Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

I just booked my ticket for Austin to attend this year’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. The event will be held November 8th and 9th @ Waterloo Park. Two-Day passes are available through FrontGate Tickets for $59.99. That’s a reasonable price considering the lineup: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The National, Z-Trip, Clipse, The Black Angels, Atmosphere, Black Joe Lewis and The Honey Bears, Centro-matic, Deerhoof, Octopus Project, Dan Deacon and many more. For the complete lineup click here.

Disclosure: I’m in love with Joanna Newsom. So in love that I can overlook the fact that her voice sounds a bit like Carol Kane’s Spirit of Christmas Present character in the movie Scrooged. If you read the blog regularly you know that my favorite female artists are Feist and Cat Power. But Newsom and Regina Spektor are superior musicians. I highly recommend downloading Newsom’s “Book of Right-On” and “Sadie“.

Bjork’s “Aurora” makes me want to go to church. Her album Vespertine is an masterpiece.

Download (Right-Click Save As):
MP3: Joanna Newsom – Sprout and the Bean
MP3: Regina Spektor – On The Radio

Download:
Joanna Newsom – The Milk-Eyed Mender (iTunes)
Regina Spektor – Begin to Hope (iTunes)

Astrud Gilberto, known as “The Girl from Ipanema” and often referred to as “The Queen of Bossa-Nova” has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard. Her music uses a combination of the sensual rhythms of Brazil and American Jazz. Bebel Gilberto is the daughter of Astrud’s ex-husband João Gilberto. João is considered “The Father Of Bossa-Nova” .

Download:
Astrud Gilberto – Astrud Gilberto's Finest Hour (iTunes)
Ana Caram – Blue Bossa (iTunes)
Bebel Gilberto – Tanto Tempo (iTunes)
Flora Purim – Nothing Will Be As It Was… Tomorrow (iTunes)

Catherine Feeny

I put London native Beth Orton in the same category as Feist and Cat Power. Her voice is sweet and smooth. I prefer her earlier work over her recent material. Check out “Concrete Sky”, “Central Reservation”, “Sweetest Decline” and “She Cries Your Name”.

Philadelphia born singer-songwriter Catherine Feeny is a rising star on the music scene. Keep an eye on Feeny and Alela Diane in 2009, it should be a breakout year for both artists. For further listening download “Mr. Blue”, “New York In The 70’s”, “Hush Now” and “Hurricane Glass”.

Download (Right-Click Save As):
MP3: The Last Town Chorus – Do You Really Wanna Hurt Me (Culture Club)
MP3: Alela Diane – The Alder Trees (Daytrotter Sessions)
MP3: Catherine Feeny – Cry for Me

Download:
Catherine Feeny – Catherine Feeny (iTunes)
Beth Orton – Central Reservation (iTunes)
The Last Town Chorus – The Last Town Chorus (iTunes)
Alela Diane – The Pirate's Gospel (iTunes)

Alela Diane

Portland, Oregon (via Nevada City, California) native Alela Diane is a rising star in the music world. She was recently named Paste Magazine’s “The Best Of What’s Next 26″. Her critically acclaimed 2006 album Pirate’s Gospel reminds me of Cat Power’s voice/music on her 1995-1998 albums Myra Lee, Moon Pix and What Would The Community Think. Diane is currently on tour in Europe.

Feist and Cat Power should be included on every Voices Of Angels posts. I never grow tired of hearing their voices. Cat Power has a larger library of tunes to choose from. I’m looking forward to hearing Feist’s next solo effort.

Download (Right-Click Save As):
MP3: Cat Power – Naked If I Want To (KVRX 1998)
MP3: Cat Power – Nude As The News (Live Amsterdam 1996)
MP3: Cat Power – Metal Heart (Sweet Home Alabama Tease 1998)

Download:
Cat Power – You Are Free (iTunes)
Feist – The Reminder (iTunes)