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5 July 2008 It's always good to hear that people you like are happy. Maine was, as always, lovely, and our visit was, as always, too short. But we're back, as always, and we're here with another exciting edition of Rambles. As always! 
Anne Roos shines A Light in the Forest for who has wished "that Renaissance Faire musicians were a little less drunk and a little more classy," says Jennifer Mo. "As with Anne's earlier release Mermaids & Mariners, this CD boasts unusually thorough and beautiful liner notes with details about each of the songs and artists, plus plenty of illustrations and folklore about fairies and woods. ... Bottom line: like its subject matter, A Light in the Forest is pleasantly evocative and sprightly, if not entirely substantial." David Cortello swoops Through an Open Window with this one-man show that, according to Corinne Smith, doesn't pass muster. "It's surprisingly average on all counts. There is no discernable hook and nothing remarkable to attract repeated play," she says. "So if you're in the market for music that's deliberately non-intrusive and that can remain thoughtlessly and effortlessly in the background, this CD could serve your needs." Hunter Robertson offers Songs for the Masses. "Listening to Songs for the Masses (that title comprising the album's one and only flash of humor), I reflected on how rarely these days one hears traditional songs -- field recordings aside -- performed traditionally. Even less commonly encountered are records by raised-outside-the-tradition artists who choose to recreate a sound that seems to capture the feeling of homespun front-porch, dance-hall, street-corner music from the age before the advent of the recording industry," Jerome Clark opines. "Robertson, who now resides in Vermont but who has lived in the United Kingdom, Greece and France, has produced that kind of record." N Debi Smith makes her living as The Soprano. "The Soprano is a kitchen-sink album, a flat-out showcase for Debi Smith's voice -- which is, by any measurement, pretty spectacular," says Michael Scott Cain. "She has, as the album title indicates, a soprano that is as pure and clear as uncharted waters and, on this release, the inclination to show us exactly what she can do with it." D Hope Nunnery is "not just another sweet-voiced singer-songwriter," as evidenced on Wilderness Lounge, Jerome Clark says. "Southern Gothic is almost a genre in itself. Hope Nunnery's music falls roughly within the same noirish rural landscape as the Earl Brothers, a San Francisco-based oldtime/bluegrass band that also operates on the sunless side of the mountain -- except that if the Earls are about sin, Nunnery adds 'and salvation' to the equation. Her music, I need to stress, is not bluegrass even by the ignorant definition often applied to white Southern roots sounds, nor is this a gospel record in any ordinary understanding of the phrase. It's more in the vein of Hazel Dickens and Olabelle Reed, like them coating no sugar over emotional truth, speaking in a language that permits no lies." Buzz Matheson and Mac Martin offer Echoes of the Past for the bluegrass fan. "The songs are in close company with the bluegrass stylings of Bill Monroe and the vocal harmonies of the Louvins," Dirk Logemann says. "These recordings overstep slick commercial production and achieve a warm and simple ambience, in keeping with such a refreshing and timeless set of tunes, and are highly recommended to any lover of older country, gospel or bluegrass." Fous de la Mer provide the Stars & Fishes for a relaxing music experience. "The music on Stars & Fishes is well crafted and the vocals fit neatly into the instrumentation," Paul de Bruijn says. "So if you are looking for relaxing music that will wrap itself around you, then Fous de la Mer delivers." Van Morrison is not all he seems in Under Review 1964-1974. "Morrison and his people had absolutely nothing to do with this documentary, which means he and the people closest to him are not interviewed. It's all built on secondary sources," says Michael Scott Cain. "All of this is not to say the film has no value. Many of the interviews are interesting and, since the DVD covers a wonderfully creative time in Morrison's career, we learn stuff we hadn't known before. The only problem is that it doesn't live up to its promises." 
