The Evening Of My Best Day - Rickie Lee Jones
Posted by: fred simon on 23 October 2003
Rickie Lee Jones is in the house!
Her new album, The Evening Of My Best Day, is absolutely brilliant. Several songs are frankly political, and suffice to say, her politics align with mine. It's very tuneful, with really interesting melodic and harmonic content. It's got lots of varying textures and changing grooves from song to song, with flavors of Celtic, funk, jazz, rural blues; referencing Gil Scott Heron, Sly and the Family Stone, Miles Davis, and War (especially the Spill That Wine vibe). Fantastic horn parts and solos, lots of dense and sweetly dissonant vocal clusters, and on top of it all it's got guitarist Bill Frisell ... just can't go wrong with him.
I love this album. I love this album.
Her new album, The Evening Of My Best Day, is absolutely brilliant. Several songs are frankly political, and suffice to say, her politics align with mine. It's very tuneful, with really interesting melodic and harmonic content. It's got lots of varying textures and changing grooves from song to song, with flavors of Celtic, funk, jazz, rural blues; referencing Gil Scott Heron, Sly and the Family Stone, Miles Davis, and War (especially the Spill That Wine vibe). Fantastic horn parts and solos, lots of dense and sweetly dissonant vocal clusters, and on top of it all it's got guitarist Bill Frisell ... just can't go wrong with him.
I love this album. I love this album.
Posted on: 29 October 2003 by j8hn
A big up for The Blue Nile - connection here as they've worked with RLJ, plus Ms Colvin was support on their 1st UK tour.
S'about time they made another innit?
S'about time they made another innit?
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by connon price
Can we talk about Ghostyhead some more? I saw her live the night before that album came out and it was amazing. Nice club in Seattle called the Showbox and all she played was the new album and one transformed song from Flying Cowboys. So visceral and intense and I didn't know a single note of it. I think she really let down some "Chucky's in love" fans but she pretty much blew me away.
She is playing here soon, but at a bigger venue and I skipped buying tickets because I'm on a "budget". What am I, crazy?
Ghostyhead is such a meditative, magical, rythmically intense album. And my friend Tom named the title cut "song most likely to make you think there is something wrong with your car". If any Jones fans have not heard it, please, find a copy. Unfortunately it is out of print because of label trouble, but the good news is a lot of "Chucky" fans bought it then dumped it in the used bin.
By the way, my early "promotional copy" sounds better than others I have found.
connon
She is playing here soon, but at a bigger venue and I skipped buying tickets because I'm on a "budget". What am I, crazy?
Ghostyhead is such a meditative, magical, rythmically intense album. And my friend Tom named the title cut "song most likely to make you think there is something wrong with your car". If any Jones fans have not heard it, please, find a copy. Unfortunately it is out of print because of label trouble, but the good news is a lot of "Chucky" fans bought it then dumped it in the used bin.
By the way, my early "promotional copy" sounds better than others I have found.
connon
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by Andrew L. Weekes
Fred,
Pop Pop is a great album, if you don't already have it.
Jazz-tinged in flavour with some great playing from the likes of Charlie Haden, amongst others.
Highly recommended, especially as it's often available from the bargain bins.
Andy.
Pop Pop is a great album, if you don't already have it.
Jazz-tinged in flavour with some great playing from the likes of Charlie Haden, amongst others.
Highly recommended, especially as it's often available from the bargain bins.
Andy.
Posted on: 30 October 2003 by fred simon
quote:
Originally posted by Andrew L. Weekes:
Fred,
Pop Pop is a great album, if you don't already have it.
I do have it, and I do dig it.
But this new one is killing me ... some kind of masterpiece.
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by Colin Lorenson
Gagging to get the new one yet as living in Malaysia it takes a while to get here.
I've got all Rickie's albums to date and love 'em all but especially Ghostyhead. I honestly think it's a work of genius and came straight out of left-field as its so unlike anything she's done before or since. A must buy purchase if you can find it.
Fred - after you kicked off this thread I checked out the RLJ site and there's some great stuff there and loads of live stuff to buy as well. Most cool.
Colin Lorenson
I've got all Rickie's albums to date and love 'em all but especially Ghostyhead. I honestly think it's a work of genius and came straight out of left-field as its so unlike anything she's done before or since. A must buy purchase if you can find it.
