I returned to the city this evening to find that my package from CDBaby had arrived. Some true gems slipped out of that envelope when I opened it. Alix Olson‘s first two albums, Built Like That and Independence Meal and also the Build Like That: The Word book were included. From Terami Hirsch there was From The Ash, a wonderful reinterpretation of her most recent abum, To The Bone put together by Dan Lloyd. The bonus CD this time (CDBaby sends a free CD to any returning customer as a thank you) was Charm Away Those Winter Blues, a collection of jazz songs that draw from many influences.
The Terami Hirsch album (remix, reinterpretation, or whatever else it could be called) is of the same quality as her previous works. It takes To The Bone in a new and interesting direction and brings out some of the sounds that could otherwise be overlooked on the original album. Mr. Lloyd has, without a doubt, enhanced the original artist’s own music unlike any other remix project I’ve encountered. I’m listening to the closing track of my first spin of it, and already I can tell it will become one of my favourite albums, and there are certainly ample layers of sound that will make this a joy to discover over many listens.
Alix Olson is quite different in style and form from Terami, but is a wonderful artist in her own right. “Eve’s Mouth” from Built Like That was my introduction to her works, and it set the stage well for the rest of her first two albums. Alix is a spoken word artist, slam poet, an activist and a number of other noble things, and she happens to make great albums filled with just enough political bite, humour, beauty and protest. Independence Meal has more of an accoustic leaning than the older work, and I find myself enjoying it slightly more, but both have such an immense strength about them that has captured my atttention and ears. This is music you all should be hearing, so drop by CDBaby, have a listen, and pick up some great albums.
I have not yet given Charm Away Those Winter Blues any eartime, but I will soon and I’ll pass along word of any tracks that enchant. I haven’t explored jazz very often, so perhaps I can find something new to treasure amid these twelve selections. One must always keep an open mind, right?
The Terami Hirsch album (remix, reinterpretation, or whatever else it could be called) is of the same quality as her previous works. It takes To The Bone in a new and interesting direction and brings out some of the sounds that could otherwise be overlooked on the original album. Mr. Lloyd has, without a doubt, enhanced the original artist’s own music unlike any other remix project I’ve encountered. I’m listening to the closing track of my first spin of it, and already I can tell it will become one of my favourite albums, and there are certainly ample layers of sound that will make this a joy to discover over many listens.
Alix Olson is quite different in style and form from Terami, but is a wonderful artist in her own right. “Eve’s Mouth” from Built Like That was my introduction to her works, and it set the stage well for the rest of her first two albums. Alix is a spoken word artist, slam poet, an activist and a number of other noble things, and she happens to make great albums filled with just enough political bite, humour, beauty and protest. Independence Meal has more of an accoustic leaning than the older work, and I find myself enjoying it slightly more, but both have such an immense strength about them that has captured my atttention and ears. This is music you all should be hearing, so drop by CDBaby, have a listen, and pick up some great albums.
I have not yet given Charm Away Those Winter Blues any eartime, but I will soon and I’ll pass along word of any tracks that enchant. I haven’t explored jazz very often, so perhaps I can find something new to treasure amid these twelve selections. One must always keep an open mind, right?