First in books, we have a mixed bag of fiction reviews for you today. Khaled Hosseini's debut novel, The Kite Runner, "is an incredible achievement in fiction writing," Eric Hughes says. "Set in Afghanistan against a backdrop -- the fall of the monarchy, the Soviet invasion, the exodus of refugees, the rise of the Taliban -- that hasn't been previously detailed in fiction, Hosseini's story is so riveting, so breathtaking that it is simply unforgettable. Its compelling story, coupled with its broader themes of friendship, betrayal and the price of loyalty, will certainly allow the piece to stand the test of time." S C Michael Dobbs details Churchill's Triumph in a historical novel set in 1945, as world-altering events unfolded at the close of World War II. "Three men who had a dominant hand in shaping these events met in February 1945 in Yalta at the Black Sea Resort. For eight days, U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Russian Dictator Joseph Stalin discussed, bargained and harangued over the fate of the world," Wil Owen says. "Dobbs presents a fictitious accounting of this event in his novel Churchill's Triumph. Instead of simply reading the documents they signed and getting an outsider's view of what happened after the fact, Dobb provides a look at what happened through the eyes of the participants on each of those eight days." Shizue Tomoda visits both Japan and the United States in Sachiko. "It is about a teenage Japanese girl, Sachiko, who fights against odds to travel to America and find herself. Her parents object to her leaving Japan, but Sachiko is determined to go," Liana Metal says. "The heroine is a courageous female who seeks love as well as her place in the world. Her journey in life is full of surprises, and the plot helps to reveal and discuss important issues such as women's independence, racism, politics and romance." And in graphic novels... W The saga continues in War Games #2: Tides, as Batman faces a massive outbreak of gang violence in Gotham City. "The gang war begun in Outbreak spills over into Tides with bloody and devastating results," Tom says. "By no means just a bridge between the first and third volumes of War Games, Tides is loaded with action and some truly horrific developments. While this is not a good stepping-on place for Batman novices -- simply because of the sheer number of Bat family and supporting characters involved -- this is an excellent crossover collection that packs a lot of punch." The big Civil War crossover does not pass without its share of War Crimes. "The problem with Civil War: War Crimes is that it has very little to do with the ongoing War Crimes saga that rocked the Marvel universe," Tom says. Ace Reid's Cowpokes: Cow Country Cartoons earns a chuckle from Mark Allen. "I'm no cowboy, but, I've known plenty over the years, living in Oklahoma, and I see some of them well-represented within Reid's single-panel cartoons," Mark says. "Besides the honest and realistic humor, Reid offers fans an art style like no other. His unique characters display a gaunt, yet rugged appearance. They look constantly hungry (as do the horses and cattle), haggard, worn out and played out. Yet, they're obviously not too spent to get into tons of trouble." L Raymond J. DeMallie and Douglas R. Parks delve into Sioux Indian Religion: Tradition & Innovation in this collection of 12 essays. "This book excites the mind and fulfills your desire for action and drama. As you read about these ceremonies and rituals, you will feel that you are in attendance," Karen Elkins reports. "The writing is beautiful. While the editors tried to produce a grammatically sound book, they wanted to retain the individual storytelling flair. So you get solid information that is a pleasure to read." J Todd Cobb reveals the Ghosts of Portland, Oregon in this new release from Schiffer Publishing. "I have friends in the Portland area and visited the city in the past," Wil Owen says. "But with this book and its 14 tales of hauntings around the town, I got to see a side of Portland I was unfamiliar with -- a side I might have to check out during my next visit." Elizabeth D. Samet reveals a Soldier's Heart based on her adventures teaching literature at West Point. "The tendency is to think of these young men and women as people trained to kill, to unquestioningly carry out the orders given them, regardless of the morality or immorality of those orders," says Michael Scott Cain. "Samet's job, though, was to teach them to think and feel, to recognize and respect their common humanity and to see that they share it with everyone on this Earth. ... The main thing her book accomplishes is to remind us that no stereotype tells the truth, and that even though they wear identical clothing and follow identical rules, customs and folkways, no two army officers are the same." 
