Thursday, February 19, 2009

Review: Alela Diane's "To Be Still"

Photobucket


When I look back on the different seasons every year, there is always an artist/album or two that I listen to that becomes my quintissential album for that point in time. Everything about Alela Diane's new album makes it the perfect winter album - her soothing voice and the folk/americana sound of her music as a whole could warm up anyone during the end of these cold months. To Be Still, Alela Diane's latest album, is the perfect "relaxing" album, the kind of thing you listen to, imagining that you're in the countryside, snowed in, drinking hot cider. Alela Diane has one of the most unique voices I've heard in music today; the sturdy subtlety in her voice is soulful without being dominating, and is gently coaxed by the acoustic, light sounds of the music.

Another thing I enjoy about Still is that this is no neo-folk/sub-genre/generic indie music that you'll hear, which is good, as, let's be honest - that gets boring after a while. This is traditional folk, all the way down to the meditative lyrics, which primarily talk about nature and human feelings. Overall, Still leaves its listener warm; which is perfect while we hold out for the last month or so of winter.



Still is available now, and Alela will be touring over the next couple of months. Want to listen? Her myspace is www.myspace.com/alelamusic. So far, my favorite song is Dry Grass and Shadows, the same song that was the free download on iTunes a couple of weeks back.

Here's her tour schedule in the U.S. (as gotten from her MySpace):

Feb 15 2009 9:00P
Holocene CD release show! w/ homeboy Aaron Ross! PORTLAND, Oregon
Feb 18 2009 8:00P
First Avenue w/ Blitzen Trapper(venue changed) Minneapolis, Minnesota
Feb 19 2009 6:30P
The Empty Bottle - EARLY SHOW! Chicago, Illinois
Feb 19 2009 9:00P
Empty Bottle-SOLD OUT Chicago, Illinois
Feb 20 2009 8:00P
Magic Stick w/ Blitzen Trapper Detroit, Michigan
Feb 21 2009 8:00P
Horseshoe Tavern w/ Blitzen Trapper Toronto
Feb 22 2009 8:00P
La Sala Rossa w/ Blitzen Trapper Montreal
Feb 24 2009 8:00P
Bug Jar w/ Blitzen Trapper Rochester, New York
Feb 25 2009 8:00P
Pearl Street Nightclub w/ Blitzen Trapper Northampton, Massachusetts
Feb 26 2009 8:00P
Paradise w/ Blitzen Trapper Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 27 2009 8:00P
Bowery Ballroom - SOLD OUT New York, New York
Feb 28 2009 8:00P
Music Hall of Williamsburg w/ Blitzen Trapper Brooklyn, New York
Mar 1 2009 8:00P
First Unitarian Church w/ Blitzen Trapper philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mar 2 2009 8:00P
Black Cat w/ Blitzen Trapper washington DC, Washington DC
Mar 4 2009 8:00P
40 Watt Club w/ Blitzen Trapper Athens, Georgia
Mar 5 2009 8:00P
Orange Peel w/ Blitzen Trapper Asheville, North Carolina
Mar 6 2009 8:00P
Mercy Lounge w/ Blitzen Trapper Nashville, Tennessee
Mar 7 2009 8:00P
The Bottletree w/ Blitzen Trapper Birmingham, Alabama
Mar 8 2009 8:00P
Hi-Tone Cafe w/ Blitzen Trapper Memphis, Tennessee
Mar 9 2009 8:00P
The Opolis w/ Blitzen Trapper Norman, Oklahoma
Mar 10 2009 8:00P
Jackpot Saloon w/ Blitzen Trapper Lawrence, Kansas
Mar 12 2009 8:00P
Hi Dive w/ Blitzen Trapper Denver, Colorado
Mar 13 2009 8:00P
Kilby Court w/ Blitzen Trapper Salt Lake City, Utah
Mar 15 2009 8:00P
Hotel Cafe Los Angeles, California
I would like to say that I'm going to Pearl Street, but I highly doubt I'll be able to get there, sadly. HOWEVER! I know that I'm either going to of Montreal or Elvis Perkins in April (yay!), so there will be some type of posting to ensue at that time.

No comments:

Post a Comment