Fred - after you kicked off this thread I checked out the RLJ site and there's some great stuff there and loads of live stuff to buy as well. Most cool.
Colin Lorenson
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by Simon Matthews
After living with the new one for a week I cannot underline enough how absolutely brilliant I think it is. Right up there with her very best. Totally recommended.
One of the best albums of the year without a shadow of doubt.
One of the best albums of the year without a shadow of doubt.
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by Gunnar Jansson
Connon!
"She is playing here soon, but at a bigger venue and I skipped buying tickets because I'm on a "budget". What am I, crazy?"
Everytime I´ve had a chance of getting to hear her playing live she´s been brilliant.
She´s a true live performer.
In fact one of my absolute top 3 ( if not the best)concert´s is a gig she made here in Stockholm in -86. Fantastic!
In other words: Don´t miss it!
Gunnar
"She is playing here soon, but at a bigger venue and I skipped buying tickets because I'm on a "budget". What am I, crazy?"
Everytime I´ve had a chance of getting to hear her playing live she´s been brilliant.
She´s a true live performer.
In fact one of my absolute top 3 ( if not the best)concert´s is a gig she made here in Stockholm in -86. Fantastic!
In other words: Don´t miss it!
Gunnar
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by Rasher
So stupidly I bought on Play.com and it must be now stuck in the sodding postal strike!!!!
I shall be patient. Not in my nature BTW.
I shall be patient. Not in my nature BTW.
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by DenisA
quote:
Originally posted by j8hn:
A big up for The Blue Nile - connection here as they've worked with RLJ, plus Ms Colvin was support on their 1st UK tour.
S'about time they made another innit?
J8hn
Without wishing to hijack this RLJ thread, The Blue Nile are "in the studio" recording their 4th Album in 20 years (see last months Uncut Magazine)
Fred
As your Ecstatic appreciation for Joni's majesty matches mine I feel compelled to buy this RLJ album. I shall play RLJ's first album tonight to tune myself up.
Denis
Posted on: 31 October 2003 by bdnyc
This new recording is somewhere in the vein of her previous albums "Traffic From Paradise", "Flying Cowboys" and her most recent CD, "It's Like This". For me, this style and feel is so rich and multidimensional that I can't recommend it highly enough. Some parts folk, some parts jazz, hinting at rock, but mostly, it is the carrier beam for her unique artistic sensibilities.
In summary, just GET IT NOW!
In summary, just GET IT NOW!
Posted on: 13 November 2003 by Mick P
Chaps
I have just played this CD, The Evening of My Best Day and it is simply brilliant. This CD makes the hassle of Hifi worth it.
A bit 1960's in its presentation with HDCD as a technical back up but the music is engaging and addictive. This one will be played many many times.
I ordered it through CD Wow and received it 3 days later.
Well recommended.
Mick
I have just played this CD, The Evening of My Best Day and it is simply brilliant. This CD makes the hassle of Hifi worth it.
A bit 1960's in its presentation with HDCD as a technical back up but the music is engaging and addictive. This one will be played many many times.
I ordered it through CD Wow and received it 3 days later.
Well recommended.
Mick
Posted on: 13 November 2003 by matthewr
Move over Sarah there's a new girl in town!
Was it the strong political message that clinched it for you Mick?
Matthew
Was it the strong political message that clinched it for you Mick?
Matthew
Posted on: 13 November 2003 by Mick P
No one will ever compare to the sensuous vocals of Sarah, but Rickie is pretty good.
I did not bother over the politics, very 1960's just like the sound.
Regards
Mick
I did not bother over the politics, very 1960's just like the sound.
Regards
Mick
Posted on: 13 November 2003 by fred simon
I do dig Sarah McLachlan, especially Fumbling Toward Ecstasy, and Surfacing almost as much, but each new album seems a little less interesting, just more of the same, and lots of it. Have heard her sing the new song Fallen a couple of times on TV, basically sounds good but I'm left with the feeling I've heard it before (and not in the good, comforting sense). Also, a bit too much yodeling ... now that there twenty young women singers out there who yodel (instead of two or three), the yodeling is getting a little tiresome.
But Rickie Lee's new album is so varied and rich, both in texture and genre; no two songs sound alike, sometimes radically different but still a coherent whole that hangs together well.