We have just one movie review to share with you today, but Becky Kyle says it's one worthy of consideration for serious cinema buffs! Becky opens her door to The Visitor without hesitation. "Overall, the film is one that will leave you thinking: The Visitor is not a summer popcorn film. By the time you have walked out, you will want both to find the music in you and to learn more about U.S. policies towards immigration and whether they are as inhumane as they appear to be," she says. She adds: "My husband and I left The Visitor wishing there were more, hoping there was a good outcome for all the characters. In the lobby, we met a man who had attended the Sundance Film Festival where The Visitor screened for the first time. He told us this was the only film that year to get a standing ovation. I understand why." Lots more is on the way! (Meanwhile, browse through our vast archives of past editions, below.) 21 June 2008 He is made one with Nature: there is heard Our host, editor/publisher and designated fiddler Tom Knapp leaves shortly for the untamed wilds of Maine, so there will not be an update next week. No, don't cry, don't fret, don't curl up in a fetal ball and whimper at the unjust world! We tossed a few extra goodies into this week's edition and you'll be seeing us back right here in two weeks. So dance, sing, celebrate life and read our reviews!!
Annalivia, the latest alternative traditional band, "is compiled of seasoned musicians who emerged from the potent Boston fiddle music scene: former Karen Casey protege and New Hampshire native Liz Simmons, former Glengarry Bhoy and fiddle ace Brendan Carey Block, guitarist/vocalist and member of The Sevens Flynn Cohen, and contra dance and former Wild Asparagus upright bass player extraordinaire/banjo plucker Stuart Kenney, also a member of The Sevens," Louise Dunphy states. "The new self-titled CD reflects their wandering musical roots." Krista Detor covers the bases with Cover Their Eyes. "A piano-playing singer-songwriter, she appears to belong to the folk-rock school, but if she does, she attends a school with a mighty wide-ranging curriculum. She's bluesy, folky, an ironic chanteuse, a depression-diva, even a whistling light-hearted nonsense singer," says Michael Scott Cain. "Her writing is fabulous but it's her voice that is the story here. She doesn't seem to be singing at all; instead, Detor appears to be telling you a story in an intimate, low and husky voice that has musical qualities, but does not appear to be lifted in song as much as it whispers just to you." K The 16th album from folk singer-songwriter Bruce Piephoff, The Chestnut Tree, "offers us a chance to meet 10 people we otherwise would probably never encounter. This odd but interesting assortment includes farmers, wanderers, eccentrics and even a few well-known individuals. Through detailed lyrics, we get insights into their unique perspectives on life," Corinne Smith says. "Piephoff and his 1968 Martin guitar are accompanied here by a small cadre of able musicians. But his voice and his words are the stars of the show." A If you're in the mood for mellow, sad music, John Lindermuth says, "Sarah Hallman's self-titled debut album has a lot to offer. ... Her emotionally-charged voice is the kind designed to draw the listener in, insisting one pay attention so as not to miss a word of the lyrics. The lyrics of these 12 original tracks overflow with life experience, nostalgia and -- yes -- beauty." Tom Savage will Never Shed No Tears over his music. "Savage's sound drifts from style to style, and at times you can hear echoes of other musicians in his work. His raspy voice and perspective are the commonality through the songs as both style and sound change from one track to the next," Paul de Bruijn remarks. "Diversity can be a very good thing and that is certainly the case with Never Shed No Tears. Tom Savage gives a sampler of some of the different approaches to folk music with well-written lyrics and music." "Old Man" Luedecke comes to us from the Hinterland. "As unlikely as it may seem in a time and place where buzz tends to follow rock acts like Wintersleep and In-Flight Safety, one of eastern Canada's best releases of 2006 came from a guy with a banjo," Sean Roach opines. "All in all, it's an easy album to appreciate regardless of how deep you want to look. Upon close examination, the introspective lyrics make this an easy album to get attached to. But if that doesn't get you, the banjo-picking and foot-tapping surely will." Jerome Clark takes a gander at two Jan Bell projects: Songs for Love Drunk Sinners by Jan Bell & the Cheap Dates, and Leavin' Town by the Maybelles. "Her commitment to American musical roots -- to which, ironically or infuriatingly, most Americans fall somewhere between indifferent and oblivious -- pays off on these two recordings," Jerome says. "The Cheap Dates and the Maybelles are distinct entities, the latter more rooted in hillbilly song traditions than the former, but both document aspects of Bell's gift and also her talent for finding comparably inclined (and comparably able) singers and pickers." West of Memphis is offering up a slice of Honey Pie with the blues. But the biggest problem, says Michael Scott Cain, is the production. "The album sounds like it was recorded in a broom closet. The sound is muddy and weak. It all sounds far away and crushed together. It's not a case of turning the volume way up to get the music into your bones; you have to turn it up simply to hear it." Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy, a dazzling husband-and-wife team of Canadian fiddlers, chatted with Tom Knapp backstage after a recent performance in Lancaster, Pa. Read his interview, making music at home & away, to find out what makes these two amazing musicians tick. While we're at it, Paul de Bruijn a long while back submitted a review that, while posted, somehow never made it into this listing! So, you all probably missed it -- and it's still worth reading today! So check out this long-obscured review of Madrigaia and Insigizi, two bands that performed together in Winnipeg way back in December 2005!
