Distractions: Music

[sabotabby]

I liked this post on Manic Pixie Songwriting Dream Girls quite a bit. It helps that I am partial to the music of all of the artists mentioned, save Yoko Ono (I don't think Fluxus has any validity as an art movement, and it may be sacrilege but I don't care about the Beatles or whether or not she broke them up). I have a thing for intricate, folk-influenced music with ethereal female vocalists. And I've become rather fond of Joanna Newsom's music lately, without having read any press about her or even knowing what she looks like.

(That's how I get into music, by the way. People recommend stuff. I don't watch TV or read music reviews. Things wind up in my iTunes and I listen to them.)

Anyway, is it me or is this Manic Pixie Dream Girl thing kind of all over the feminist blogosphere right now? I am about five years past the age that I might have passed for one. I Blame the Patriarchy, of course, but I also think it's probably tied to economics in some way. Preservation of innocence in a dark world, or some such shit.

Comment with your favourite quirky female musicians whose talent is criminally underrated because they happen to be cute. I'll get you started:

"GloryHammer - Apocalypse 1992 - new version EXTRA EPIC ORCHESTRATION" (Watch on YouTube)

"Zeal & Ardor - Stranger Fruit" (Watch on YouTube)

Comments

[culpster.livejournal.com]

I saw Yoko live in 95. It was a crazy show - half lovers, half haters, some people came just to hoot at her, others sent up flowers. I am for her. This is the best thing ever, "Why" which she recorded in the "Plastic Ono Band" sessions. Check out how John's guitar squiggles anticipate her vocals:



Also on theme! I JUST found out that there's a new live CD/DVD on Kill Rock Stars from Kleenex/Liliput, one of the first and absolutely the greatest girl punk band ever, from Zurich 1978-1983. Hear as much of them as you can! This is their first masterpiece, there's lots:

[culpster.livejournal.com]

And speaking of cute, how about the geniuses of the girl groups, who never get props?





And let's not forget Jerry Lee's sister Linda Gail Lewis - she fucking rocks and no one remembers her. Their album "Together" is TOTALLY worth finding.



Finally, just to prove I haven't been locked in my basement for 30-40 years, here's the title track from the recent Amazones de Guniee album, fantastic:



I could go on!!!