The Music Part

Music

This page is divided up into several parts, the (not so)BRAND SPANKING NEW BOOTLEG TRADING PAGE, music I like, my relaxation tape, and Grace's own music.
Note:I will occasionally use fonts on this page that you may or may not have. They are freeware, and I've put up a place for you to download them cause they're really cool. They can be downloaded here. Bon Appetit or something....!!! =^) <--me

Here is where I say what may already be obvious about me: I love music. I am a musical being. As I am a generous person, I would like to share some of my favorite musicians with you. Clicking the picture should take you to a page about that musician made by someone who actually knows what they're talking about. Of course I wouldn't put it past me ot screw up so that the link for say, Kristin Hersh takes to you a page about the toxicology of caffeine. If it does, please let me know! Your business means a lot to....I think I better shut up now. So here they are, in no particular order, musicians Grace enjoys listening to:

Ben Folds Five
This trio from Chapel Hill ROCKS! They describe their unique blend of piano, bass, and drum as "punk rock for sissies." And when I say piano, I do NOT mean keyboard. They lug a baby grand from show to show. Their amazing musical ability, combined with their refreshingly real, often satirical, lyrics, and their all around sense of humor combine to make them a band to which I can't think of adjectives to quite describe.

Clip: "Jackson Cannery" (593k, about 30 sec, .aiff format)
Sound Clip courtesy Thomas Sigsby
Picture blatantly stolen from Dave Holloway

Moxy Früvous: Dr. Seuss better be worried

MOXY FRÜVOUS
"What does Moxy Früvous sound like? They don't sound like anything. Let me try: they sound like the Roches meet XTC at a party thrown by Camper Van Beethoven for Robyn Hitchcock's marriage to Cole Porter with They Might Be Giants as wedding band and Tom Lehrer acting as minister, but just as everyone starts singing old Queen songs the party is crashed by the entire cast of the Muppet Show. Moxy Früvous is that good." - The Octopus (Champaign, IL), September 1996
This Canadian quartet is a must hear. Combining their beautiful, powerful voices into soaring harmonies, they are able to balance social and political commentary, humour, and a dose of sap into incredible lyrics, and back both up with multi-instrumental fun (think: guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, but also banjo, accordian, penny whistle, fiddle, and miscellaneous percussion). Their throngs of loyal fans, dubbed "Früheads" travel long distances to see them play. And with good reason too: their energetic stage banter, theatrics, and funny little dances are worth traveling for. Second best to that though is their live album, Live Noise. No sound clip available, but instead here is a selection of their lyrics to look at, because they're one-third of the fun.
Lyric examples here

Ani about to attack her acoustic guitar like some punk rocker

Ani DiFranco
a.k.a. "Little Folk Girl", "The Folksinger", "The Little Righteous Babe" What does one say about Ani? The best way I can describe her music is acoustic folk/punk. She's an incredible guitarist and a brutally honest lyricist who always manages to capture an exact mood through her lucid description of her own, and indeed the human experience. Her music is both emotional and political, often both, her songs (for example) putting a human face on the issue of the death penalty (crime for crime). Plus she has the humor, the balls (or eggs or whatever), and the sensibility to not take herself too seriously all of the time. And, if that isn't enough, she's pulled herself up into being really successful on her own record label, Righteous Babe, which she started at 19, which is still COMPLETELY independent.

Clip: "This Bouquet" (235K, 30 sec, .au format)
Sound Clip courtesy Ladyslipper Music

Dar Williams smilin' pretty for the camera

Dar Williams
Dar Williams is a folkie in the best sense of the word. Her often somewhat funny songs give an insight into the interactions of people in modern society. Her first four albums stayed mainly straight folk, while on her most recent, End of The Summer she branches out a bit into more folk/pop, folk/rock on songs like "Are You Out There" and "Teenagers, Kick Our Butts" while still maintaining lyrical integrity. She also has a really great view of us younger generation. She says, "When I was a teenager, I remember noticing that the most sanctimonious adults were the most hypocritical, but I also remember thinking, "But maybe I'm wrong. I'm just a teenager." I want to encourage adolescent suspicion. Also, I think today's teenagers are really wonderful, and I think they're going to save the world, so we should treat them well."

Clip: "Teenagers, Kick Our Butts" (235K, 30 sec, .au format)
Sound Clip courtesy Ladyslipper Music

Squirrel Nut Zippers - actually all in one (1) photo!