Tate Hallaway is Romancing the Dead in the third volume of her Garnet Lacey series. "Like the previous books in this series, there is no shortage of the magical and supernatural realm," Cherise Everhard says. "Garnet is a smart and sexy heroine, she is strong in her magic and in her convictions, yet she has no trouble showing her very real and sweet softer side. That makes her extremely tangible and these books incredibly lifelike." Doranna Durgin sets a modern tale of Celtic magic in the Feral Darkness. "Feral Darkness is a very nicely balanced fantasy romance with a decent amount of action interspersed. It definitely keeps you reading," says Becky Kyle. "This novel is highly recommended for dog lovers, fantasy lovers and romance lovers all." M Brant Randall reaps a Blood Harvest in a novel set when the Ku Klux Klan was active throughout the United States. "Brant might be telling a fictional murder-mystery tale, but he does a fine job of expressing the small time country feel of rural Massachusetts in 1929," Wil Owen says. Michael Chabon explores an alternate world with The Yiddish Policemen's Union. "Chabon's novel had the makings of a great, fictional small-town murder case, reminiscent of films by the Coen brothers, most notably 1996's Fargo and last year's adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men, which earned the boys a slew of Oscars at the most recent ceremony," says Eric Hughes. "But comparisons end there between both the Coen brothers' brilliancy and Chabon's ability to write a great small-town murder novel. About three-quarters of the way through, Chabon's simple, highly detailed plot balloons into a conspiracy with global implications, a disastrous change in story flow that quite frankly I tried my best to buy, but couldn't." Louis Garafalo touches on Native American life in his novel, The Sassamon Circle, set in the 1600s. "The author is excellent in his depiction of a new land being explored and settled. He is also sensitive -- in the most part -- to the earlier inhabitants and gives the reader a good sense of place and personality," Nicky Rossiter says. "However, it is in his treatment of the settlers that his genetic heritage shines through." Travis Klingaman explores The Battle Within in a novel about tragedy, hedonism and epiphanies. "While the author creates a protagonist who is developed well as a character, I found this character to be pretty unsympathetic and not someone whom I could respect or want to know," Chris McCallister says. "There are also a few basic flaws with the writing itself. The point-of-view keeps shifting, from a first-person narrative to a third-person, omniscient commentary. These shifts are abrupt and frequent, thus disrupting the flow of the story." Is it graphic novels you're wanting next? Well, we got 'em! T T Ben Templesmith takes over the 30 Days of Night franchise for the stand-alone story Red Snow. "Templesmith, who worked with Steve Niles to define the look and feel of the 30 Days of Night series of vampire graphic novels, steps out on his own with Red Snow and creates a book that matches, maybe even exceeds everything that has gone before," Tom comments. "The story is vividly, vibrantly told, as one should expect from Templesmith. Stingy in his use of color, he makes ever hue count; when there's fire, it glows, and when there's blood, it bleeds from the page." Although Spider-Man's name is on the cover, Spider-Man's Tangled Web #1 isn't really about the costumed superhero. "Tangled Web is an out-of-continuity series, of which this is the first collection, that looks instead at the characters large and small who exist on the periphery of Spider-Man's world. These are their stories, not his," Tom says. "It's an intriguing concept and, by and large, the three tales collected here are fine examples of a good idea in action." Daniel Pinchbeck is preparing for 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl. "It is a heavy, serious read, a cross between memoirs, environmentalism, scientific research, metaphysics, folklore, anthropology, astronomy and mythology -- all saturated with psychedelics," says Karen Elkins. "If it does nothing else, it will blast you out of your comfort zone and shake up your cozy way of thinking. The facts in the introduction alone should be enough to jolt even the most lethargic to action." Sue Patton Thoele employs her experience in psychotherapy in The Mindful Woman: Gentle practices for restoring calm, finding balance & opening your heart. "The book is divided into 10 chapters that are easy to read and understand and, moreover, practice," Liana Metal says. "Any woman can use it regardless of her faith or religion, and it can certainly be valuable in a variety of cases. ... It caters to all women on this planet, and I would say that it is a mini-bible every woman should have and consult."
