Nice list 👏 You know, each song by Mazzy Star gives me goosebumps ✨ ooooof and "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths is a masterpiece. Thanks for this bunch of awesomeness to start my Thursday with
Thanks Stygi, glad you enjoyed it! Mazzy Star really was something else and that Smiths classic is indeed a masterpiece.
I think you’re gonna LOVE next week’s edition. There were very few individual albums from artists beginning with I in my musical collection so I ended up digging deep into my compilation albums and pulled out some real gems.
Speaking only to the playlist (which I listened to when walking my dog earlier today), I thought maybe you were choosing all 10 female artists (or fronted bands) of the '90s, but that was just the first 5. I have like 1000 songs that start with H in my iTunes so a project like this is daunting unless I give it extreme parameters. I was so happy to see Letters From Cleo on this! "Here and Now" was one of my favorites back in the day! I'd forgotten all about it. And enjoyed Melanie Doane and Kacy Crowley, who I had never heard before (and it makes sense, since the U.S. never plays any Canadian artists other than Neil Young...sort of kidding). So I guess you split your 10 songs into boys and girls? Of course I would love The Cure and The Smiths and The Cult -- the The bands in the list. I love how with The Cure, the bass often holds the melodic line. Anyway - I'll read the essay part soon, when I come up for air, but wanted to mention the music part....
Interesting observation on the female vs male which I hadn’t noticed. It’s always interesting to see how the playlists develop each week. After winnowing down my initial universe of selected tracks to 10 to 15 that just “feel right” and might work together, the next step is the final cut down and sequencing. For the second half it just felt like the Cure, Cult and Smiths belonged together.
There remain an awful lot of unheralded Canadian musical acts and this series, based as it is on my CD collection, will usually include one or two older Canadian gems each week.
I've seen Mazzy Star live twice and Hope probably 4 or 5 times. The first time I saw MS was at the Union Chapel in London on a cold, dark November evening in 1996 and Sparklehorse was opening. The Victorian/Gothic style church was the perfect ambiance for Mazzy Star's dark, sublime music. Just like her voice, Hope's stage presence is mysterious yet captivating. She doesn't do much, but she doesn't need to. Her voice expresses all.
She still performs, but her stage fright is legendary. She often performs in a dimly lit venue, bathed only in red or blue lights. She seldom acknowledges the crowd nor does she talk in between songs. However, she exudes a magnetic presence and it's impossible to take your eyes off her. And, that voice! It is so beautiful!
“Halah” is my fave Mazzy Star song! Sooo good.
And thanks for talking about Semicolon day. Good lookin’ out.
It’s a great track, one of my faves of hers although if pressed I’d have to go with Into Dust as my favorite
Nice list 👏 You know, each song by Mazzy Star gives me goosebumps ✨ ooooof and "How Soon Is Now" by The Smiths is a masterpiece. Thanks for this bunch of awesomeness to start my Thursday with
Thanks Stygi, glad you enjoyed it! Mazzy Star really was something else and that Smiths classic is indeed a masterpiece.
I think you’re gonna LOVE next week’s edition. There were very few individual albums from artists beginning with I in my musical collection so I ended up digging deep into my compilation albums and pulled out some real gems.
Enjoy the rest of the day!
Great, then I'm all excited and counting down the days until the next edition! Have a lovely weekend, Mark
Speaking only to the playlist (which I listened to when walking my dog earlier today), I thought maybe you were choosing all 10 female artists (or fronted bands) of the '90s, but that was just the first 5. I have like 1000 songs that start with H in my iTunes so a project like this is daunting unless I give it extreme parameters. I was so happy to see Letters From Cleo on this! "Here and Now" was one of my favorites back in the day! I'd forgotten all about it. And enjoyed Melanie Doane and Kacy Crowley, who I had never heard before (and it makes sense, since the U.S. never plays any Canadian artists other than Neil Young...sort of kidding). So I guess you split your 10 songs into boys and girls? Of course I would love The Cure and The Smiths and The Cult -- the The bands in the list. I love how with The Cure, the bass often holds the melodic line. Anyway - I'll read the essay part soon, when I come up for air, but wanted to mention the music part....
Interesting observation on the female vs male which I hadn’t noticed. It’s always interesting to see how the playlists develop each week. After winnowing down my initial universe of selected tracks to 10 to 15 that just “feel right” and might work together, the next step is the final cut down and sequencing. For the second half it just felt like the Cure, Cult and Smiths belonged together.
There remain an awful lot of unheralded Canadian musical acts and this series, based as it is on my CD collection, will usually include one or two older Canadian gems each week.
Loved reading about your experience with different formats and the wise advice at the end.
Thanks Andres!
I've seen Mazzy Star live twice and Hope probably 4 or 5 times. The first time I saw MS was at the Union Chapel in London on a cold, dark November evening in 1996 and Sparklehorse was opening. The Victorian/Gothic style church was the perfect ambiance for Mazzy Star's dark, sublime music. Just like her voice, Hope's stage presence is mysterious yet captivating. She doesn't do much, but she doesn't need to. Her voice expresses all.
She’s fantastic! I would have loved to see her perform live, maybe there’s still a chance.
She still performs, but her stage fright is legendary. She often performs in a dimly lit venue, bathed only in red or blue lights. She seldom acknowledges the crowd nor does she talk in between songs. However, she exudes a magnetic presence and it's impossible to take your eyes off her. And, that voice! It is so beautiful!
Melanie Doane! IIRC she married Ted Dykstra and that was her passport into Toronto theatre.
She is indeed married to Ted Dykstra!
Love so many of these!! Huge fan of Mazzy Star, The Smiths, The Cure… love the tracks by Letters to Cleo and Third Eye Blind!
I have a semi-colon tattoo ❤️
Thanks for reading Kristin, glad you’re enjoying the tunes!