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Subj: Re: Days of Open Hand
Date: 96-01-05 18:43:52 EST
From: vpatten@ocean.washington.edu (Darcy Van Patten)
To: undertow@law.emory.edu
> Yes, you really must hear Days--her best album--though I know this is
> going to be controversial as even Suzanne doesn't really agree. But,
> there are a few of us who will argue this until at least we get a listen
> to "A Slice of Life"--is that still the title?
>
> Wendy!
Curiosity got me. I went out and bought it. On first listen it comes off very sparse and ambient. It also feels more cool and detached than any of the others, but then the intricacies haven't jumped out yet.
Have a good weekend everyone.
Darcy
Subj: Re: Days of Open Hand
Date: 96-01-06 14:47:42 EST
From: wchapman@chaph.usc.edu (Wendy Chapman)
To: vpatten@ocean.washington.edu (Darcy Van Patten)
CC: undertow@law.emory.edu
Darcy,
Keep listening--listen to the subtlties of the albums--the rhythms, instruments, and background vocals--I feel that these all set a tone for the album that carries the lyrics. Also, I think the imagry in the songs is also very important--and personal. I believe more personal than the others because the "I" is used quite a bit in this album--where there were characters in the others (not all but a lot of) and there is a great a lot of dealing w/ the psyche (dreams, relation to society, religion, etc) in this album. I think the music enhances these feelings.
Wendy!
Subj: Re: Days of Open Hand
Date: 96-01-08 00:27:50 EST
From: vpatten@ocean.washington.edu (Darcy Van Patten)
To: wchapman@chaph.usc.edu (Wendy Chapman)
CC: undertow@law.emory.edu
On Sat, 6 Jan 1996, Wendy Chapman wrote:
> Darcy,
>
> Keep listening--listen to the subtlties of the albums--the rhythms,
> instruments, and background vocals--I feel that these all set a tone for
> the album that carries the lyrics.
This album is very interesting musically. When I first started listening to Suzanne, it was the lyrics entirely that caught me. As far as I was concerned, every song could have been sung acappella..it wouldn't have mattered. Obviously with Days and even more so with 99.9F, the music plays a larger role. I still think though that it's her very direct singing style and lyrics that effect me the most.
> Also, I think the imagry in the songs
> is also very important--and personal. I believe more personal than the
> others because the "I" is used quite a bit in this album--where there
> were characters in the others (not all but a lot of) and there is a great
> a lot of dealing w/ the psyche (dreams, relation to society, religion,
> etc) in this album. I think the music enhances these feelings.
>
> Wendy!
>
I was thinking about your comments as I listened to it today, and I guess I disagree in part. I is used a lot, but it's a reactionary I--how I relate to the outer world, and not so much how I relate to my own inner world. Of course they're related, but I don't feel the same interspection I felt with her first album. Of course this may be more due to where I am currently as a listener as opposed to where I was when I first heard her. It's hard to separate the two. I do really like Days. I'm not discounting it at all, as I thought I might be able to given what I had read of it (even Suzannes own words).
Institution green and rusted pipe stand out for me. They seem more personal, but still I can't help but feel some detachment. I wonder if producing an album demands that at all. It seems like trying to perfect all parts might detract from the one central part. I don't really know; it's just a hypothesis. I'm glad I got it, though, and like all of her albums, I'm sure that more will reveal itself with each listen.
Darcy
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