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Subj: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 10:24:01 EDT
From: fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov
To: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

I know this isn't exactly s vega material. But has anyone heard of Christine Lavine? Or seen her in concert?? Is she comparable to Suzanne? Shawn Colvin?? Sara Mclauchlan?? She's going to be coming to the area. I was thinking about buying her CD/and or the concert. Something to pacify me until suzanne tours.- farha

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 14:06:43 EDT
From: jderouen@crl.com
To: fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov
CC: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

On Fri, 24 Mar 1995 fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov wrote:

> I know this isn't exactly s vega material. But has anyone heard of Christine > Lavine? Or seen her in concert?? Is she comparable to Suzanne? Shawn Colvin?? > Sara Mclauchlan?? She's going to be coming to the area. I was thinking about > buying her CD/and or the concert. Something to pacify me until suzanne tours.-

> farha

Ms. Lavine is perhaps one of the best of the modern folk group. You should definitely give her a listen. She's very talented and her material is very diverse. Funny at times, touching at times, and always entertaining.

Shawn Colvin . . . She's okay. Definitely not up to (in my opinion) the quality of Suzanne Vega or Christine Lavine, though. She's folk with a bit too much country thrown in for my taste.

Sarah McLachlan is more or less a more talented Tori Amos. Kinda alternative folk, is such a thing is possible. Her music is interesting but the vocals aren't always as distinct as I feel they should be for the sort of music she's doing.

Gee, this is my first post to Undertow. Ironic that it really isn't about Suzanne Vega. :)

Joe DeRouen

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 14:33:45 EDT
From: Jeremy513@aol.com
To: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

>I know this isn't exactly s vega material. But has anyone heard of >Christine >Lavine? Or seen her in concert?? Is she comparable to Suzanne? >Shawn Colvin?? >Sara Mclauchlan?? She's going to be coming to the area. I was >thinking about >buying her CD/and or the concert.

Christine Lavin is, IMO, talented to a point. Don't expect to be moved as in SV, however. Actually, I think Lavin is at her best with her funny stuff, some of which (including btw her SV parody) is really great. When she gets serious, she tends to get sappy..

And while we're at it, allow me to voice some disagreement about the previous opinion of Shawn Colvin, who is astonishingly talented, especially as a singer and guitar player. She has written some great songs as well. Country?? Not really. She has been overproduced at times, however.

Jeremy

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 14:34:50 EDT
From: merritt@tbone.biol.scarolina.edu
To: fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov
CC: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

On Fri, 24 Mar 1995 fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov wrote:

> farha

I have her most recent cd and have seen her live a couple of times, apparently she has been touring for quite some time. I really like her material. Her song writing, esp. on this last album, is great. She is also a very accomplished guitarist. She shows this off some on the last album, and can really get into it live.. In fact, she puts on a wonderful show. The two times (both times in Corvallis, Or) I've seen her she has genuinely seemed to enjoy interacting with the crowd. She has a cutting wit, a liberal bent and a willingness to talk a bit. The shows were both funny, and musically fantastic. I went up to speak to her after the last show, she was great.

Of the artists you mentioned for comparison, Sarah M. is probably the closest, but their shows are completely different. I've only seen Lavin as a solo act, just her and guitar. She sometimes tours with a bass player, I've been told these shows are even better than the ones I've seen. Anyway, bottom, pick up the cds and see a show if you can.

Thomas Merritt
B. Libby is God.
Biological Sciences, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia SC 29208
Internet address: merritt@tbone.biol.scarolina.edu

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 16:36:07 EDT
From: art41373@leonis.nus.sg
To: fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov
CC: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

> Sara Mclauchlan?? She's going to be coming to the area. I was thinking about > buying her CD/and or the concert. Something to pacify me until suzanne tours.-

> farha

> Sarah McLachlan is an Excellent artiste. I'd catch her if i could .. though i think it's unlikely she'll be touring this part of Asia.

If u havent gotten Fumbling Towards Ecstasy already .. its probably coz u havent heard Sarah's material. Check out her excellent contribution to the No Alternative compilation, Track 10 HOLD ON - an alternate version is available on the album FTE.

RUN for the TIX!

"I'm not the dog i was.."
Now They'll Sleep, Belly

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 17:11:03 EDT
From: moshe@amanda.dorsai.org
To: fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov
CC: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

On Fri, 24 Mar 1995 fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov wrote:

> farha Christine and Suzanne know each other from their days struggling in the NY folk scene. Christine has even written an amusing parody of Suzanne's style. You should certainly consider seeing Christine if you have a good sense of humor, but she's not really comparable to Suzanne or the other artists you mention aside from being female and accompanying herself on the guitar. Her main style of lyric is satirical and much of her material is humorous. She puts on a good show, but don't go expecting poetic lyrics full of glowing imagery. She's a welcome alternative to Vega, not a substitute. You'll probably enjoy her, just don't expect the same itch to be scratched - for that you'll have to wait until Suzanne tours again.

Moshe Feder ===> ===> ===> ===> moshe@amanda.dorsai.org
Typos unintentionla >>>FIAWOL<<< 718-461-5302

Subj: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 18:39:43 EDT
From: ST910158@PIP.CC.BRANDEIS.EDU
To: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

farha,
yes, i think you would enjoy christine lavine's concert. my mom saw her and thought she was quite good. i've heard a tape and, although she's not Suzanne or Shawn, she reminds me of their early stuff, raw and full. some is just fun. go, have a good time.

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-24 23:44:49 EDT
From: iflin@artsci.wustl.edu
To: fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov
CC: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

On Fri, 24 Mar 1995 fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov wrote:

> I know this isn't exactly s vega material. But has anyone heard of Christine > Lavine? Or seen her in concert?? Is she comparable to Suzanne? Shawn Colvin??

i don't know about christine lavine. BUT i do know aht you will most likely like shawn colvin. she has a folk flavour that is comprable to suzanne. AND she has guest starred on a number of song by suzanne as well! i do believe she did back up for luka, as well as back up for one or two songs off of days of open hand. they know each other from a while back and have been friends (i think? i am trying to remember old interviews with suzanne) from the folk scene in new york back in the 80's

> Sara Mclauchlan??

i assume you are talking about sarah mclaughlin. she is wonderful, but not that similar to suzanne. other than she has a great voice and has some great songs. you should go to the ocncert though. paula cole is opening up for her, and she is wonderful as well. she did back up for peter gabriel for his secret world tour.

people that sarah mclachlan has been compared to are: tori amos (though sarah has been around longer than tori), kate bush, sinead o'connor, and a few others here and there.

sarah has that song possession that was pretty popular awhile back. i also hear that her lighting show is phenomenal.

hope this helps.

irvin

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-25 05:24:44 EDT
From: pritc003@maroon.tc.umn.edu
To: iflin@artsci.wustl.edu
CC: fternikar@boeing.hq.nasa.gov
CC: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

> i don't know about Christine Lavin. BUT i do know aht you will > most likely like shawn colvin. she has a folk flavour that is comprable > to suzanne. AND she has guest starred on a number of song by suzanne as > well! i do believe she did back up for luka, as well as back up for one > or two songs off of days of open hand. they know each other from a while > back and have been friends (i think? i am trying to remember old > interviews with suzanne) from the folk scene in new york back in the > 80's

Christine Lavin is great, if you go for that kind of stuff. If there was a Dr. Demento for Folk, Christine would be played on that every week. She writes a lot of "humor" type folk songs. "Mysterious Woman" off of "Good Thing He Can't Read My Mind" is her ode to Suzanne. The quote from the liner notes is:

"I used to dream of owning an air conditioner. I used to dream of owning a microwave oven. Then I got one. Now I dream of being a "Mysterious Woman," which I know will remain my impossible unfulfilled dream, since I blab everything. This song probably comes from listening to Suzanne Vega's albums one too many times. I love her music. Oh ... to be of those elusive sirens of the night. Oh ... to keep everyone guessing. Oh ... to be a mysterious nightbird in flight. Oh ... well."

Shawn Colvin has done backing vocals for Suzanne a few times, and Suzanne has done backing vocals for Shawn, too (sorry, I'm too lazy to get up again and grab the CDs to check the liner notes to tell you which songs).

I think Shawn does best without the backing band. If you can see her live when it is just her and guitar, do it! She really shines in that format (so does Suzanne!). I talked to her once after a concert, and she was really very nice. This was just after her first album came out, and we talked a bit about her work with Suzanne, and she talked about how she had just done some backing vocals for Suzanne's next album (days of open hand, I tink) the week before. The reason I went to see her in the first place was

the fact that one of the local rags said that Shawn could be Suzanne's little

sister (more or less a quote). I wasn't disappointed, but keep in mind that everyone has their own style. I don't think that Shawn's music is quite as "deep" as Suzanne's, but I still enjoy it.