As I said before, her political anger matches my own, and while it may harken back to the 60s (not that there's anything at all wrong with that ... we could certainly use a hell of a lot more of that), it is succinctly up to date.
But Rickie Lee's new album is so varied and rich, both in texture and genre; no two songs sound alike, sometimes radically different but still a coherent whole that hangs together well.
As I said before, her political anger matches my own, and while it may harken back to the 60s (not that there's anything at all wrong with that ... we could certainly use a hell of a lot more of that), it is succinctly up to date.
Posted on: 13 November 2003 by Colin Lorenson
Fred,
I think they were referring Mick's rather curious fondness for Sarah Brightman, not the luvvly Canadian Sarah (who though I love her stuff, at present anyway, seems to have peaked on "fumbling.."
Checking through the stuff you like on your various posts it seems your tastes are almost spookily close to mine. Anything else you dig at the moment - I might like that too, and I'm always looking to broaden my listening. I've just discovered Jessica Williams (thanks Hock), who I play a lot just now.
Colin Lorenson
I think they were referring Mick's rather curious fondness for Sarah Brightman, not the luvvly Canadian Sarah (who though I love her stuff, at present anyway, seems to have peaked on "fumbling.."
Checking through the stuff you like on your various posts it seems your tastes are almost spookily close to mine. Anything else you dig at the moment - I might like that too, and I'm always looking to broaden my listening. I've just discovered Jessica Williams (thanks Hock), who I play a lot just now.
Colin Lorenson
Posted on: 14 November 2003 by Rasher
This is torture. I am STILL waiting for my RLJ album now after 2 weeks. AND there is a thread telling me how good play.com are 
Posted on: 14 November 2003 by long-time-dead
Rasher
Telephone them to explain, they will send you out replacements FOC.
It happened to me at the same time with other CD's and the replacements arrived swiftly.
You'll love the album when it finally arrives !
Telephone them to explain, they will send you out replacements FOC.
It happened to me at the same time with other CD's and the replacements arrived swiftly.
You'll love the album when it finally arrives !
Posted on: 14 November 2003 by fred simon
quote:
Originally posted by Colin Lorenson:
Fred,
I think they were referring Mick's rather curious fondness for Sarah Brightman, not the luvvly Canadian Sarah (who though I love her stuff, at present anyway, seems to have peaked on "fumbling.."
Oh, I see. That's entirely different. Never mind.
To be honest, I haven't heard much Brightman, primarily because she always seems to be singing that dreadful Android Leper music.
And regarding McLachlan, although I do like Building A Mystery a lot, yes, Fumbling Toward Ecstasy probably was her shining hour.
quote:
Checking through the stuff you like on your various posts it seems your tastes are almost spookily close to mine. Anything else you dig at the moment - I might like that too, and I'm always looking to broaden my listening. I've just discovered Jessica Williams (thanks Hock), who I play a lot just now.
Well, besides Shawn Colvin's A Few Small Repairs and A Whole New You (both essential in my view but you probably have them), I'm in love with Anders Widmark featuring Sara Isaksson ... A Swedish pop/jazz blend with flavors of Jarrett, Joni, Colvin, Taylor, etc.
On the instrumental side, pianist Tord Gustavsen's trio album Changing Places, and Pat Metheny's solo baritone guitar album One Quiet Night. Both are gorgeous.
Posted on: 14 November 2003 by Colin Lorenson
Fred, I've got all the Shawn Colvin albums.
Also the Metheny album as well, and being from Liverpool his version of "ferry cross the mersey" hits the spot - a really nice album.
I've been trying to get hold of the Tord Gustavson album but without success so I've ordered it from A&B sound (8 week delivery dammit).
If you like the ECM piano trio albums I presume you know Bobo Stenson Trio, War Orphans is the best. Also Ketil Bjornstad "The Sea" is good too.
How are you with Ani DiFranco? One of the few overtly political artists about. She could be a little more selective in what she puts out but her best stuff is amazing. Live album "Living in Clip" is essential listening and her latest album "So much shouting etc." is great and has THE post 9/11 critique of US politics in "Self Evident" Stong stuff.
I'll look out for the Anders Widmark album.
Cheers for now
Colin Lorenson
Also the Metheny album as well, and being from Liverpool his version of "ferry cross the mersey" hits the spot - a really nice album.