This week, movie reviewer Dale Hill joins the team with a look at Kung Fu Panda. "If you're looking for this year's animated classic, a feature that will measure up to last year's Ratatouille (my choice as best film of 2007), you should check out Kung Fu Panda, which is a stupid-sounding title for a surprisingly endearing movie. It's not Ratatouille, but it'll do 'til the next Ratatouille comes along," Dale says. He adds: "Some people have questioned the violence in Kung Fu Panda. The training and combat scenes are indeed very exciting, and may make little kids want to whirl and fly and kick and punch. My thought is that it's a cartoon, for crying out loud. I grew up on Looney Tunes and I didn't turn into a psychopath, because at a very early age my mom explained to me the difference between Elmer Fudd's shotgun and the real thing. I assume you're doing the same with your kids." Lots more is on the way! (Meanwhile, browse through our vast archives of past editions, below.) 14 June 2008 The mind of the bigot is like the pupil of the eye; the more light you pour upon it, the more it will contract. Wishing a great weekend to everyone who is a father, or who ever had one!!!
Red Hot Chilli Pipers perform Bagrock to the Masses. "Bagpipes with attitude! Drums with a Scottish accent! A blazing rock band and a show so hot it carries its own health warning," Louise Dunphy exclaims. "The Red Hot Chilli Pipers have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing with musicianship of the highest order and a passion for pipes that will leave you breathless." Michael Braudy and River Alexander invite you to share a Celtic Afternoon Concert with them. "This live recording brings you no fewer than 22 tracks of what the performers call 'spiritual music of Ireland and Scotland,'" Nicky Rossiter says. "Michael Braudy is an accomplished violinist who has played in venues around the world and River Alexander, a multi-instrumentalist, ably abets him." R The Mugwumps "were a sort of supergroup back before the members got super," says Michael Scott Cain. "Jim Hendricks and then-wife Cass Eliot came from the folk group the Big Three, while Zal Yanofsky and Denny Doherty had served time in the Halifax Three, a Canadian folk group. These folks, though, would become famous in other groups -- Yanofsky as the lead guitarist in the Lovin' Spoonful while Doherty and Eliot, of course, wound up in the Mamas & the Papas." This rerelease of The Mugwumps, he adds, represents "virtually everything recorded by Mugwumps." A Talia Segal is a Nonprophet concern with this sampling of music. "Segal's debut EP -- five songs, 15 minutes -- is designed to showcase her talent," says Michael Scott Cain. "Her voice is willowy but strong, with husky overtones, flexible enough to caress a ballad or rock out on an uptempo song." Vicki Genfan gets Up Close & Personal with the fruits of three years' labor. "Genfan says she worried about which music the audience would prefer and finally decided to release it all so that we get to choose. With this double CD, she says, we listeners can pick our favorites from each disc and make yet another collection on our iPods," Michael says. "An excellent idea." C Kemp Harris's vocals are "at the core of Edenton and they shape the tone of most of the songs. The music backing his vocals simply confirms that you are listening to the blues," Paul de Bruijn says. "Harris is a great singer and his vocals are strong, often forming the mood and style of the song as much as the music does. Edenton is worth listening to for that alone." Ken Emerson shares a Hawaiian flair on Slack & Steel: Kaua'i Style. "Singer and guitarist Ken Emerson comes from deep Hawaiian roots, with parents and relatives accomplished musicians who played the islands' traditional tunes as well as jazz, swing and pop from the mainland," Jerome Clark says. "When the music is so consistently inspired, it's hard to pick out a particular favorite. You can drop in anywhere and count on full satisfaction." The Cherokee National Youth Choir spreads a little Comfort & Joy with a holiday album that is pleasant listening all year round. "This one was awarded Best Gospel or Inspirational Recording at the 9th annual Native American Music Awards and was nominated for Best Spiritual Recording at the 2007 Indian Summer Music Awards," notes Karen Elkins. "Comfort & Joy delivers exactly what the title indicates and is one Christmas CD that you should not be without. It will lift your spirits and bring a smile to your face." A pair of Canadian fiddle powerhouses -- Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy -- took time out of their busy touring schedules and active home life (they are married and have two young children together, after all) to perform together in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this past week. Tom Knapp has the scoop on the performance right here. "Although it was still above 90 degrees in the shade when the music started shortly after 7:30 