High Notes, Vol. 3

News & Notes:
While I know posts have been infrequent lately, it’s not for a lack of trying. Despite irregularities, there has actually been a lot going on.

Firstly, Womenfolk turned two on June 7, 2006. That’s ancient in blog-years. So thank you to everyone who has supported the site with your comments and suggestions. Believe it or not, it helps keep Womenfolk alive.

Last year during our first anniversary online, I featured a ‘best of’ batch of songs previously featured on Womenfolk during that year. This year, I’m taking things one step farther.

Coming in late July/early August, Womenfolk will be releasing its first compilation! This is the real thing, folks. Many remarkable women submitted music for this set and I’m very proud to see it to completion. The CD will be for sale exclusively through www.womenfolk.net. I’ll definitely provide more details soon.

Now on to the music:

Lisa Germano
In The Maybe World
Without a doubt, Lisa Germano is a favorite of mine. Her underrated music seeps with a strange beauty, initially dark, but slowly exuding a sense of warmth and light. Germano’s voice is soft and low and her lyrics often carry the occasional smirk of sarcasm.

Featured below is ‘Into Oblivion,’ a fine example of Germano’s signature sound. Also featured below is ‘Offering,’ a rare, unreleased gem from a compilation Germano self-released in 2003 entitled, Rare, Unusual Or Just Bad Songs. You can presumably order a copy from Ms. Germano herself by following the instructions on her official site.

Germano’s seventh album, In The Maybe World, is due out July 18 on Young God Records.

Ani DiFranco
Reprieve
One of the hardest working women in music today, Ani DiFranco has created 15 solo albums (excluding collaborations and live compilations) since 1989. Reprieve is her latest, due out on August 8 on her own Righteous Babe label.

This time, it’s only DiFranco and her bass player that can be heard on the record, as she continues her trademark guitar-picking and lyrical left-hooks.

Featured here is ‘Half-Assed,’ one of the album’s standouts.

Crooked Still
Shaken By A Low Sound
Shaken By A Low Sound marks the second album for the country/folk/bluegrass band, Crooked Still. Here the group perform a collection of songs, largely covers of American standards, and create a nice, pleasurable result. Aoife O’Donovan’s voice floats effortlessly through the music, slightly reminiscent of Alison Krauss‘ angelic vocals. This is a sweet, no frills record which displays the band’s extraordinary talents.

Shaken By A Low Sound is due out on Signature Sounds Recordings on August 22, 2006.

Georgie James
Demos At Dance Place
Formed after his previous band (Q And Not U) dissolved, drummer John Davis and his friend, singer-songwriter, Laura Burhenn formed Georgie James. The pairing is quite remarkable, as Davis and Burhenn take turns with lead vocals and use their individual talents to create some truly smart, rock/pop.

Demos At Dance Place is a 7-song EP that features the duo’s first songs recorded together. Released toward the end of 2005, the band is currently working on their first record together and are currently set to tour the United States with indie-fave Camera Obscura.

Nina Gordon
Bleeding Heart Graffiti
Nina Gordon was arguably, the better half of the rock outfit, Veruca Salt. But in 1998, Gordon left the band to embark on a solo career and shift in a more ‘pop’ direction.

In 2000, Gordon released her debut solo record, Tonight And The Rest Of My Life. Six years later and her follow-up has arrived in the form of Bleeding Heart Graffiti. This newest set, with its lead-off single, ‘Kiss Me ‘Til It Bleeds,’ is scheduled for release on August 8, 2006 on Warner Bros.

Downloads:

Lisa Germano - Into Oblivion

Lisa Germano - Offering

Ani DiFranco - Half-Assed

Crooked Still - Little Sadie

Georgie James - Long Week

Nina Gordon - Kiss Me ‘Til It Bleeds

Cover Girls, Vol. 3

Originally released in 1997 on their only album, Slush, the members of Giant Sand and Calexico collaborated with Lisa Germano for a side-project they called OP8. The album served up a great collection of both original songs and cover versions. And while the album is strong throughout, their remake of the classic Lee Hazlewood / Nancy Sinatra tune ‘Sand’ is a definite stand-out. Here, Lisa and co-vocalist Howe Gelb pull a gender switch in the duet, dusting off the scratches for a truly unique interpretation which I’m surprised has not yet seen itself on a Quentin Tarantino soundtrack yet.

Many people have covered Dolly Parton’s big hit ‘Jolene,’ (Paula Cole, the White Stripes and Olivia Newton-John, just to name three), but few have done it quite this way.

Before Dot Allison embarked on a solo recording career, she was the frontwoman for the experiemental group, One Dove. As a b-side to their single, Why Don’t You Take Me, ‘Jolene’ is transformed into a six minute swirl of harps, electric percussion and computer generated sound effects. Mix in Dot’s dreamy voice and you’ve got yourself an original cover.

Although her success has rocketed commericially ever since Eminem sampled one of her songs, it’s difficult to argue that Dido isn’t worth the constant exposure. She’s talented, creates quality music and possesses a great voice. And based solely on the interviews I’ve read, she seems to even be somewhat humble (which is rare among celebrities). She also performed a great cover in the form of James Taylor’s ‘Fire & Rain’ . Recorded live for KCRW last year, Dido’s simplistic take transforms the classic into something soft and sweet.

Last month, Por Vida: A Tribute To The Songs Of Alejandro Escovedo, a benefit album honoring the the musician was released with alt-country artist, Lucinda Williams taking the helm at his song ‘Pyramid Of Tears.’

Lucinda’s gritty delivery turns Alejandro’s original into a new work of art, making it sound as if she wrote the song herself, as it fits well into her own style of rock.

Downloads:

OP8 feat. Lisa Germano - Sand
One Dove - Jolene
Dido - Fire & Rain (live)
Lucinda Williams - Pyramid Of Tears