Distillation

Amazon.com
Erin McKeown's quirky, folksy music weds the intimacy of the coffeehouse circuit with the braininess of her daytime gig as an ethnomusicology student at Brown University. Accompanying herself on guitar, piano, banjo, and the odd sampler, this precocious Virginia native has crafted a winning album of original songs that range from the coy minimalism of "Queen of Quiet" to the genuine beauty of "How to Open My Heart in 4 Easy Steps." McKeown infuses her songs with a droll wit and a keen awareness of jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley traditions (how many 23-year-olds cover Rodgers and Hart's "You Mustn't Kick It Around"?). With its echoes of Gillian Welch, k.d. lang, Suzanne Vega, and the Handsome Family, Distillation is an eclectic collection of mostly upbeat tunes that play nicely while the barn is burning. --Bill Forman

Distillation,Erin McKeown,Signature Records,Alternative Folk,Contemporary Singer/Songwriter,One of the most distinctive guitar styles around with a voice to match, that bops, strums, swings, rocks, and struts its way through a remarkable collection of songs culled from a rainbow of idioms: pop, blues, jazz, funk, and Tin Pan Alley.,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Distillation

Average customer rating: Fresh www.glasswerk.co.uk review Hasn't left my CD player in 4 months distilled! What more can you say?

Distillation Erin McKeown Manufacturer: Signature Sounds ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Jazz | Styles | Music Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Singer Songwriters | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Grand Monday Morning Cold We Will Become Like Birds Sing You Sinners Voices on the Verge: Live in Philadelphia ASIN: B00004YBYQ Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

1. Queen Of Quiet
2. Blackbirds
3. Didn't They?
4. La Petite Mort
5. The Little Cowboy
6. Daisy And Prudence
7. Fast As I Can
8. You Mustn't Kick It Around
9. How To Open My Heart In 4 Easy Steps
10. Dirt Gardener
11. Love In 2 Parts

Amazon.com

Erin McKeown's quirky, folksy music weds the intimacy of the coffeehouse circuit with the braininess of her daytime gig as an ethnomusicology student at Brown University. Accompanying herself on guitar, piano, banjo, and the odd sampler, this precocious Virginia native has crafted a winning album of original songs that range from the coy minimalism of "Queen of Quiet" to the genuine beauty of "How to Open My Heart in 4 Easy Steps." McKeown infuses her songs with a droll wit and a keen awareness of jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley traditions (how many 23-year-olds cover Rodgers and Hart's "You Mustn't Kick It Around"?). With its echoes of Gillian Welch, k.d. lang, Suzanne Vega, and the Handsome Family, Distillation is an eclectic collection of mostly upbeat tunes that play nicely while the barn is burning. --Bill Forman

Customer Reviews:

Fresh.......2007-03-25

She's different than the rest -- some old fashioned sounds with an entirely unique style -- entirely McKeown.

www.glasswerk.co.uk review.......2003-04-09

The topics of uncertainty and love has never been so subtly expressed as Erin McKeown has managed to do so, and in her debut proper 'Distillation' she explores swing, folk and Tin Pan Alley jazz with beguiling consequences. Acoustic guitar number 'Queen of Quiet' is the first and the shortest song, with McKeown's Deep South drawl adding to the uplifting mood set by this opener. 'Blackbirds' develops with a more of a jazz/blues style, delivered with a great deal of swagger, and she manages to do that to more or a lesser degree in every song.

It is with lyrics that the 24 year old excels in the most. Subjects of death among others are dealt with humour and sensitivity, "....we both found heaven right then, you just chose not to come back...." in 'La Petite Mort' a country number with bluegrass roots, and touches on the topics of cocaine and roses in the poignant 'The Little Cowboy' where McKeown reaches Joni Mitchell levels of diva dizziness. The slim production of the record successfully brings out McKeown's ability to use an instrument both rhythmically and sonically. As a result of this the songs sound resolute and bright, with the result that the quieter moments on this record are at times the memorable and striking moments, especially on the quieter times on 'Daisy and Prudence' and the yearning 'Love In 2 Parts' which shows her songwriting to be strong and her delivery impeccable. Swing is also an obvious influence, and provides the jollier moments with a cover of Rodger and Hart's 'You mustn't kick it around' and the quirky 'Didn't They?'. Each song is intricate despite its simplicity, overflowing with invention and sentiment, and is sure to win the hearts of those who cross her path. With 'Distillation' Erin McKeown has proved that less is indeed much, much more.

Ricky

Hasn't left my CD player in 4 months.......2003-02-26

Wow, what can I say, the lady is the complete package, an intersting voice, the most original lyrics and the coolest guitar playing I've heard since Richard Thompson. Hearing blackbird once propelled me to buy Distillation and have not been dissapointed. It has occupied my #1 slot in my 6 disc changer for 4 months, obsessed? I guess!

distilled!.......2003-02-19

She's the queen of quiet and soon the UK is going to see what the US has been keeping from them when her debut album "Distillation" gets a UK release in February. Already very popular and well known among the folk community of the states, this is the 24 year old Erin McKeown's first major release after her two successful 2,500 cassette only releases, a self-titled debut and "Monday Morning Cold" (1998) and. One of America's best-kept secrets and well worth the wait.