> > Sara Mclauchlan??

> > i assume you are talking about sarah mclaughlin. she is > wonderful, but not that similar to suzanne. other than she has a great > voice and has some great songs. you should go to the ocncert though. > paula cole is opening up for her, and she is wonderful as well. she did > back up for peter gabriel for his secret world tour.

> > people that sarah mclachlan has been compared to are: tori amos > (though sarah has been around longer than tori), kate bush, sinead > o'connor, and a few others here and there.

> > sarah has that song possession that was pretty popular awhile > back. i also hear that her lighting show is phenomenal.

I also really enjoy Sarah's music. I also think that her label gives her more support than A&M gives Suzanne. I've always been able to find lots of Nettwerk releases with Sarah on them without any problems, and I always have to drive to 5 stores before finding any non-album releases by Suzanne (e.g. CD-singles, etc).

p.s.

It is Sarah McLachlan.

Subj: Re: chris lavin
Date: 95-03-26 19:57:45 EDT
From: R.SHORTT@student.anu.edu.au
To: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

>And while we're at it, allow me to voice some disagreement about the previous >opinion of Shawn Colvin, who is astonishingly talented, especially as a >singer and guitar player. She has written some great songs as well. Country??

>Not really. She has been overproduced at times, however.

I'm sort of lukewarm on Shawn Colvin. I don't like some of her songs, but I _really_ love "Set the Prairie on Fire" (from _Fat City_).

It's also sort of ironic that Shawn and Suzanne ended up in competition for the Best Folk Album for 1990 (with Steady On and Days of Open Hand, respectively) when each of them had done backing vocals on the other's album!

Cheers,
Robin

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
"Suzanne Vega's my cousin. If she's become a folk singer, I sure as hell
don't know nothin' about it. But then I haven't been to too many
Thanksgivings recently." - Vincent Vega, Pulp Fiction (original script)

Subj: Shawn Colvin
Date: 95-03-27 03:44:33 EDT
From: thomasb@wiges.se
To: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

Mike Pritchard wrote:

>Shawn Colvin has done backing vocals for Suzanne a few times, and Suzann= e >has done backing vocals for Shawn, too (sorry, I'm too lazy to get up >again and grab the CDs to check the liner notes to tell you which >songs).

Shawn Colvin also did backing vocals on Suzanne's '87 Solitude Standing t= our.

Sure most of you already know...

Thomas Bengtsson

thomasb@wiges.se

Subj: general comments
Date: 95-03-27 22:41:30 EDT
From: loppenh1@cc.swarthmore.edu
To: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

First of all, belated congratulations to Suzanne on her marriage!

My favorite Christine Lavin song is "Amoeba Hop". "Cold Pizza for Breakfast" comes in a close second.

Is there much overlap between Suzanne Vega fans and Ani DiFranco fans, or is it just me and Karin (hi Karin)?

For anyone who likes Jonatha Brook (formerly of The Story) I saw her open for Holly Near this weekend, and she said she'll have an album out hopefully in August. She was really good.

An anecdote: I go to Swarthmore College, which is in the teeny tiny teeny tiny suburb of Swarthmore, PA (near Philly). The other day I was in our one coffeehouse, the Jumping Cow. It is owned by neat Swarthmore grads who often play Suzanne Vega in the restaurant. This particular morning, Days of Open Hand was on, and some alum was reminiscing that she first saw Suzanne on her Solitude Standing tour, at Swarthmore College. Sigh... I would love for Suzanne to come here now. We are not a big enough school to support artists as popular as she is now. But that really isn't a request (unless you're dying to experience painful suburbia, Suzanne!)

Leah

Subj: john cale
Date: 95-04-02 20:54:57 EDT
From: Jeremy513@aol.com
To: undertow@law.lawlib.emory.edu

> Does anyone know who John Cale actually is? What other stuff > has he > done? I'd be interested in looking some of his stuff up ...

well I'm sure many others will be more informative, but just as a start, John Cale (who's from Wales I think) was one of the founding members of Velvet Underground, and has had a long and interesting career as a solo artist, occasionally with major record labels, ever since he left the group (after just two albums). He's often veered off into serious avant-garde stuff, then will turn around and do some relatively straightforward, almost punk-ish rock--a hard to categorize body of work all in all. He reunited w/ Lou Reed for an Andy Warhol tribute album of sorts in 1990 and collaborated with Brian Eno on a surprisingly good-humored album released that same year. So he's no stranger to collaboration.

Jeremy

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