada 2:42
10. Rue St. Jean 3:35
11. Crosses and Sweetgrass 5:05
12. Heaven Only Knows 3:49
13. Through Train Windows 3:48
Personnel:
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Rhythm Guitar: Norine Braun; Lead Guitar/Bass: Adam Popowitz; Drums/Percussion: Elliot Polsky; Blues Harp: Huggybear Leonard; Keys and Harmony Vocals on Rue St. Jean and I'm Going Home: Alice Fraser; Tenor Sax: Steve Hilliam
Stay in Touch:
http://www.norinebraun.com/
https://www.facebook.com/norinebraunmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/norinebraun/
https://twitter.com/norinebraun
From a previous release:
Norine Braun - Through Train Windows
(Braun and Brains Music / 7 December 2018)
• Preorder/Buy the Album
• Presave on Spotify
Blues, roots, and soul with a modern sensibility - that's the territory mined by Vancouver based singer songwriter Norine Braun. Last year, she and partner Alice Fraser participated in Via Rail's Riding the Rails tour as an Artist On Board. She traveled more than 6,000 kilometres from Vancouver to Halifax, playing music as the Rocky Mountains changed to prairies, boreal forest, urban areas, until finally reaching the Atlantic. After the experience, she was the Musician in Residence at the Banff Centre, where she penned this collection of songs about her experiences.
Norine's voice is both accomplished and intimate, like someone sitting in your living room telling stories. She takes well worn genres and breathes new life into them with insightful and poetic lyrics and musical compositions that add layers of sound and interest to simple themes.
I'm Going Home is a bright country blues rocker with a joyful message.
Set my sights to save my soul,
I'm going home...
Heading Up North is a melodic roots ballad, with just sweet vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar to flesh out the emotion. Exhale is a stand out track that trips along at 6/8 time, driven by a kinetic rhythm guitar line and a walking bass, with her ethereal vocals above the mix.
Climbing Table Mountain adds a jazzy sax line and jazzy chord changes to a strident rock rhythm and jangly rhythm guitar. It's an intriguing track inspired by the scenery and what it means.
Rock The Rolling ventures farther into jazz territory with a syncopated rhythm and a spoken word section against sax, keyboards, and a driving drum pattern. Heaven Only Knows is another standout, trippy and atmospheric, one of the few keyboard driven songs on the release.
Norine's work has garnered recognition, including the Banff Centre Musician in Residence, Canada Council For the Arts Award, Los Angeles Music Awards, Artists For Literacy award, and more.
It's an interesting release with a lot of replay value from an artist in her prime.
Track List:1. Sleeping Buffalo 3:57
2. I'm Going Home 3:10
3. Jerkwater Town 2:55
4. Exhale 4:46
5. Climbing Table Mountain 3:42
6. Heading Up North 3:58
7. I'm Moving On 3:40
8. Rock the Rolling 3:57
9. Oh Canada 2:42
10. Rue St. Jean 3:35
11. Crosses and Sweetgrass 5:05
12. Heaven Only Knows 3:49
13. Through Train Windows 3:48
Personnel:
Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Rhythm Guitar: Norine Braun; Lead Guitar/Bass: Adam Popowitz; Drums/Percussion: Elliot Polsky; Blues Harp: Huggybear Leonard; Keys and Harmony Vocals on Rue St. Jean and I'm Going Home: Alice Fraser; Tenor Sax: Steve Hilliam
Stay in Touch:
http://www.norinebraun.com/
https://www.facebook.com/norinebraunmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/norinebraun/
https://twitter.com/norinebraun
From a previous release:
Art & Culture Maven
Where I blog about art and culture, not surprisingly.
- Anya M. Wassenberg's profile
- 5 followers