I've been trying to get hold of the Tord Gustavson album but without success so I've ordered it from A&B sound (8 week delivery dammit).
If you like the ECM piano trio albums I presume you know Bobo Stenson Trio, War Orphans is the best. Also Ketil Bjornstad "The Sea" is good too.
How are you with Ani DiFranco? One of the few overtly political artists about. She could be a little more selective in what she puts out but her best stuff is amazing. Live album "Living in Clip" is essential listening and her latest album "So much shouting etc." is great and has THE post 9/11 critique of US politics in "Self Evident" Stong stuff.
I'll look out for the Anders Widmark album.
Cheers for now
Colin Lorenson
Posted on: 15 November 2003 by fred simon
I had always loved Ferry Cross the Mersey (as I guess had Pat as well) ... great to hear it again.
I love Bobo Stenson's work as a sideman, but don't have any of his own albums. I'll have to remedy that soon.
The Tord Gustavsen is worth waiting for. (By the way, did you try buying directly from ECM on their web site?) Haven't heard the Bjornstad, but will check it out. Another I have on order is Achirana a trio album by Greek pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos, also on ECM.
Speaking of ECM, a few other favorite titles:
April - Susanne Abbuehl
music for voice, piano, clarinet, drums; settings of e.e. cummings poems, lyrics written for Carla Bley songs, and other originals; really wonderful and unlike anything
Le Pas Du Chat Noir - Anouar Brahem
exquisite music for oud, piano and accordion; also really wonderful and unlike anything
Alina - Arvo Pärt
two versions of one solo piano piece, and three versions of one piece for violin and piano (one version substitutes cello for violin; I like much of Pärt's music, these pieces are truly minimal but not in the sense of Steve Reich's pulse oriented, gamelan-inspired kaleidoscopes, but, rather, spare and meditative; one is a simple sequence of basic triads in arpeggio form accompanied by long tones on the stringed instrument, the other explores sparse composite bell sounds and melodies as expressed on the piano, both are lovely and mesmerizing
Personal Mountains - Keith Jarrett
A live recording in Japan with his "European" quartet, circa 1979; nothing short of an essential masterpiece
You may already have some or all of these, but if not, give them a go.
As for Ani DiFranco, I do admire her politics, but haven't yet warmed to her music, which doesn't seem as interesting in its melodic/harmonic content as the best of Joni, Colvin, Rickie Lee, or Jonatha Brooke (you have her stuff, yes?)
I love Bobo Stenson's work as a sideman, but don't have any of his own albums. I'll have to remedy that soon.
The Tord Gustavsen is worth waiting for. (By the way, did you try buying directly from ECM on their web site?) Haven't heard the Bjornstad, but will check it out. Another I have on order is Achirana a trio album by Greek pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos, also on ECM.
Speaking of ECM, a few other favorite titles:
April - Susanne Abbuehl
music for voice, piano, clarinet, drums; settings of e.e. cummings poems, lyrics written for Carla Bley songs, and other originals; really wonderful and unlike anything
Le Pas Du Chat Noir - Anouar Brahem
exquisite music for oud, piano and accordion; also really wonderful and unlike anything
Alina - Arvo Pärt
two versions of one solo piano piece, and three versions of one piece for violin and piano (one version substitutes cello for violin; I like much of Pärt's music, these pieces are truly minimal but not in the sense of Steve Reich's pulse oriented, gamelan-inspired kaleidoscopes, but, rather, spare and meditative; one is a simple sequence of basic triads in arpeggio form accompanied by long tones on the stringed instrument, the other explores sparse composite bell sounds and melodies as expressed on the piano, both are lovely and mesmerizing
Personal Mountains - Keith Jarrett
A live recording in Japan with his "European" quartet, circa 1979; nothing short of an essential masterpiece
You may already have some or all of these, but if not, give them a go.
As for Ani DiFranco, I do admire her politics, but haven't yet warmed to her music, which doesn't seem as interesting in its melodic/harmonic content as the best of Joni, Colvin, Rickie Lee, or Jonatha Brooke (you have her stuff, yes?)
Posted on: 15 November 2003 by Mike Hanson
quote:
Originally posted by fred simon:
As for Ani DiFranco, I do admire her politics, but haven't yet warmed to her music, which doesn't seem as interesting in its melodic/harmonic content as the best of Joni, Colvin, Rickie Lee, or Jonatha Brooke (you have her stuff, yes?)