Squirrel Nut Zippers
Blending 'hot' jazz and swing, the Squirrel Nut Zippers (named after a candy) bring the music of the '20s to the forefront of the '90s. They don't take themselves too seriously and combine excellent musicianship with the advantage of lots of instruments (guitar, tenor and baritone sax, trumpet, banjo, clarinet, drum, etc. band members come and go, people sit in, it's just one big happy family). It's just fun music that's a swingin' good time. Plus, everybody likes it. Your grandparents, your parents, your cat...you get the picture.

Clip: "Put A Lid On It" (47K, whole song, RealAudio)
Sound Clip courtesy mammoth records
Picture courtesy Kelley

Aimee Mann
When songwriters are asked what songwriters they really respect, Aimee's name turns up a lot. Listening to her music, whether with 'til tuesday or her solo albums, it's easy to see why. Aimee's to-the-point lyrics, and often addictive musical hooks will have you thinking while the music spins in your head. She uses her voice to it's full potential, filling the songs with her chesty low alto. Her music is full of many subtle layers of many different instruments. I still hear new things in songs listening to her music.

Clip: "You Could Make a Killing" (312k, 38 sec, .au format)
Sound clip & picture courtesy B. Timothy Creel

'They Might Be Giants, and what are we gonna do in case they are

They Might Be Giants
As my friend Clarissa initally explained them to me, they're two music majors, both named John, who started mucking about with playing music. Then they realized that people would actually pay them to do this. They Might Be Giants was born. They write hilarious, and sometimes even informative lyrics filled with word play and clever turns of phrases about whatever. From the point of view of a bluebird-shaped nightlight, about James K. Polk, playing off the song that goes "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight" making it instead "In the spaceship, the silver spaceship, the lion takes control." And if things like this aren't enough, they put on one of the three best concerts I've ever been to (the other ones being Dick Dale and Moxy Früvous) a couple years ago.

Clip: "Birdhouse In Your Soul" (193k, about 20 sec, .wav format)
Sound clip & picture made possible by John Costello

Kristin Hersh and some dude with a cello

Kristin Hersh
Kristin Hersh is: a) the frontwoman of Throwing Muses; b) a solo folky-type songwriter. But you know, I'd love to talk about it, but it's: a)2:30 in the morning; and b) a point at which I realize that I DO have to be at work tomorrow (Day 6 of Grace's "Working for 8 days without a day off marathon"). So just click on the link for now. We are now accepting donations. We're not sure for what, but be sure to mail yours in today! And who is this "we" anyway? Do I know them?

Other Musicians:
Here are a couple other musicians I listen to, but haven't gotten the chance to write up.

The Red Elvises	Ashley MacIsaac	Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Letters to Cleo	Self	Dave Brubeck
Wild Asparagus	Vivaldi	Dick Dale
Bjork	Brave Combo	Jethro Tull
dEUS	ruby	J.S. Bach
Elastica	Throwing Muses	B-52's
Wolfstone	King Missile	Brian Setzer Orchestra
Luscious Jackson	Laura Love	Weird Al Yankovic

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My Relaxation Tape

This page is also about talking about the music I listen to, not just referring you to ather places. One thing I did recently was to create a relaxation tape for myself. It's all music that I've deemed mellow/soothing/relaxing or what have you. I often fall asleep listening to it. Right now it fills up one side of a 120-minute tape, but I'll take care of the other side soon. Here's the lineup so far:

Side 1

Side 2

Untouchable Face-Ani DiFranco
Lucid Anne-Self
Little Arithmetics-dEUS
4th of July-Aimee MAnn
Hour Follows Hour-Ani DiFranco
Sleepy Maggie-Ashley MacIsaac
Dogs of L.A.-Liz Phair
Space Suit-They Might Be Giants
Twin Falls-covered by Ben Folds Five
32 Flavors-Ani DiFranco
I've Had It-Aimee Mann
Laudanum-Letters to Cleo
Hyper-Ballad-Björk
You're With Stupid Now-Aimee Mann
This Bouquet-Ani DiFranco

Pulse-Ani DiFranco
David's Lamentation-traditional
Joyful Girl-Ani DiFranco
The Drinking Song-Moxy Früvous
My Poor Generation-Moxy Früvous
Early Morning Rain-covered by Moxy Früvous
Bogorodice Devo- from Rachmaninoff's Vespers

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Grace's Own Music

I like to at least pretend that I write songs. While, actually it's pretty undeniable that I do write songs. Maybe they're not that great, but they're mine. I'm pretty overcritical of my work, and so I actually don't like most of these songs, but that's just my problem. Other people seem to like them. They're all written on/for acoustic guitar, with the exception of one, but that one doesn't matter 'cause I don't have it up yet. This page is still under construction, but you can look at what's there.
Index of Songs: