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1

Other Musicians / Lady Antebellum

« on: September 04, 2011, 01:19:34 pm »

Anyone heard of these guys, think they are from Nashville, absolutely loving "Need You Now" at the moment 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OfsZyYPLoI&ob=av2e

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General Vanessa Carlton Discussion / Entertainment Weekly.com ROTR Review

« on: July 20, 2011, 09:44:32 pm »

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20511523,00.html

Rabbits on the Run (2011)
Vanessa Carlton
Reviewed by Mikael Wood | Jul 20, 2011

EW's GRADE B+

DETAILS

Release Date: Jul 26, 2011; Lead Performance: Vanessa Carlton; Genre: Pop; Production: Razor & Tie


Nearly 10 years after her inescapable debut single ''A Thousand Miles,'' Carlton is still working the same delicate vocals and pretty piano riffs, as evidenced on this collection of ethereal, Starbucks-ready ballads.

The 10 tracks from Rabbits on the Run fall into two categories: songs solidly within her patented brand of Enya-leaning pop (see: whimsical stunner ''Carousel,'' the album's lead single) and those that sound like modernized Gregorian chants (the celestial ''In the End''). The effect, however, is rarely divisive; instead it conjures up a lovely sort of melancholy magic. B+

Download These:
Sparkling, choir-laced Carousel
Cascading tearjerker 
Fairweather Friend

3

General Vanessa Carlton Discussion / Pride Source ROTR Review

« on: July 20, 2011, 09:40:14 pm »

http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=48133

Vanessa Carlton, 'Rabbits on the Run'

On Vanessa Carlton's fourth album, it's like she's walked a thousand miles - from that image of the pop balladeer she once was. The ballads are there on "Rabbits on the Run," but they take on a Tori-lite sound, with that same etherealness. Having come out as bisexual last year and signing to an indie label could be catalysts for the sense of freedom she thankfully employs on this project, made of 10 songs that are as intimate as she's ever been.

"Carousel" begins familiarly, and then drifts into a dreamy soundscape that sucks you in with its enchanting use of handclaps, orchestral airiness and Carlton's underrated voice. That's especially true on "Hear the Bells," where she hauntingly sings in her lower register - and sounds brilliantly moody doing so. "Fairweather Friend" builds like a Coldplay triumph; "Get Good" relies on guitar instead of piano to drive a hearty melody; and she takes a chance with "In the End," the closing piano ballad a la Sarah McLachlan's "Last Dance." Sonically, some of "Rabbits on the Run" is monotonous, and absolutely none of it sounds radio-made - though the jaunty "Tall Tales for Spring" or the almost-Taylor Swift "I Don't Want to Be a Bride" would probably have the broadest appeal. But this album's not meant for mainstream. And with music this good, so what? Grade: B

4

General Vanessa Carlton Discussion / Vanessa Wind City Times Interview

« on: July 20, 2011, 09:36:26 pm »

http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/gay/lesbian/news/ARTICLE.php?AID=32903

Vanessa Carlton: On the 'Run'
NUNN ON ONE: MUSIC
by Jerry Nunn, Windy City Times
2011-07-20
Vanessa Carlton. Photo by Matthew Wilson


Vanessa Carlton walked "A Thousand Miles" into the public's hearts with her Be Not Nobody album selling 2 million copies worldwide. Her fourth album, Rabbits on the Run, drops at the end of the month as she drops into the Ravinia the same week.


Windy City Times: Hello, Vanessa. Where in the world are you right now?

Vanessa Carlton: I am in Santa Ana, Calif. I found a creek that I have just run along that is really quite lovely. At the same time I thought there might be some kind of scary homeless man that might drag me into the woods but I am enjoying it. It's weird.

Windy City Times: Oh, no—be careful. Do you live in California now?

Vanessa Carlton: No, I just flew in from New York. I am here doing a week of shows.

Windy City Times: You have a new song called "Dear California," where you are saying goodbye to California.

Vanessa Carlton: Yes, every time I am at LAX or SFO it is just washing over me how much I love it. I come back here frequently. I landed in SFO last night and thought of my own song.

