Ringing My Bell

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Ringing My Bell

I'll wager most Americans have no idea the Salvation Army is actually an organized religious faith that they're supporting every time they throw their loose change into one of their bell ringer's little red pots at this time of year.

Speaking of organized religion, I still can't help but wonder what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, more commonly known as Mormons, will think of the upcoming Broadway musical The Book Of Mormon. As I've previously said, I will vigorously defend the right to freedom of speech, but I have serious doubts the show's creators would ever have moved forward with a production lampooning the Islamic faith.

As for bell ringers, move your cursor over the doorknob on The Book Of Mormon's Web site and you'll hear a completely different variety. (At least no one was asking me for money, unless you count the show's tickets that start at $59.)

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).



In keeping with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. http://rpc.technorati.com/rpc/ping

Shake The Baron - Ghost Hits

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Shake The Baron  - Ghost Hits
2012, Super Duper RecordsNew York Rockers Shake The Baron go for a neo-Britishsounding new wave/shoe gaze menagerie on their second album Ghost Hits.  Vocalist Andrew Oedel is appealing, with avoice that’s scratchy and accessible, yet with a purity of tone that issurprising.  Shake The Baron plays with arhythmic, guitar-driven style that’s easy on the ears.  The songwriting on Ghost Hits is poetically solid, but delves too deeply into thebroken psyche of a simpering, perseverating heart.While tunes such as “Jones”, “Let’s Go Underground” and “WeMade A Habit” show signs of real life, Shake The Baron is too often caughtasunder by a whirling storm of self-pity and regret.  The inward focus here is just too much, andwhile broken hearts have driven rock and roll since Les Paul struck the firstelectric chord, here it becomes a real drag on the music.  Shake The Baron shows real potential on Ghost Hits, but never manages to breakout of their own doldrums here.Rating: 2.5 Stars (Out of 5)Ghost Hits drops on June 12, 2012.  Learn more at www.shakethebaron.com. 
Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.

Wildy's World Auctions to benefit The American Cancer Society

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Wildy's World writer/editor Wildy (will-dee)  Haskell will be participating in the Relay For Life in Geneva, NY on July 28-29, 2012.  As part of the fundraising efforts for that event, Wildy's World has reached out to a number of the artists we've worked with in the past.  Throughout June and July of 2012, we will be offering a number of unique, one-of-a-kind auctions on eBay.

Our first auction, going live on Friday, June 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM EDT, is the opportunity to have a song written at your request by New York City singer/songwriter Kati Mac. 


Kati Mac is an internationally known artist with five albums spanning and twenty-year career, and her work has been featured on such television shows as General Hospital, The Guiding Light and Sunset Beach.  While the auctions hasn't kicked off yet, you can view it already.  Kati Mac's song auction will on eBay under item #221038586203.  All auctions can be viewed once they go live under the seller id wildysworld. 

This once in a lifetime opportunity is only the first of many.  To date over thirty artists have signed up to write a song in this fashion.  We've also received some great memorabilia from several artists, with several more promising items.  So stay tuned...  you never know what might be coming next!

John Mueller (Buddy Holly) could write a song for you!

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Ever wish a great songwriter would write a song just for you?  Wildy's World is partnering with some of the best and brightest Indie songwriters working today to give you this chance as a benefit for The American Cancer Society!  Tonight a new auction has begun on eBay, featuring an original tune per your request from singer/songwriter John Mueller.  Mueller is best known for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in shows such as Winter Dance Party and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, but Mueller is a very accompished songwriter in his own right, with a fine musical ear and a wicked wit. 

The winning bidder will fill out a brief survey telling Mr. Mueller who, what or where they want their song to be about.  John will then interpet the song in his own inimitable style, and record a demo of the song for the winner. 

Check out the John Mueller auction: eBay item # 221039131890. 

And don't forget we also have a song auction running for NYC singer/songwriter Kati Mac.  Check it out:  eBay item #221038586203

We have other great auctions coming up over the next 5 weeks or so from artists such as:

Benjamin Russell * Styx * Jerry Falzone * Mar Harmon (Music With Mar) * Halie Loren * Trout Fishing In America * The Energy Commission * Amos Lee * Marian Call * Lee Alexander * Spike Nicer * Amber & Dagger * BucketBoys * Andy Hawk & The Train Wreck Endings *  The Spanish Channel    *  The Blisterz * Missed You At The Show * BFF * JodiShaw * Joel Dobbins * Skyler * Zak Smith Band * KeyDragon * TheAmplifires * The Modern Airline * Randy Stern * Joshua Jesty * Deborah Crooks * Jeff Littman * ShaneLamb * Amanda Belardinelli * These Curious Thoughts * Crown Point Band * Amos Lee * Steve Haggard * James Scott Fant * Beth Whitney * Brother Joscephus * Unique Monique * Pat Flanakin * Brian Pounds *And, we may still have a few up our sleeves, so stay tuned!  And remember, all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society through the Relay For Life!

