List of Emusic downloads for september 2006. I will review them later.
Assembly of Dust - Gathering of the Vibes (2006) 
Au Revoir Simone - Through the Backyards (single) (2006) 
The coverart for this one is beautiful. Seems strange that they let you download the track from their website, but the remix is quite good, so it was worth downloading it all. I like to support artists too.
Free Downloads
1.
Through the Backyards
Bettie Serveert - Bare Stripped Naked (Single) (2006) 
Wrong title for this single. It's the track
Hell = Other People from the album
Bare Stripped Naked. It was free when I downloaded it, but it has changed since. It's a sweet and easy track, a little like
The Weepies, but not the same attention to vocal work, and not as mysterious when it comes to the lyrics. It's more straight forward - some would say boring, but I don't think so. It's a slow flow of syrup.
The Weepies is a slow flow of honey.
Per Se (2005)
Falling From Grace (2000)
Velvethope was kind enough to leave comments in my journal, and she suggested I gave
The Gentle Waves a listen.
Velvethope also has a very good personal radio Which I of course did. The title track of this Single (four tracks) reminds me of
Seasons in the Sun. The remaining three tracks are more mellow, slower.
Going Home is a bit anonymous;
October's Sky is not, more playful, albeit a bit monotonous, which is broken close to the end. Fits well with the lyrics though I suspect. Walking wet city streets.
Hold Back A Thousand Hours is for when she gets home from that walk, making coffee. For the space between getting home and getting kissed.
Griffin House - Homecoming (advance edition) (2006)
You don't sing
I'm lonely. You sing something else, around it, creating the elements that communicates the feeling of loneliness. Feelings should not be communicated by a word; words should communicate a feeling. This is
the general rule of good lyrics. But wait a minute then. What about Tom Waits on his debut album? The track
Lonely is filled with the word
lonely. However, the lyrics does not communicate lonelines, they communicate depression, using the word loneliness to do so. Griffin House misses that point entirely in the track
Lead Me On.
That off my chest, House still creates great pop / singer-song-writer songs. This year, Nettwerk has released two albums and two EPs with House. As obvious from my Overall Top Artists I like a lot of what House does. But I'm also curious as to when he finally finds his style and at least a bit unique sound. All of his albums has some outstanding great tracks on them, but they also has some that should be scrapped. Or at least, they should be put together more efficiently. All of his albums lack consistency,
Homecoming is no exception. I've been looking forward to the release of this album, hoping that this would be straightened as Griffin progress as a songwriter. Unfortunately this has not happened yet. Other reviewers has pointed out that the individual tracks often sound like style exercises, frequently sounding like Bono from
U2. Which of course is a positive thing if you like
U2, but not so positive if you would like to like
Griffin House. It's strange that such talent seem to be bewildered when it comes to how it should be directed. And then again, I can relate.
As usual, the album is well produced and mixed. There are some very good tracks on the album, and is well worth the download and then some. If you like to boast about knowing artists before they became radio stars, you should get this.
Free Downloads
10.
The Guy Who Says Goodbye to you is out of his mind
Irie Révoltés - Voyage (2006) 
A mixture of
Mano Negra,
Manu Chao, and
Bikstok Røgsystem... Well, those are my references, what's yours? I have a weakness for that certain european sound, when vocals are rapped in German (like
MissEducated), song in French and every other european and non-europen languages. As long as it is not Danish with an American accent (c.f. just about every danish rap and hip-hop "artist" out here).
Free Downloads
Ein kalter kaffe
Nie wieder
Irie Révoltés - Soleil (2006)
You're Speaking My Language (2005)
I want to be Juliette's Lover. So I downloaded this and bought a ticket for the show 2006-10-23. In fact, I think this will turn out to be a perfect simulation of my lovelife in general. Great many preparations, money spend, and attempts to catch eyes and figuring out whether brutal masculinity or smiling sweetness is the right approach. It will end as usual as I go home alone. Ah well, I'm gonna enjoy the music. For now, I'm gonna listen to
Juliet Pauses from time to time.
Lovers (2005)
Thulla - Trip (2006)
Double Up, Please! (2002)
Various Artists - Rock the Earth Sampler 2 (2006)
Various Artists - Hefty Records - Hefty Sampler (2006)
Various Artists - Suburban Home and Friends (2006)
Various Artists - Emusic - Trojan Pleasure Play List (2006)
This was a free download for a while, but it's not available anymore. A few good tracks on this one, notably
Run. The compilation is worth the download, but it won't be an album that I'll play repeatedly.
Wendy McNeill - The Wonder Show (2006) 
Someone might try to kill me, but this sounds like an accoustic
Alanis Morissette. My father is an adept accordion player, and this album has plenty of that. The accordion and McNeills voice is at the core of some of the tracks. The album has great play on the dynamics. The lyrics are important too, and with the mix which gives the vocals clarity, their importance is well reflected is the music. The mood is slow and thoughtful. Not as dark and moodsetting as
Woven Hand, but still enough to get a sense of power and restricted energy. While
Woven Hand gives me a sense of power within, this album is more a collection of stories of powerful events, empathy is the key here. This is not unlike
Tom Waits, or even
The Hold Steady.
Where the Living Was Wild is powerful in that aspect, and one of my favorite tracks on the album. The comparison to
Tom Waits is a valid one I think. The instrumentation, the lyrics, and the production in general reminds me strangely of
Franks Wild Years. A little more play with the instruments to support the story maybe. Would make the interplay between lyrics and music more interesting.
I grew tired of
Alanis Morissettes wailing quickly. I hope this will not happen with McNeill. The fact that McNeill has something to say, and tells it by telling stories, rather than being self absorbed, is something that might keep me listening. For now, this is a very good album.
McNeill is opening for
Under Byen on
a tour in Denmark. I plan to go on the 23. november at
Forbrændingen.
Listen
You can listen to
Such a Common Bird,
Holly O', and
Carnation here
Wendy McNeill at MySpace
Bikstok Røgsystem