Windy City Times: You have your song "San Francisco" too, so there's a big connection with California.

Vanessa Carlton: Yes, that's right. I love it.

Windy City Times: I saw you at the Park West in Chicago years ago.

Vanessa Carlton: Oh, yeah; I remember that venue.

Windy City Times: Your record, Harmonium, had just come out and you told stories with each of your songs.

Vanessa Carlton: God, I must have been such a nerd. I am not quite as chatty as I used to be. I have a whole new approach now.

Windy City Times: After seeing the new video for "Carousel" your outfit reminded me of Stevie Nicks a little.

Vanessa Carlton: Well, part of it was a little ode to Stevie and a lot of it was channeling classic female songwriters from the '70s that I feel like their ecstatic comes in every now and then. But I love the video so much; it's so clean, beautiful and natural. I really worked closely with my friend Tracy Moulton who is an amazing costume designer. I wound up wearing a $10 vintage kimono thing that we just turned into a dress for a stunning new design like that white amazing dress. It is about channeling something that is very natural and ethereal.

Windy City Times: You have toured with Stevie in the past and she has given you some amazing compliments, referring to you as "one of the great ones."

Vanessa Carlton: I am lucky to have her in my life—not just as an artistic totem, but to be able to call her a friend. She is a really good friend.

Windy City Times: On the new album Rabbits on the Run you used a children's choir. Where did you find them?

Vanessa Carlton: I found them through my cousin, actually. I was staying with my cousin in London still trying to figure out how I was going to do this record. She was in the choir. The choir director, Rachel Santesso, is insanely talented. She just did a project with Faris Badwan from The Horrors' called "Cat's Eyes." I introduced them to Steve Osbourne, who produced their record and my record. She is a classically trained opera singer who started this choir called the Capitol Children's Choir. I was totally bewitched by the track record of the Langley School Choir from the '70s.

I highly recommend you YouTubing them if you have time. They do covers of David Bowie, Beatles, and Pink Floyd songs. There is something so cathartic about it when you hear those songs sung by a bunch of kids in a gymnasium. I knew that was a very important element to record that I wanted to make. We recorded it at Abbey Road.

Windy City Times: That is iconic. You used the drummer for My Morning Jacket also for this record?

Vanessa Carlton: Yep.

Windy City Times: With switching music labels, you did this one yourself in many ways, correct?

Vanessa Carlton: I self-funded this record. I hooked up with Razor & Tie right before it was mastered.

Windy City Times: You came out as bisexual at Nashville's Gay Pride. What has the reaction been to that?

Vanessa Carlton: I don't really know. I guess the one thing I would say about it is that I forgot that I was speaking not just to kids in front of me at the festival. I don't mind. It was just surprising.

Windy City Times: It can be a very private thing that you put out there. Then you sang "Who's to Say," which is one of my favorite songs.

Vanessa Carlton: I will play that song when I come out there for sure.

Windy City Times: Have you been to the Ravinia before?

Vanessa Carlton: I haven't.

Windy City Times: People bring picnic items, wine and cheese…

Vanessa Carlton: I love that. That is the way to enjoy music.

Windy City Times: So you will play "A Thousand Miles" and all of the past songs?

Vanessa Carlton: It is a mixture. The Rabbits on the Run record is not like any other record I have done before because the approach was so different and so simple. If I could have gone back and made a record in 1972 this is how I would do it. It has made me reapproach all of my old material in a much more organic fashion as well. If I do an older song I reinvent it. It actually feels more honest.

Windy City Times: You were probably able to have more creative control on this album than the others.

Vanessa Carlton: This was the most collaborative record. The team of artists that I got to work with is unbelievable to me after such a pop past in a way—not that it's dirty, but it didn't really touch me. These songs that I was writing really connected to Steve and Patrick. Working in that setting at Real World Studios was like working in another time and space. I have never been so immersed in making something so honest and so aware of the aesthetic and protecting it, also evolving it at the same time. It feels different. Maybe it's turning 30, I don't know.