Jason Plumb and the Willing - All Is More Than Both

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Jason Plumb and the Willing – All Is More Than Both
2012, Soccer Mom RecordsSaskatchewan-based singer/songwriter Jason Plumb got his start in the early 1990’s as the front man for The Waltons.  Touring with Barenaked Ladies early in their career, The Waltons became a fan favorite across Canada and parts of the Northeast U.S, largely on the strength of Plumb’s songwriting and his voice.  The band waned with the 1990’s, and Plumb has gone on to become one of the most respect Indie songwriters in Canada.  Both as a solo artist and with his band The Willing, Plumb historically brings a quiet intensity and subtle melancholy to his songwriting that is compelling.  Plumb turns a corner on his latest album, All Is More Than Both, his third turn with The Willing.  With Canadian super-producer Michal Phillip Wojewoda at the helm, Plumb finds the anger and the joy embedded in his melancholy and lets it rip on what is his most vibrant album to date.Recapturing a sonic vigor not seen since his earliest work with The Waltons, Plumb begins a full-on aural assault with “First Time”, a wondrous blend of 1980’s rock and Americana that recalls the glory days of a teenager and first love.  This is easily the most commercial single Plumb has produced in some time, but he does so without giving up a bit of quality in his songwriting.  The chorus is infectious and will inhabit your head for days; you won’t be able to help yourself from dancing and singing along.  “Losin’” has a much darker and heavier feel.  Co-written with Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies (who also contributes vocals here), there is a palpable anger to the song that may surprise longtime fans.“What You Leave” is quite another matter altogether, a wonderfully melodic take on growing up, aging gracefully and coming to terms with what is important in life.  Former Barenaked Lady Steven Page lends his golden pipes in support of the most aurally appealing track on the album.  “Alone With You” is a catchy, mid-tempo anti-love song with a chorus that sounds like it belongs on 1970’s classic rock radio (Eagles, anyone?)  Plumb’s brilliance shines here in simple things, and you’ll find it hard to get this song out of your head.Jason Plumb returns to gentle, melodic melancholy on “Hold On”, a gorgeous rumination on not being taken in again by love.  The vocals here are sublime, and Plumb builds the song in small measures to a chorus you simple cannot shake.  Listen for vocal support from Alexa Dirks, whose voice could light up a room.  “All By Myself” finds Jason Plumb and the Willing muscling up for a buoyant mid-tempo rocker full of the sort of hooks that make radio programmers drool.  Don’t be surprised if this song finds its way to the airwaves as we move into the summer months.“On A Chain” blends pop and Americana in a brilliant reflection on not being able to break away from an old love.  The chorus is full of gorgeous vocal harmonies spread out around an edgy melody line; the contrast is appealing, and the mix of voices is pure magic.  Plumbs dips into romantic territory with “Falling Star”, which sounds as if it might have been left over from his Beauty In This World sessions.  It would, in fact, be surprising if this were a leftover, as the song is Plumb at his finest blend of poetry and melody.  It’s a beauty, and builds into a symphonic sounding chorus that leaves an impression on the listener."Under A Gun” finds Plumb sticking with his more lyric side, crafting a subtly beautiful melody line drenched in an ethereal, country-tinged arrangement that wraps you u and rocks you gently in its arms.  “Sweet Misery” starts with the simplest of piano lines and builds into an ode to the mix of suffering and joy that so often makes up love.  The twist here is that Plumb is looking back at someone from the past and realizing how good it was even if he couldn’t see it at the time.  Plumb reasserts his status as one of the finest working songwriters of his day right here.  You’ll have this song on continuous repeat.  Jason Plumb and the Willing close things out on a pragmatic note with the incredibly upbeat country/rock of “Naturally (Ain’t Up To Me)”. The chorus will invade your brain and refuse to leave as Plumb waxes poetic on a newfound acceptance of our ultimate place in life.I’ll step outside the role of reviewer for a moment and offer a disclaimer: I have been a Jason Plumb fan for years.  I saw him with the Waltons back in the day when they opened for Barenaked Ladies in Ontario and small clubs in Buffalo.  I have followed his career as he has branched out; first on his own and later, with Jason Plumb and The Willing.  It’s not surprising that a fan is going to like the work of one of his favorite artists.  (Reviewer hat back on.)  What is surprising, however, is when a well-established songwriter who is respected by his peers remakes himself and raises the bar twenty-five years into a successful career.  Some credit has to be given to Michael Phillip Wojewoda for overseeing the same sort of transformation he has wrought with acts such as Barenaked Ladies, The Rheostatics, Spirit of the West and Ashley MacIsaac.  But the bulk of the credit goes to Jason Plumb and the Willing.  All Is More Than Both is brilliant from first note to last.  This is Prairie Music Award worthy, Juno Award worthy, and yes, GRAMMY Award worthy.  It’s also one of the easiest selections ever as a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.Rating:  5 Stars (Out of 5)Learn more about Jason Plumb at www.jasonplumb.com or www.myspace.com/jasonplumbandthewilling.  All Is More Than Both is a Canadian release.  If you need a CD, you'll have to go MapleMusic.  Digital versions are available from the e-tailers below.     iTunes

Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.

Wildy's World Auctions (American Cancer Society)

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Greetings fellow travelers!

Yes, there are more reviews coming.  I’ve been a bit slow on that front of late asI have been putting much of my spare time into fundraising for the AmericanCancer Society’s Relay for Life!  I haveabout 60 or so reviews in the can, most of them handwritten; all just waitingfor me to find time to type them out.

Yes.

But right now Wildy’s World is engaged in an excitingproject!  We reached out over the pastcouple of months to the artists we’ve worked with over the past several years, andmany have been gracious enough to offer their time and talent for song auctionson eBay (seller ID wildysworld).  Theidea is simple:  The highest bidder fromthe auction gets to fill out a short survey telling the artist what they wouldlike their song to be about.  The artistthen takes that information and interprets it how they will.  The winner will then receive a recording ofthe song via email. 
The recording is expected to be a demo – clean but notnecessarily the finished product you might hear on an album.  Some artists are going further than thisbased on the time and resources available to them.

Even some of the artists who do not have time to engage inthe songwriting project are contributing. One artist is donating a cover song – winner gets to pick the song, anysong, and the artist will interpret it. Still others have donated or promised to donate signed items, rare CDs,artwork, etc.  I’ve even added a fewsigned items I’ve personally received over the past four or so years to themix.

As of this morning there are seven auctions live on eBay,and I would highly encourage you to check them out!  All proceeds will be donated to the AmericanCancer Society through my Relay For Life Team, the Cave Crashers.  And even if you don’t want to participate inthe auction, but want to make a donation on my behalf, you can do so through mypersonal Relay for Life page here.
Here are the auctions currently live.  All are for original songs written by theartist named:

KatiMac (NYC)    - Ends today

JohnMueller (Buddy Holly of Winter Dance Party) – End 6/9/12

BenjaminRussell (Canada) – Ends 6/10/12

AndyHawk (Hamilton, VA) – Ends 6/11/12

TheSpanish Channel (Brooklyn) – Ends 6/12/12

MissedYou At The Show (Manchester, UK) – Ends 6/13/12

TheBlisterz (Albany, NY) – Ends 6/14/12

The following auctions are forthcoming, with the start datelisted.  All auctions are for originalsongs to be written, unless otherwise specified.

BFF (6/8/12)
Jodi Shaw (6/9/12)
Skyler (6/10/12)
Zak Smith Band (6/11/12)
KeyDragon (6/12/12)
The Amplifires (6/13/12)
The Modern Airline (6/14/12)
Randy Stern  (6/15/12)
Joshua Jesty  (6/16/12)
Deborah Crooks (6/17/12)
Mar Harmon of Music With Mar (6/18/12)
Jerry Falzone (6/19/12)
Brian Pounds (6/20/12)
Styx – Signed Electric Guitar (6/21/12)
The Energy Commission (6/22/12)
Jeneen Terrana (6/23/12)
Halie Loren – Cover song (6/24/12)
Aurical (6/25/12)
John Byrne (6/26/12)
Ron Hawkins of Lowest Of The Low – An original oil painting of Bjork (6/27/12)
Joel Dobbins (6/28/12)
Trout Fishing In America – Signed T-Shirts (6/29/12)
Amanda Belardinelli (6/30/12)
These Curious Thoughts (7/1/12)
Crown Point Band (7/2/12)
Steve Haggard (7/3/12)
Kaitlin McGaw (7/4/12)
Shane Lamb (7/5/12)
Amos Lee – Signed, rare CD (7/6/12)
James Scott Fant – 7/7/12
Beth Whitney – 7/8/12
Pat Flanakin – 7/9/12
Brother Joscephus – 7/16/12
Phoebe Leg̩re Р7/18/12

As you can tell, we still have some dates to fill between7/10 and 7/17/12.  If you would like toparticipate in an auction, please contact me at wildysworld@gmail.com.  I also have some items to be scheduled,including signed items from Val Emmich, Kristoffer Ragnstam, Lee Alexander(promised), Marian Call (promised), John Mueller and Stars Go Dim.

