Choice Cuts: July 2001

Jul 3, 2001 - © Adam McKibbin

Artist: Noelle Hampton

Album: Under These Skies

The Scoop: With a guitar, piano, and cowboy hat, Noelle Hampton conjures up visions of Americana and relationships that have run their course. A proven Bay Area talent, Hampton has opened for a number of big names on the circuit. This collection should push her closer to headliner status; you get the feeling that it’s only a matter of time before you hear one of these songs on a film or televison soundtrack.

Featured Track: "Leo (A Song For A Ruined Man)" An ex-lover moans that she’s ruined him. Noelle shoots back, “For a ruined man, he sure does carry on.” A song about escape, Leo carries the album’s best melody and builds to a triumphant finish.

Honorable Mention: “Little Big Town”, a lovely piano ballad that blends pining with the effervescence of R.E.M.’s “Electrolite.”

For More Info: Listen to tracks & purchase the album at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/hampton For the official web site, check out http://www.noellehampton.com

Artist: Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer

Album: Drum Hat Buddha

The Scoop: The follow-up to the most-played album on folk radio in 2000 (the duo’s Tanglewood Tree). Carter, an award-winning songwriter, marries mysticism and mythology with tasty twang. The duo is just as home in a magician’s cove as they are in a dusty small town. The common thread? Capturing the human spirit. There are few musicians who tell stories like these.

Featured Track: “I Go Like The Raven” Ignited by Grammer’s becoming-trademark fiery fiddle playing, “Raven” is a blend of tricky poetry and seductive vocals. Carter and Grammer sound like they’ve been playing together for decades (actually, they joined forces in 1998).

Honorable Mention: “Tillman Co.” and “Merlin’s Lament”

For More Info: http://www.daveandtracy.com or http://www.signaturesounds.com

Artist: The Go-Betweens

Album: The Friends of Rachel Worth

The Scoop: The triumphant return of the popular Australian band after a 12 year hiatus. Original members Robert Forster and Grant McLennan have enlisted the help from members of Sleater-Kinney and Quasi for this album. The result is a 7th album that stands proudly amongst the band’s finest.

Featured Track: “The Clock” Taking a page from Yo La Tengo, who have perhaps taken a page from early Go-Betweens, “The Clock” is bouncy and dreamy, recapturing the glory days of the band while avoiding the temptation to simply repeat them.

Honorable Mention: If you sing “Spirit” to your unrequited love, it will be unrequited no longer. (“I’ve got no money/ I’ve got nothing at all/ But I’ll keep you guessing.”) Who could say no?

The copyright of the article Choice Cuts: July 2001 in Indie Music is owned by Adam McKibbin. Permission to republish Choice Cuts: July 2001 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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