p.m., the dual fiddle wizardry of Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy was like a refreshing breeze over the crowd even as the married Canadian pair heated up the stage at the Long's Park Amphitheater," he says. "The couple demonstrated amazing synergy, tossing tunes back and forth between them, sometimes sharing melodies or harmonizing to one another, occasionally stepping back and allowing the other the full glare of the spotlight. And the audience didn't waste time, either, clapping and dancing from the very first set." Next week, we'll have a backstage interview with the happy couple from immediately following this show. (By the way, the performance review above marks Tom Knapp's 2,000th review for Rambles.NET!) H Stephen L. Pevar examines the legal side of Native American affairs in The Rights of Indians & Tribes: The Authoritative ACLU Guide to Indian & Tribal Rights. "The Rights of Indians & Tribes is a powerhouse of information for all persons having any connection with Native Americans or reservations," says Karen. "It is a mixture of writings on history, culture, law, race relations and political science. While it will not appeal to everyone, it is an interesting book that is informative and fun to read."
Garasamo Maccagnone supplies readers with a trio of tales in St. John of the Midfield. "After reading St. John of the Midfield, I am more than halfway convinced Garasamo Maccagnone could write a riveting yarn about used toothpicks or navel lint. He writes like a storyteller speaks, with rhythm, perfect pace, pauses, the right degree of detail, well-described settings and well-developed, credible characters," Chris McCallister says. "These three tales are storytelling at its best." J James L. Nelson pays homage to The Only Life That Mattered in this retelling of the lives of notorious female pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. "This review was previously published in a somewhat different form on Aug. 12, 2006. That review was for The Sweet Trade by Elizabeth Garrett. However, it turns out that Elizabeth Garrett is James L. Nelson, and Nelson is Garrett. It is not without irony I reveal that this novel about women in men's clothing was first published by a man disguised as a woman!" Tom Knapp says. Carrie Vaughn is ready with some light summer reading when Kitty Takes a Holiday. "Probably my favorite aspect of Vaughn's writing is her character development and depth," says Becky Kyle. "Kitty's gone through a lot in three fairly short books and Vaughn does a stellar job pulling it off. Kitty stays true to her goal of being a positive force for lycanthropes and sticking by her values even if she has to fight her inner wolf every step of the way to make it." MaryJanice Davidson goes all werewolfy with Derik's Bane. "Davidson's humor kept me laughing," Becky says. "The book is a light and quick read. But realize this is MUCH more of a romance than an urban fantasy." It is made clear by the author of Meanwhile: A Biography of Milton Caniff and many other creative folk "that Milton Caniff was one of the greatest creators of popular fiction of the 20th century," Michael Vance reports. "Caniff was and remains one of the greatest cartoonists who ever lived. Indeed, in his day, his reality-based art and storytelling were a huge influence on the newspaper comics page and in comic books." L The war that led to the evacuation of all Fables from the Homelands to New York City is described in gritty detail in The Last Castle, a prequel to the popular Vertigo title. "For fans of the ongoing series, this prequel fills in some noteworthy gaps in our knowledge," Tom says. "Illustrations by penciller Craig Hamilton and inker/layour artist P. Craig Russell are not as finely wrought as we've come to expect ... but they tell the story in a pleasant storybook fashion. All in all, The Last Castle is a valuable addition to the Fables canon." Batman's War Games begin in Outbreak. "The story focuses less on Batman's usual assortment of costumed and gimmicky foes, more on organized crime, turf building and gangland hits. It's intense and gripping -- especially when the action moves to the school and children become involved," Tom says. "War Games dominated the various Batman titles in 2004, and this collection brings the story together in a neat and easy-to-follow package. It's a solid read that should please Bat fans and casual readers alike." The soundtrack to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou caught Eric Hughes' ear. "Sir Wes Anderson, writer/director/producer of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, it must be asked: Where was your mind when you decided to combine the classic David Bowie with ... Portuguese?" Eric wonders. "That's right, and enlisting Brazilian musician Seu Jorge to acoustically cover them? Well, I admit your decision was brilliant, absolutely brilliant. And I wish I had just a sliver of the creative juices, Wes, that influence your eccentric choices."
