response 7 of 157:

Jul 26 01:13 UTC 2001

I agree that, as a pigeonhole, English(non-Celtic) music is being absorbed
into Celtic. (I believe that's what was asserted in #0) That certainly doesn't
mean that English music is disappearing, only that the marketing category has
expanded to include it. In my experience, it's proven useful having a more
general place to look --- I've discovered several wonderful bands and singers
because of this. Take Fernhill, for example: where does Welsh music fit in
a narrow category? What about a Welsh band with an English singer? I don't
think I would have realised how deeply I enjoy traditional Welsh music, if
I first didn't identify that I like Celtic music.

As for the Kate Rusby, LITTLE LIGHTS is her newest, and I consider it *very*
English, despite being produced by John McCusker. (as an aside, isn't John
from the Border country of Scotland? That could explain why he and Kate mix
so easily.) It's a wonderful collection of songs, a mixture of traditional
folk songs arranged by Kate and John and originals that sound like folk songs.
Oh, and she's kept with her tradition of including a cover of a modern song,
on this CD it's Richard Thompson's "Withered and Died."

As you might be able to tell, I love this CD --- though it's still rather
new in my collection, and thus getting played a lot. All evening, I've been
replaying Rusby's earlier discs, in order to compare. The past couple of times
through LITTLE LIGHTS had left me wondering if there were such *sad*
undertones in the rest of her work. I still can't formulate a definite
opinion. Many of the old folk songs have morose subject matter, so that might
play a part in this. It would be a question better answered by Ms. Rusby
herself --- to what degree the death of Davy Steele influenced the final mood
of this CD. She dedicates the song, "Who Will Sing Me Lullabies" to him in
the liner notes, with the line: "For Davy Steele --- the first man to break
my heart, he was an inspiration to us all." I find it a deeply affecting song,
and I loved it from the first listen. (I am notoriously fond of sad, but
sincere, music)

I'd like to comment more, but I'm not sure my thoughts are coming out clear
enough, yet. I need more listens. :-)

response 9 of 157:

Jul 26 06:23 UTC 2001

I've been advancing a theory that the world is divided into Kate Rusby
fans and Eliza Carthy fans.  (*ahem*)  I've bought literally every 
album Eliza has released, but the only ones getting any repeat plays
are the Waterson:Carthy albums, where Eliza sings with her parents, 
Martin Carthy and Norma Waterson.
 
Eliza has been getting plenty of buildup, for a folkie, in mainstream
media: ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY gave a best-of-year page to her previous
album, RED RICE.  And she jumped from Topic to Warner, and put out a 
new album, ANGELS AND CIGARETTES.  Reviews were, to say the least, 
controversial and mixed.  I finally had a chance to listen to some 
of the album -- an $8 used copy at the Elderly shop, open for 
previewing.  And I couldn't bring myself to buy it.  I didn't want 
it in the house.  It just struck me as a drab pop album dressed 
up in folk instrumentation.

response 11 of 157:

Jul 27 16:46 UTC 2001

It's a bin in a record store, to paraphrase Ian Anderson, the Folk Roots
magazine editor.

response 13 of 157:

Jul 27 18:59 UTC 2001

I've noticed the basic Irish and Irish-style music ends up there...things that
tend to go more twords the traditional songs and chording.

response 15 of 157:

Jul 30 17:31 UTC 2001

If that's what Ian Anderson meant, Ken, then the only possible response 
to him is an adaptation of a famous line of Tom Lehrer's: "When people 
have nothing to say, the very least they can do is to shut up."

What gets put in various bins is of great importance, because - I can't 
believe I have to explain this - bins are where customers look for 
things.  That's not to say that the bins are necessarily accurate 
representations of the variety of the music - indeed, it's the conflict 
between the bin-map and the reality-map that makes the question a 
matter of concern.

response 17 of 157:

Aug 7 18:50 UTC 2001

"Wander around looking."  Joe, looking for what?  How do you know what 
to look for?  Most people look in bins, either physical or virtual.  If-
you-like-X,-try-Y, for instance, is a bin.  And are you implying that, 
having found Mike Oldfield in one bin or other, you've never even 
considered buying something else you leafed through in the same bin?
Bins are important.

response 19 of 157:

Sep 20 20:18 UTC 2001

A note for Mickey: Fledg'ling Records of Britain has reissued yet another
Shirley Collins album.  This one dates from 1959 and the publicity notes
say the Smithsonian let them use the original master tapes from the 
Folkways Records archives.  Title is "False True Lovers" and
the record company's web page is at:
  http://www.thebeesknees.com/bk-fr-ct.html

They also have a new accordion album from John Kirkpatrick, yum.

response 21 of 157:

Sep 21 03:52 UTC 2001

Ah, those good old acquired tastes ...

response 23 of 157:

Sep 28 18:07 UTC 2001

The note at Peter Knight's web site says simply, "It is with great
pleasure that I can now announce that Steeleye Span will be touring
in 2002."   In the website's Q&A section, Knight says the new Steeleye 
lineup is set, but the details will be kept under wraps until a 
promotional push in early 2002.  He says there will be a female singer.

There's also a mention of a planned Steeleye Span convention in 
Philadelphia sometime in 2002.

response 25 of 157:

Oct 17 18:30 UTC 2001

This is mostly a note for Twila and myself.  The band Little Johnny England
is playing Mickey Finn's Pub in Toledo on November 9.  Hmm.  
Anyplace called a "pub" might be too smoky for Twila to tolerate.
The band's website is http://www.littlejohnnyengland.co.uk

response 27 of 157:

Nov 4 17:26 UTC 2001

Why?  Are you getting tired of her Christmas carols?

response 29 of 157:

Nov 6 00:41 UTC 2001

Alert: Christmas carols (not by Maddy) in the bookstore today.