Mrs McKeown in her songs achieves the goal of both being distinctly modern, living up to her post-Bjork and Moby comparisons and at the same time old fashioned brining swinging 1920's jazz onto such songs as "Blackbirds". Erin grew up in Virginia and it was at Brown University that she found her unique gift for combining music old and new into her own hybrid style. Very difficult to pigeonhole in one genre toying with everything from modern pop, swing jazz and cabaret. She showcases here all her past influences and love of music and movies. While it's easy to get caught up with the comparisons it must also be said that this is unlike anything else before it, Erin is the first of her kind and it's easier to imagine that in the future people will compare artists to her, instead of visa versa which is a view shared by many writers like Dar Williams, "Don't let anybody tell you that Erin McKeown is the 'next' anyone. She's the very first Erin McKeown, and she's great."

Another extraordinary thing is the production, or lack of it. All of this record is self financed and instead of confining her sound to a soulless generic recording studio Erin and producer David Chalfant relocated to a farmhouse out in Massachusetts. All of the tracks were recorded here and very few have any processed electronic tinkering on them .The songs are refreshingly real sounding and gritty without the usual re-mastering that occurs. What you get is what happened and this, for use of a better word makes it sound real and fresh. The whole thing from the recording to promotion (self promoted from word of mouth and her website) is all very down to earth and grassroots.

Plucky guitar opener "Queen of Quiet" the shortest of the songs offered here, introduces unusual and enchanting vocal stylings not to dissimilar to US singers Kd Lang, but more energetic and uplifting. It also showcases her brilliant song writing with lyrics confessing her to be "The kind of lover that won't run for cover, what kind of lover am I?". Then "Blackbirds", a jazzy, blues style number is so catchy and infectious with it's danceable blues guitar sounds and lovable lyrics harking back in many ways to the children's rhyme with the birds of the same name. If you don't get the urge to dance to this, then check for a pulse. All the songs have smart lyrics from an artist who is offering us everything she is and while some of the best are partly collages of other influences as used on "Blackbirds" she really comes into herself with the more coherent songs like "The Little Cowboy" with the haunting images of roses and cocaine. While we've had ladies giving us distinct and original vocals before, Alanis Morrisette or Ani Difranco for instance, it's the combination her of striking singing and skilful playing of whatever instrument she picks up be it a banjo or a guitar. Smart and very cool.

To the slow emotional "How to open my heart in 4 easy steps". Erin flexing her songwritting muscles again and asking kindly to "Untie these strings, from around my heart" and sadly confessing herself as "undone". That description is appropriate for this and many songs that are so open and overflowing with ideas and emotion. The perfect almost-a-love songs to complete the amazingly eclectic collection of songs.

So cheerful and instantly likable, so diverse that everyone will find something here to there taste. Fans of eclectic musicians like Badly Drawn Boy and the increasingly famous Polyphonic Spree will embrace this album openly. Buy this and then buy her previous albums on re-release soon.

What more can you say?.......2002-04-30

For those of you who feel you've out grown Ani Difranco because you don't like the way she's heading, give this lil gal a try. It's not all political riot grrl angst here. This 5 foot spit fire delivers prose like a emerson on benzedrine. Her Alternate tunings on her guitar change from song to song and give each one a distinctive feel that connects with each word that pours from her mouth. Her Songs move from theme to theme and genre to genre, never lulling in expectation. "Queen of Quiet" breaks it down in an almost contradictory spoken word speech. I've never heard a hop-along country song like "little cowboy" mosey along as if Roy Rogers and Jack kerouac collaborated On The "dusty" Road. Watch this one. She's gonna have more tricks up her sleeve.

Average customer rating: NO "SILVER SHOES"??? Almoust Perfect ! Wishbone Ash heaven... Still available Classic Twin Guitars

Distillation Wishbone Ash Manufacturer: Repertoire ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Heavy Metal | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Argus (Remastered & Revisited) Clan Destiny Wishbone Ash Live Dates Wishbone Ash - Live 30th Anniversary Concert ASIN: B000006X5J Release Date: 2001-04-17

Tracks:

1. Blind Eye
2. Lady Whiskey
3. Phoenix
4. Jail Bait
5. Pilgrim
6. King Will Come
7. Leaf & Stream
8. Warrior
9. Throw Down the Sword
10. No Easy Road
11. Ballad of the Beacon
12. Sorrel
13. Persephone

Tracks:

1. Lady Jay
2. F.U.B.B.
3. Say Goodbye
4. (In All of My Dreams) You Rescue Me
5. Prelude
6. Candlelight
7. Front Page News
8. Goodbye Baby, Hello Friend
9. Surface to Air
10. You See Red
11. Ships in the Sky
12. Living Proof
13. Lifeline
14. Underground
15. Genevieve
16. Clousseau

Tracks:

1. Witness to Wonder
2. Why Don't We
3. Strange Affair
4. Dream Train
5. Standing in the Rain
6. Alone
7. Time and Space
8. Come On
9. Fast Johnny
10. She's Still Alive
11. T-Bone Shuffle
12. Bolan's Monument
13. Duffle Shuffle
14. Mountainside
15. Crack of Dawn

Tracks:

1. Outward Bound
2. Rest in Peace
3. Lorelei
4. Come in from the Rain
5. Bad Weather Blues
6. Sometime World
7. Errors of My Way
8. Blowin' Free
9. Insomnia
10. Helpless
11. Way of the World
12. Lookin' for a Reason

Album Description

This CD features tracks from tributes, guest appearances, B-sides, and an unreleased song. 16 tracks total and George gives a brief recollection of the events for each track in the sleeve notes. Rock Empire. 2001.

Customer Reviews:

NO "SILVER SHOES"???.......2006-08-29

This is incomplete in my humble, yet honest opinion without "Silver Shoes" from There's the Rub in '75. How come I cannot find a complilation CD from ASH with Silver Shoes on it?? Did they not perform this song live either?? I have yet to see a live ASH recording with Silver Shoes on it. Has this song been forgotten?? It was one of their BEST!

Almoust Perfect !.......2004-04-08

I can't believe! Were's "Time Was" track ? They made a great compilation with 55 tracks but they missed the "Time Was"!! Can you imagine a Zeppelin box without 'Black Dog' or a Deep Purple box without 'Black Night' ?

Wishbone Ash heaven..........2002-08-02

Needless to say, this is the ultimate collection thus far and long overdue. Martin Turner worked very closely compliling this box. Fans will just go nuts with this one.

Still available.......2001-08-10

It's likely that any WA fan who is here is already aware of wishboneash.com. This CD has just been re-issued and is available there.

Classic Twin Guitars.......2001-05-14

This is a four cd anthology spanning the years 1970-1996. The first two discs contain remastered versions of their fan favorites. The third disc contains mostly unissued tracks, alternate takes, and non-lp singles. The fourth disc contains unissued live recordings. The live recordings are smoking outtakes and single b-sides from their criminally out of print "Live Dates II" album. The band was from England and was formed in the late 1960's by bassist/singer Martin Turner and drummer Steve Upton. Martin Turner's brother Glen the original guitarist abruptly quit due to lack of success. The remaining members advertised for a new guitarist. Their original intention was to add a new guitarist and a keyboardist. Among the guitarists who answered the add were the progressive Andy Powell (with his Gibson Flying-V or Gibson SG) from Hemel Hempstead and the more bluesy Ted Turner (with his Les Paul and Stratocaster) from Birmingham. Upton and Martin Turner could not decide between the two guitarists so the idea of a keyboardist was abandoned and both guitarists were added. Their music was a combination of hard rock, British blues/boogie, jazzy progressive numbers and folk influenced acoustic numbers. The band was finally given a break following a preconcert jam between Andy Powell and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore. Blackmore advised Deep Purple's producer at the time Derek Lawrence to recommend the band to some of his record company contacts. Due to this help Wishbone Ash were signed by MCA in 1970. The guitarists alternated between playing harmony lines together and playing counterpoint to each other. This line-up remained intact until Ted Turner left shockingly during their most successful period in 1974 (he rejoined briefly in the eighties). He was replaced by guitarist Laurie Wisefield from the group Home who opened for Wishbone Ash at one point. Their music at this time became slightly more commercial but still interesting. This line-up lasted until 1980 when Martin Turner quit. The line-up has changed many times since with Andy Powell currently being the only remaining original member. This dual lead guitar attack influenced other bands from the United Kingdom such as Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon, and Def Leppard to name a few. My favorite numbers on this set include the boogie "Jail Bait", the progressive "The Pilgrim", the riff fest "The King Will Come", the instrumental "F.U.B.B." and the more commercial "Front Page News". It may be useful to compare this set to the domestic 2 cd anthology "Time Was" issued by MCA. The "Distillation" set is more representative of the whole career of the band to this point and contains more rarities. However, the 2 cd "Time Was" contains some rarities and focuses more on the early Ted Turner period. The "Time Was" set contains many essential cuts not in included on the "Distillation" set like the jazzy "Vas Dis", the excellent "Time Was", and the rocking "So Many Things To Say". Neither set contains two favorites "Rock And Roll Widow" or "Mother Of Pearl". If you are a fan you will probably want both sets for the rarities and remastering. If you are just looking for a sampler either set is good but "Distillation" is slightly more representative as it contains material from other labels in addition to their MCA material. This set is a MUST for fans of British progressive rock and dual lead guitar playing.

Average customer rating:

Distillation Richard Bone Manufacturer: The Orchard ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music General | New Age | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00004RGDV Release Date: 2000-03-18

Average customer rating:

About Time Manufacturer: Buckeleven ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B000CAAID2 Release Date: 2004-04-13

Average customer rating:

Distillation Wishbone Ash Manufacturer: Repertoire/Hepcat ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music ASIN: B0002B767W Release Date: 2002-11-11

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