I hate to say this because I don't want to undermine my other work. I still connect with my songs from the past but in terms of production and how to bring it to life on a tape, this feels like my first record. It feels like it is all encompassing of what I really mean. I feel like I can go to other places from here.

Vanessa opens for Five For Fighting at Ravinia Pavilion, 200 Ravinia Road, Highland Park, on Friday, July 22. Come rain or shine, check out http:// www.ravinia.org for tickets and information. For more on Vanessa, visit http:// www.vanessacarlton.com .

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General Vanessa Carlton Discussion / Vanessa Q&A Sound Spike

« on: July 07, 2011, 04:35:49 pm »

http://www.soundspike.com/features/tour/2504-vanessa_carlton_concert_news_tour_dates/


These are curious and wonderful times for singer/songwriter Vanessa Carlton.

On July 26, Carlton releases "Rabbits on the Run," 10 intimate songs recorded directly to tape that mark a stark departure from her previous, piano-laden pop pieces. The album was recorded in England at Peter Gabriel's renowned Real World Studios with producer Steve Osborne (U2, KT Tunstall).

Aiding in her effort were Osborne, Patrick Hallahan of My Morning Jacket and Ari Ingber of The Upwelling. The album was partly inspired by two books -- Richard Adams' "Watership Down" and Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time." Its first single is "Carousel."

Carlton began playing the piano as a toddler, continuing on an artistic road with her attendance at the School of American Ballet in New York -- a path she would eventually abandon in favor of songwriting. While studying at Columbia University in New York City, Carlton was signed to Interscope Records. She came onto the scene in 2002 with her debut "Be Not Nobody" and its hit single "A Thousand Miles." Since then, she has released three albums, scoring additional hits with the tracks "White Houses" and "Nolita Fairytale."

Calling from Pennsylvania where she was visiting her parents, Carlton recently spoke to SoundSpike about her songwriting process, why this is a "curious" time and working with Osborne.

SoundSpike: Are you looking forward to your tour?

I am. I'm real excited about the venues that we're doing and the cities that we're doing. It's a real quick kind of preview. It's been awhile too, so it's nice to get back out.

Are you a little nervous because it's been so long?

Very nervous. Nervous and excited. I'd like to kind of do something really great.

How much of the new material are you playing live?

That's the thing I'm struggling with. On one hand I'd like to save a couple of the initial experiences you have with these songs for the record for when people can listen to the record. You can never rewrite a first impression. You can never experience a first impression. For all I know the whole thing is leaked. I'm trying to figure out which songs should not be played. Long story short, I'd like to not play the entire record before the record officially comes out. I think that would be foolish. I don't know.
So what can we expect from the shows?
I'm going to play, I believe, two-thirds of "Rabbits on the Run" and then really just my favorites. There are going to be some songs that people know. Honestly, I just want to play my favorite songs. That's my approach. I think if they're my favorite, then I hope other people will like them, too.

What was the songwriting process for "Rabbits on the Run"?

It was a two-year process. The commencement of the writing of the record was really when I wrote "London." [pauses] That's not true. "Marching Line" was a film-scoring idea that I had that I turned into a song. That happened a little before "London." All in all it was two years.
So do you write when you're inspired, or do you make appointments to write?
I think it's important to do both. I love reading about Twila Tharp's creative habits. She's very aware of how important it is to create your own structure in order to come up with your best work. At times, things will just hit you and whether it's on a plane -- a lot of times I write on the plane -- or in the morning, whenever your brain in the freshest. I would say it's a combination of both. I think I'm still honing my process, but I'm very aware of creating habits that will kind of bring out the best work possible.

What inspired the record?

Two books, Richard Adams' "Watership Down" and Stephen Hawking's "A Brief History of Time." The aesthetic in terms of sonics -- the way it was engineered -- Steve Osborne did a masterful job, I think. It was inspired by my vinyl record collection. One other thing was the Langley School Choir was the direct inspiration for the children's choir that appears throughout the record.

What was it like to work with Steve Osborne?