I really enjoy her work. Overall I don't like her early output as much as her later stuff, and I still rank her middle-period "Little Plastic Castles" as her best. "Reveling: Reckoning" was also intriguing, and "Evolve" spent quite a few days in my player.
However, her appeal for me gets a great boost from her lyrical content. With most people's music, I don't seem to recognize the lyrics as "words and ideas". Instead, the voice is merely an interesting sounding instrument. My perception heightens, though, with Ani's exceedingly insightful ruminations.
I really enjoy the work with her band over the last few albums. There's a sense of adaptability and immediacy there that doesn't exist in most folk-based ensembles. I'm often under the impression that the recordings are live-off-the-floor. (I don't know whether it's really done this way, and it doesn't really matter.)
The recording quality is also commendable.
So musically she's very good, but lyrically she's phenomenal! Not quite "Joni", but very good nonetheless.
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
Posted on: 15 November 2003 by Rasher
Play.com have come up with a replacement within 2 days.
I will listen tonight.
I will listen tonight.
Posted on: 15 November 2003 by Colin Lorenson
Fred,
Even spookier - I have the Suzanne Abbuehl album and as you say different and good.
You mention Part - I have Alina, plus about 10 other works - Te Deum on ECM New Series is un-effin-believably amazingly good. Part is the only classical music I have bought in the last 3 years (and precious little before then in fact).
You must get Bobo Stenson Trio - War Orphans. Its sparce and chilling, and the interplay is amazing but not showy-off. A real ensemble piece.
I don't have any Jonatha Brooke - but I'll look it up.
Another fave female artist is Mary Chapin Carpenter - a few of her more "country" tracks leave me cold, but most of her stuff is authentic, heartfelt and a class act. Good mate of Colvin's as well of course.
Even spookier - I have the Suzanne Abbuehl album and as you say different and good.
You mention Part - I have Alina, plus about 10 other works - Te Deum on ECM New Series is un-effin-believably amazingly good. Part is the only classical music I have bought in the last 3 years (and precious little before then in fact).
You must get Bobo Stenson Trio - War Orphans. Its sparce and chilling, and the interplay is amazing but not showy-off. A real ensemble piece.
I don't have any Jonatha Brooke - but I'll look it up.
Another fave female artist is Mary Chapin Carpenter - a few of her more "country" tracks leave me cold, but most of her stuff is authentic, heartfelt and a class act. Good mate of Colvin's as well of course.
Posted on: 16 November 2003 by fred simon
War Orphans is now on my list.
If you dig Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, and Rickie Lee, then you absolutely must connect with Jonatha Brooke, especially these albums:
The Angel In The House - under the name The Story, her duo with Jennifer Kimball, however, Jonatha is the main compositional voice
Plumb - also under The Story but as a solo artist
Ten Cent Wings - under her own name only
Contemporary singer/songwriter genre doesn't get any better than this; music, lyrics, vocal and instrumental performance ... all world class
If you dig Joni Mitchell, Shawn Colvin, and Rickie Lee, then you absolutely must connect with Jonatha Brooke, especially these albums:
The Angel In The House - under the name The Story, her duo with Jennifer Kimball, however, Jonatha is the main compositional voice
Plumb - also under The Story but as a solo artist
Ten Cent Wings - under her own name only
Contemporary singer/songwriter genre doesn't get any better than this; music, lyrics, vocal and instrumental performance ... all world class
Posted on: 16 November 2003 by Colin Lorenson
Fred,
Gustavsen and the 10 cent wings albums ordered from A&B. Should take about 7 days to get here. I'll let you know.
Got hold of the new RLJ on Friday in Singapore where it had just arrived in at Borders. It really is great - full of those funny little discordant things she does and much better than the last album which was not her best (though the Low spark of the high heel boys was good). A real return to form.
Colin Lorenson
Gustavsen and the 10 cent wings albums ordered from A&B. Should take about 7 days to get here. I'll let you know.
Got hold of the new RLJ on Friday in Singapore where it had just arrived in at Borders. It really is great - full of those funny little discordant things she does and much better than the last album which was not her best (though the Low spark of the high heel boys was good). A real return to form.
Colin Lorenson