Bid early, bid often, and tell everyone you know.  Once again, all proceeds will go the AmericanCancer Society, so it’s all for a good cause! 

Lauren Edman - It's Always The Quiet One

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Lauren Edman – It’s Always The Quiet One
2012, Lauren EdmanAt first listen, Lauren Edman’s It’s Always The Quiet One might seem like a musical autobiography that’s full of contradictions.  It that’s your first impression you might want to listen again.  In a world full of superficial pop music, Edman digs deep.  Exploring the worlds perceptions of a ‘quiet person’ in direct contrast to her sense of self, Edman gets deep into her own psyche while navigating the musical pathways between trip-hop and shoegaze.  Sparse, ethereal arrangements both frame the songs and leave Edman’s voice and presence exposed to the world.  It is a brave artistic effort that succeeds on chutzpah and musicality.Edman has a sweet, plaintive voice with just a hint of edge to it; the high school wall flower that finally speaks during graduation week and makes everyone uncomfortable with how much she’s been paying attention all these years.  Edman’s focus is turned inward on It’s Always The Quiet One, however, examining her own emotions, motives and insecurities.  On “Wasting”, E      dman explores self-doubt in the context of gorgeous ambience.  The vocal harmonies she builds around herself have to be heard to be fully appreciated.   “Slate” sets up an interesting juxtaposition between the arrangement and Edman’s voice.  The almost clockwork piano style nearly sounds programmed, whereas Edman’s voice is passive and sweet.  The theatrical sense here is compelling, as an implication of events out of her control wash by Edmans in her ‘quiet’ state.  “Be The Light” explores the mindset of a loner who knows how to break free but stays confined to their own inner restrictions.  This is a through the looking glass moment, standing on the precipice of setting oneself free while negotiating the inherent discomforts.  This struggle resolves in “Sweet Girl”, with Edman breaking out of her shell.  There’s an almost apologist air to this, but only for the discomfort she’s caused others.  It’s very clear that the quiet girl is here to stay.  The energy in this song changes as well, an uptick from the quiet aesthetics that span much of It’s Always The Quiet One.  Edman doesn’t so much get louder as she injects more energy into her electronic muse, achieving a sense of dynamic that is too often missing from electronic pop.Perhaps the big struggle on It’s Always The Quiet One is that the album climaxes too early.  “Sweet Girl” is a being is becoming moment.  In a movie, you would expect such a character breakthrough to lead to the realization of a goal, dream, etc.  There would be some sort of payoff for the main character or narrator.  That payoff never comes on It’s Always The Quiet One.  Edman offers up a series of musical doodles that are more afterthought that aftershock.  “Red Wings”, “Desperate Times” and “Silent” simply slide by the listener.  Edman shows signs of life on “This Is It”, but they are mere sonic echoes.  “She’s Not Here” is an attempt to celebrate the rite of passage that has occurred in “Sweet Girl”, but it is too far disconnected by time and musical experience to have the impact it might have otherwise.In spite of all of this, there really isn’t a weak song on It’s Always The Quiet One.  It’s simply that Edman starts out with a quietly theatrical sense and the feel of a story in development, but then drops listeners half way through for a series of scattered sidebar illuminations that don’t resonate with the progression she starts with.  It’s clear that Lauren Edman has a talent for building sonically pleasing songs from the electronic ether, and her voice is sweet, but with just enough of an edge to keep it interesting.  There is a talent, however, to building an album that involves more than simply writing songs, but the ability to put them together in a way that flows and makes sense.  Edman loses that sense part way through It’s Always A Quiet One.  It’s not a fatal error, but it does make the listening experience a bit disjointed.Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)Learn more about Lauren Edman at www.laurenedman.com.  It's Always The Quiet One is available from the e-tailers below, as well as through the Wildy's World Amazon.com store.

Amazon CD                 Amazon MP3           iTunes


Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.