Mood:  chillin'

Hey all!

I've got some great new eMusic picks for those of you in love with the female voice.

Every now and then, I have to admit when I've missed out on a good thing. The name of the CD and the cover photo initially turned me off, as it seemed to reek of teen angst, but upon giving this CD a chance, I have found it to be anything but sophomoric! Firstly, Sia (pronounced si-e) is a lively, intense, and supremely emotive vocalist who was once a part of underground favorite Zero 7. She's worked extraordinarily hard for what she has now, and it shows in her music. Secondly, her lyrics are thoughtful, to say the least, and her music stays stuck in my head for days at a time. A true original and budding bohemian, Sia's concerts (see 101's Live at The Bat Bar, for instance) are a mix of performance art and good, old fashioned showmanship, with a steady mix of music and humorous insights from the band.

Like Alela. Diane, Mariee Sioux is from Nevada City, CA, and like her musical sister, she weaves traditional folk music with nature spirituality and a sensuous, but pixie-like lyrical sensibility, creating beautiful, ethereal melodies that are evocative of a place out of time.

What can I say except WOW? Apparently, Bettye has had her same singing voice -- somewhere between Bonnie Raitt and Aretha Franklin -- since early childhood. When she sang as a little girl for friends and family, many were bowled over by the soulful, crystalline vocal ability she displayed, and wondered if she were truly the age she said she was, despite her age-appropriate demeanor otherwise.

When President Obama and his family chose her to sing for his Inaguration in January, she gracefully stepped up to the mic and reminded us all of her presence, and no doubt made more than a few people wonder why her career didn't take off like that of other women of her time.

Bettye has said in the past that the reason for this is because her voice is "too adult" and that some people have had a hard time listening to a voice so worldly, one without the self-consciousness female musicians have often imposed upon themselves in order to fit the mainstream mold.

Growing up in a musical, Gaelic-speaking home inspired the arrangements and vocal style of Muireann, and her dedication to collaboration with other musicians has meant the music stays alive and fresh. Much like Emmylou Harris, it is how she interprets the lyrics that makes her a true original and national treasure, and with Daybreak, she proves yet again that she is at the top of her game, a true musician carrying on the legacy of her heritage.

The first time I ever saw Emilie Autumn, I was instantly reminded of both Rasputina and Tori Amos, both whom she seems to be inspired by. From the lyrics to "What If," which reference Tori Amos' first hit song Silent All These Years, to many of her arrangements, she has a clear set of influences ranging from pop to pagan to classical, and all of them blend together to make Emilie.

However, there's so much more here! From the sense of humor that brought us a version of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" to her musical interpretation from everyone from Shakespeare, Broadway and The Beatles, Emilie's a true original. She's blended her influences to make something entirely new, and she usually succeeds.

As well as being a woman to watch out for -- a real hottie, for sure, with her all-gal band and graciousness -- she has plenty of time to continue to build the mystique surrounding her. Taking a page from the blend of talents of local punk circus scenes and music virtuosos, she's a stunner, a beautiful talent born at the right time for what her Muse intended.

Mood:  lyrical

If you absolutely love music of all kinds and want to support the artists -- as opposed to downloading everything for free -- but can't afford to put that much money into your music collection, I highly recommend subscribing to eMusic's online music service, which offers high-quality mp3s of independent and well-known artists for as little as $10.99/month.

eMusic brought Neko Case, Jolie Holland, Cat Power, Loreena McKennitt, Santogold and The Hackensaw Boys into my living room when money prevented me from going to see them live or from buying a full-priced CD. While I miss out on CD liner notes and other cool items the artists and their musical family include, I still get to hear some lovely -- or at least interesting -- music.

This month's 50 downloads consisted of tunes from a number of up-and-coming musicians, including Alela Diane, whose CD, The Pirate Gospel, is a gypsy's paradise of songs from a place out of time, one where modern life meets the railroad of 70 years ago and the seeming timelessness of the natural world. Like a lot of modern railroad folk, it reminds me of the best conversations I've ever had with family and friends, the kind I sometimes never want to end. It's childlike but well-played, and is simply beautiful music. If you're a traveler, a traveler at heart, or simply nostalgic for things that never have been, take a listen by visiting her website or MySpace page, or go to eMusic and check her out there.

Next on my eMusic download list was Antony & The Johnsons' I Am A Bird Now. The first time I ever saw Antony perform on Late Night With Jools Holland, just seeing and hearing him made my heart sing. Richly talented and fragile at the same time, he reminded me of some of the beautiful young freaks I've known in my lifetime, people who have a unique gift to offer to the world, but who are still figuring out how to grant it to the rest of us. Simply put, the music is otherworldly, fresh, and original enough to stay with you well after the CD is over. If you're a fan of the strangely beautiful, take a listen; you won't be disappointed.

If you love modern bluegrass, be sure to check out The Hackensaw Boys; most of their music is on eMusic. I have a review of their live shows up already on my Pickathon post from the beginning of August 2008; the review is a part of my photo essay on this past Pickathon in Oregon.

Lastly, the passing of the amazingly talented Odetta has caused a resurgence of interest in her music, some of which is also available on the eMusic site. Musically talented from an early age, her family had hopes for her to follow in the footsteps of the first African American opera sensation, Marian Anderson, but Odetta, born Odetta Holmes in Birmingham, AL, decided to take a different path, and spent her career perfecting a blend of  African folk music, jazz, and the blues for a wholly unique sound. 

This is just a small sampling of the variety of music available on eMusic, and again, if you're a fan of anything from the classical stylings of Jacqueline DuPre to the wild experimentation of Kim Gordon, there's something for you!