Jen Kopf chooses to spend a culturally enriching Night at the Museum. "Based on the book by Milan Trenc, Night is about the misadventures of Larry Daley, night watchman, whose newest job at the Museum of Natural History lands him smack in the middle of a ring of thieves," Jen says. "It's all lightweight and silliness (naturally, since the screenplay is penned by a pair of Reno 911 regulars), except for a plotline involving custody issues and Larry's son. The idea is that young Nick, often disappointed by Larry's missteps, will see his father in a new light once he spends a night in the magical museum. Trouble is, the custody scenes thud -- and Night at the Museum could have been just as magical without them." Lots more is on the way! (Meanwhile, browse through our vast archives of past editions, below.) 7 June 2008 Let us, like beings of intelligence and vision, Hey! One of the more popular sections of Rambles.NET is the Maritimes music department, which features the talents of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland. (Newfoundland technically is not part of the Canadian Maritimes, but the music shares a kinship so we slip it in there anyway.) This subset of Celtic/folk music is wildly popular and features the work of some astonishingly gifted performers, but it doesn't always get the same level of attention as its Irish and Scottish brethren. And, sadly, recordings of the music can often be much harder to find outside of the Canadian provinces. Hence, we often get letters from readers asking where they can buy this great stuff, and often, we don't know where to send them. Now we do. The Blue Heron Gift Shop, sitting on the picturesque main street of Baddeck in central Cape Breton, specializes in, well, everything I just told you about. And they're online, so you don't have to go to Cape Breton -- although I highly recommend doing so. Anyway, we would like you folks to get to hear all the cool music we're telling you about, so if you have a hankering for a little Maritimes music, drop the Blue Heron a line. Tell 'em Rambles sent you.
Eliza Gilkyson sings of a Beautiful World on this new release from Red House. "Eliza Gilkyson is often spoken of in the same breath as Lucinda Williams. It's true they're both rooted, literate singer-songwriters and they're close to the same age, but they're far from identical," Jerome Clark opines. "For one thing, blues, a frequent reference in Williams' music, is a minor presence in Gilkyson's sound. Unlike Williams, Gilkyson is politically outspoken." Andrew Cash is sings of homicide with a mathematical twist on Murder =. (OK, not really, but the "equals" sign certainly suggests it!) "Andrew Cash is nothing if not persistent," Gregg Thurlbeck says. "He's been a working musician for nearly three decades, starting out in the Toronto punk scene as the vocalist/guitarist for the socially relevant, sonically vibrant three-piece outfit L'Etranger. He went on to a solo career that scored a couple of hit singles in Canada, then teamed up with brother Peter for a handful of albums as the Cash Brothers. Now Andrew is back with a new, independently released solo album." Lee Penn Sky offers this Prelude to Hindsight for your consideration. "If there's a sound that comes directly from the plains and the prairie, Lee Penn Sky's music may be the best example of it," says Corinne H. Smith. "Or maybe listeners can simply connect emotionally to Lee as he so completely expresses the anguish of living in one place while the people who mean the most to him are in quite another." Mick Overman & the Maniacs "aren't very maniacal" on Good Thing Happen, notes Michael Scott Cain. "In fact, they're laid back and quiet. ... It's not bad but Good Thing Happen offers very little that can't be heard from hundreds of bar bands throughout the nation." Georgie Jessup lays bare a Woman in a Man's Suit in this recording of bluesy folk. "For Jessup, his story-style song lyrics take precedence while the music is purely secondary," says Sherrill Fulghum. "At times the music is merely a background of chords and notes to guide the singer along on his journey of telling the tale. A believer that we are all related in the human condition, Jessup uses his music to challenge his audiences to look deep inside themselves and search their prejudices." Chris