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Welcome
Hi, my name is Jessi and I'm an independent musician in the NYC area. I also write articles for Urban Folk magazine, design web pages, create fliers, and do various other music and technology related tasks. Please visit my Indie Music Resources blog for more. Meanwhile, Drawing Pretty Things is my big, giant archive for all things Jessi (in blog form).
Dan’s songs are the ones you end up singing under your breath at 3am without even realizing what you’re doing. His voice is honest, and the wisdom in the words of his urban hymns makes you wonder if an old soul is lurking under youthful skin. An unorthodox guitar method and unusual chord structures are the bed he lays his addictive melodies on.
www.myspace.com/dannyschlaubach
Categories: Review, Dan, Schlaubach
I was thrilled to receive this Editor's Review on the music site Download.com:
"This New York singer-songwriter draws comparisons to equally spirited alt-folk muses Tori Amos and PJ Harvey. But with her quavering, spiritual verses, the analogy she deserves is with Jeff Buckley, gender difference or no." Get some free Mp3s here: http://music.download.com/jessirobertsonacousticCategories: Music, Media, Download.com, Mp3s, Free, Stream, Jessi, Robertson, Lehr, Reviews, Editor
From the Urban Folk May 2007 Issue:
I have two David Shane Smith albums. Both came in origami slipcovers made from old magazine pages. “love songs” is written in red pencil on the first disc. The second reads “wintertower.”
If you asked me to pick one to keep and one to give up, I’d have a hard time choosing. Many musicians follow a slow evolution from one album to the next, but these two are different.
“love songs” has a timeless quality that makes it difficult to pin down. Each song has a striking sense of immediacy, but remains unbranded by a specific period or style. Lilting melodies contrast sharply with haunting narration. Insomniac poems are punctuated with acoustic guitar, bells, and timpani.
Smith does an about-face on “wintertower,” a slippery electronic hybrid of looped beats and manipulated sounds, where the territory between rap and spoken word becomes too tangled to navigate.
This is a risky venture for someone perceived as a singer/songwriter. Smith embraces it and delivers an absorbing work. On “love songs” most of the vocals were fragile and restrained while “wintertower” teems with rumbles, drones, and squalls.
Each disc holds nine songs. I listen to track seven on “wintertower” which shares the album’s name, a stormy collage of electric guitar and manufactured sounds. Then I skip back to “love songs” and listen to track seven, “in your night,” a dark lullaby punctuated with barely audible whispers. You can get your hands on both at www.myspace.com/davidshanesmith.
Categories: Media, Music, Reviews, David, Shane, Smith, Love, Songs, Wintertower, UrbanFolk
Sami Akbari’s upcoming debut album “Somebody Else’s Stranger” is a shimmering alt-pop coup. A complex palette of sounds creates the perfect backdrop to showcase her smooth, sultry vocals. These well-crafted, lovingly produced songs successfully bridge several genres, and I predict cross-over potential. The official release party is May 19th at Crash Mansion in New York City. Categories: Music, Reviews, Sami, Akbari, CD
Best Thai Food: Amarin Cafe in Greenpoint, Beet in Park Slope
Watch out! At Amarin, medium spicy equates to my eyes are tearing and I need to clear my throat. The food is fresh and spicy and absolutely delicious. The ambiance is a little lacking. Take out is the way to go. Beet is beautiful inside. The food is reasonably priced and tasty. I suggest eating in or pick-up because delivery can take up to an hour.
Best Bars: Bar4 in Park Slope, Matchless in Greenpoint
It's a tie between my two favorite Brooklyn neighborhoods. Bar4 is a cozy place to hear live music and features paintings and photography by local artists. Matchless is a sports bar turned music venue with a great selection of beers on tap. The sound in the main music room is crystal clear. Right next to lovely McCarren Park.
Best Sushi: Kiku in Park Slope
The edamame is always tender and piping hot. Definitely try the Red Dragon roll. Take out only.
Best Walk: Past the beautiful brownstones between 6th and 11th in Park Slope
Now is the perfect time while all the trees are flowering. Evening and gas lights and drifting petals. Exquisite. Of course, Prospect Park and the Botanical Gardens are lovely as well.
Categories: Neighborhood, Brooklyn, ParkSlope, Greenpoint, Reviews, BestOf, Food, Bars, Sushi, Walks
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