An extraordinary education. I was really enchanted by watching him work. Scary brilliant and also very open and sensitive to what's going on in the moment. I learned a lot about working on flushing out ideas. I also learned how to carry myself as a person. I learned a lot from him. I really felt like I was in grad school or something. He's not professorial. He's a very humble person. He's just a natural-born wizard. He's a young Gandalf or something. I can't say enough good things about him, honestly. Extremely educational, lots of laughs too. Don't get me wrong. It was really intense nights to try to figure stuff out. If you don't have those, you're probably not on the right track.

Do you have other tour plans for later this year?

Yeah we're trying to put something together for fall that would be amazing. We're trying to find the right fit. This is a very transitional record for me in terms of how it's promoted and what kind of radio format it goes on. The tour has to reflect that. It's not like a 21-year-old little pop girl playing piano. It's still part of where I came from. I'm in a different place and maybe the beginning of the rest of my career. I feel it's starting now. It's a curious and wonderful time and scary at the same time. I look forward to having those real exchanges with people in tour. That's when it becomes real for me. I hope people connect with it. I'll find out soon enough, I suppose

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Other Musicians / Lucie Silvas

« on: May 08, 2011, 08:27:02 pm »

Have been listening to her recently.

She is an English singer songwriter, she started off as backing singer to English singer songwriter Gary Barlow in the late 90's.

Like these two songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PreNXo5Fifk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm8Ro4hh9wI

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Other Musicians / April Bender

« on: April 15, 2011, 06:18:30 pm »

Has anyone heard of her?

Completely came across her by accident last night while looking at youtube videos of London, a couple of her songs were playing as the background music.

Checked her out on facebook, she lists Vanessa as an influence    She is from New Jersey and doesn't appear to have a record contract. Have only listened to a couple of her songs, but really liked these two.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23uPO-cmRHw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOw9U9mL4kU&NR=1

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Introduce Yourself / Hello from Ireland :-)

« on: December 26, 2010, 05:07:59 pm »

Hi There Nessaholics 

So glad to be finally up and running, a big thank you to Kevin for helping me out and the offer of help from Martin, Thanks Guys. 

Well,my name is  Ray, I'm 36 and from Dublin, Ireland.

I only rediscovered Vanessa over the summer.  Vanessas music first came to my attention back in 2002, when while on lunch from work in my local sandwich bar, A Thousand Miles came on the radio, immediately I was taken with the melody, but it was the lyrics that really struck a chord with me, it was like Vanessa had written the song about me and how I felt about the girl of my dreams at the time who was about to emigrate 

Anyhow I bought the single and also bought her follow up single Ordinary Day, again for the same reasons as a thousand miles, though I did change the lyrics in my head from "boy" to girl  On the back of these two songs I bought the album in Feb 2003 and was immediately taken with Pretty Baby, Vanessa was definitely writing about my situation with this girl 

I'm ashamed to say I only listened to these three songs,circumstances at the time meant I didn't really listen to any music for a couple of months and then the album and Vanessa got forgotten about for some reason, that is until the summer of this year    the girl who I had fallen for came up in conversation with a friend, and it prompted me to listen to A Thousand Miles again, and just like when I first heard the song back in '02, I was totally taken with the song, I then listened to Ordinary Day and Pretty Baby and started watching Vanessa videos on youtube, came across Paradise and All Is Well live and that was it, I was hooked.

Anyway have bought Harmonium and Heroes and Thieves in the last few months and can honestly say I have become a nessaholic    I have never been to the States but am definitely going to be making the trip to see Vanessa live.

So happy to have discovered this board,and I am really looking forward to contributing to the board and reading your posts on all things Vanessa, and sharing Rabbits on the Run when it is released. Sadly we don't get any Vanessa news over here in Ireland and the UK, so am relying on you guys to keep me up to date with all the Vanessa news 

As well as music I'm a big soccer fan and am a season ticket holder for a team in London called Arsenal who play in The Premier league, so I travel to London quite a bit.

Sorry for the long introduction guys, hope I haven't bored you too much 

Ray