Whitley offers to share a little Weed with his fans. "Serving as a bridge between live performance and studio recording, Chris Whitley effectively captured the best of both worlds on Weed using only a battered National steel guitar, his mournful husky voice and a judiciously placed microphone," Dirk Logemann says. "I won't pretend I understood all of the lyrics, but it's clear they are one with the music, combining a sense of alienation and longing, both spiritual and physical with creative and evocative imagery." A S Marcel Khalife proves himself to be "a one-man musical institution" with this Caress. "Caress brings together elements of both the Arabic tradition and Western influences," John Lindermuth says. "The title track features his virtuoso skill on the oud, while others showcase the piano, bass and violin in more familiar jazz veins." Lauren Lucas wonders what might happen If I was Your Girl, despite a music-industry shakeup that nearly derailed her career before it began. "The crashing of the dream served as a wakeup call for Lucas. She set about developing her writing skills and working to define herself as an artist, recognizing that she was going to have to take much more control of her career," says Michael Scott Cain. "This five-song EP is her first step on the road back, and when she reaches the airwaves again -- and she will; there is too much talent here for that not to happen -- she'll be in a much better position." Often enough -- and maybe too often -- innovation in bluegrass "amounts to softening of the sound with pop textures, chords and vocals," Jerome Clark says. "If the SteelDrivers are innovative, as they certainly are, they are not doing it by watering-down. What they're doing instead is giving bluegrass punch from other, more muscular directions. Those other directions are hard-core honkytonk -- not in itself all that surprising or original -- and also rock and soul. Now, that's new, particularly when you consider they're doing it within the genre's traditional acoustic stringband format." For more, check out Jerome's review of The SteelDrivers. Continued in the Rambles archives.... |
atasha Borzilova makes a 
avid "Honeyboy" Edwards is 
imon R. Green says there's 
arlton Mellick III raises eyebrows with 
oe, and more woe, as the Bomb Queen returns as a 
arry Gonick gets educational in 
oanne Shenandoah and Douglas M. George come together for 
atie Moore sings "with a grace and depth that you may miss -- I certainly did -- the first time you spin 
rden Kaywin experiences a 
isty Massey takes piracy to a new level in her fantasy novel, 
"Murder is a serious subject. The hate and actions of the KKK are deplorable. Yet, I found myself chuckling several times every chapter -- and these chapters are short! The themes of the novel are a little bit adult and the humor definitely male, I would think. But I can definitely say there is an audience for Blood Harvest. It was highly entertaining."
he sad sack has his day in 
he cream of the DC Comics crop rise to the surface in 
on Hynes is pushing more than 30 years of music with the release of this 
lex Clements tickles the ivories on 
hantal Chamandy believes that 
allie N. Love and Bonnie Larson take Native American folklore back to the beginning in 
ayel Gibson swoops aloft with a selection of 
"Nelson has a fine voice for narration, and a keen sense of story. This one unfolds with a few surprises along the way, and leaves you with a conviction that the author knew his subjects in and out before starting to write. He might show occasional aspirations to be a romance writer here and there -- he did first publish this book using the pen name Elizabeth Garrett, after all -- but those out-of-place scenes are thankfully few and far between."
aurell K. Hamilton provides a graphic prequel to her popular Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series with 
chillea conjures the sounds of Enigma on 
imaku offers Rambles.NET is and will continue to be a free site. However, some folks have generously asked for means by which they can contribute to help cover the costs of operations (postage alone is a killer!), and so with that in mind we offer this method for donations through PayPal. We are, of course, incredibly grateful for any support our readers care to give. Cheers! |
