5 comments about Exile in Guyville.

1. A good cd. Much better than her newer music. If you like good music, you should pick this cd up.



2. This is a great album that has stood the test of time. "Flower" - WOW. I wish Liz wanted ME that bad.



3. Ok im not the type of person that only likes the mainstream...not at ALL. i love my Tori Amos, Fiona Apple, PJ harvey and such like the next person they are all fantastic. With Liz Phair i have to be honest i brought Whitechoc and whipsmart first (based on reviews) and despite really liking a few songs on both i wasnt excited...and they made little impact...this of course made me unhappy because via the reviews i was expecting to find yet another new goddess of great music....i then brought liz phair and somebodys miracle...and despite understanding some fans point in the sounds...i still loved the music its great catchy stuff and in no way has she "sold out" by making it, its her choice to go in another direction musically and she's done the lo-fi thing now so why not move on? ANYWAYS in all of this i knew i had to at some point get Exile, supposedly her best work, raved about, in rolling stones top 500? but i was unsure...after whipsmart and co...well i got it and....wow! so good, as good as they say and better! i LOVE this album 6''1, help me mary, dance of the seven viels,never said,mesmerising, f**k and run, girls!, stratford-on-guy and strange loop are all among her best ever songs and i would recommend this album to anyone...and another great thing is it made me go back to the other two and they are not as great but they both come close! so yeh her first three are her best...and she has vocal limits...but on exile this works brillaintly for her, Liz Phair rocks amongst the best!!!!!!



4. album that is going to sound great to most people out of the box, but given time it will grow on you. It certainly is not the most polished piece of work but that is part of the charm. I am kind of tired of over produced albums being held up as the pinnacle of music. Sometimes you have to find the diamond in the rough and appreciate it for what it is.
   
   The lyrics alone make this worth the price of admission. There are very few artists that can write the things that are found in this album and then have the guts to sing them out loud.
   
   If you are looking for something polished and top 40 this is not it, but if you have an open mind give it a try.



5. This album will grow on you faster then moss in a swamp. Lyrics that when you hear them - your just happy she's not singing about you - yet are sexy enough that you also wish she was singing about you. Also, in the songs you really can see Liz's inner thoughts and insecurities. It was said when she went to support this record her stage fright was enormous - you can also see that nervousness in her songs. Do yourself a favor and put up the 14 or 15 bones and be entertained by the sexy girl next door Liz.

5 comments about One Mississippi/The Wellfed Boy EP.

1. You'll probably all know Brendan Benson from his successful incarnation in the supergroup Raconteurs which he formed with his friend Jack White of White Stripes. As accomplished as this music is, it is not in the same league as Benson's superb solo stuff which preceded it. Jack White himself considers Benson a genius. He's not wrong.
   
   'One Mississippi' is Brendan Benson's debut album. It shows an astonishing maturity and musicality for a debut. Benson had help from his friend Jason Falkner (ex-Jellyfish and Grays). Falkner co-wrote seven of these songs. Highlights for me are many. "Tea" is a nice brief Beatlesque ramble. "I'm Blessed" is a power pop headrush. "Got No Secrets" is one of the many highlights. The guitar hook is amazing. The lyrics are very serious compared to the music. 'Emma J' is another highlight. The acoustic guitar work is exceptional. Very Spanish feel to it. Of the rest of the tracks, I enjoy some of the more frantic rockers like "I'm Blessed" and the exceptional "Christy". This album is well worth the money as it contains 22 great songs. It's comprised of "One Mississippi" and "The Wellfed Boy EP" (Wellfed Boys was the name of an incarnation of his backing band) and is great value. Overall, it's brilliant. I would have to say that the follow up album "Lapalco" is even better - but this is just trying to compare two masterpieces to each other. It's like trying to decide which of your children you love better. Get both and enjoy !



2. Nice to see it re-released with Well-Fed Boy Demos EP. I have that on the original vinyl, and the rough (rejected) versions that were the foundation for One Mississippi are great.
   
   Side 1 - Crosseyed, Me Just Purely, Cherries
   Side 2 - I'm Blessed, Sittin Pretty, Christy
   
   Hmm, produced and recorded by Jason Falkner. These songs were recorded onto a 4 track while just in town. Written by Brendan Benson. Ok reason for typing this directly from the sleeve is some credit Falkner for his songs/talent etc. (see reviews of The Alternative to Love)... which isn't quite fair/right. Sure he helped. But lets set it straight...
   
   As others have put it, every song is great. Period. A must have... 'Maginary Girl to I'm Blessed, Sittin Pretty, Got No Secrets, Insects Rule, Bird's Eye View..... all of em Amazing
   
   "If I point my gun at you, are you gonna see it my way?"
   
   ok rumor is his tour this year will be backed by Beck's band as on his new album, he plays all guitar, bass, synth/keys/moog etc... basically everything except drums. No real official band... awesome. See ya there!



3. This album is my new favorite album, with a sound simular to ben folds, but with guitar, and awsome lyrics. This album will have you strutting in a new kind of way. Its a feel good album. The first time you hear it, you will like it. Seriously Try the first 3 tracks out of this album. If you dont like it email me..... i would like to meet someone who does not like this album.



4. This album is not just one of the best albums of 1994-2004, it is a true testament to artistry in an industry of clones and phonies. I am so impressed with Brendan Benson and his talent, that he has not only gained a fan for life, but I am bringing anybody I can on board. Its not hard to get people to like you or your music when its this good, I mean, all you've gotta do is get em to do is listen to it. My personal favorites are "Tea", "Bird's Eye View', "Emma J", "Me Just Purely (Demo Version)" and "The Swamp". There isnt even a "best song" on here, everyone just has their personal favorites. I'm eagerly anticipating the new album, Brendan, keep the good work up.



5. I was referred to Brendan Benson by someone who had seen him in 2002 opening for the White Stripes and promoting his other, newer record "Lapalco" ... and he has, effortlessly, become one of my favorite artists.
   
   This album is power pop in its finest. The lyrics completely quirky, and the melodies infectious. The first three tracks are my absolute all-time favorite opening to an album. Brendan Benson does what all of those pseudo quirky alternative pop artists WANT to do but never come anywhere near achieving.
   
   I would also like to note that I lost my Out-Of-Production copy of this album (which I bought on Ebay promptly after seeing him live in 2002 before this rerelease was available) in Germany and just recently bought the re-release with the EP, and I was very pleased to find new joy in an album I have almost worn out in listening over the years. I especially like the raw-er demo version of "Sittin' Pretty" ... the harmony at the chorus almost makes you wish it had ended up that way in the final cut... and "Christy" is just... one of the coolest tracks by anyone, anywhere.
   
   Brendan Benson is a funny, genuine, and well-honed song writer. You will NOT regret a second of this album. From beginning to end, it is an absolute pleasure :)

5 comments about Our Shadows Will Remain.

1. "Our Shadows Will Remain" is up to the same excellent standards Joseph Arthur has set with "Come to Where I'm From"(my favorite) and Redemption's Son".
   
   You can't go wrong with any of these three and if you like Joseph Arthur -you should go ahead and get them all. "Nuclear Daydream" and "Big City ..." are fine for a fan (which I am), but start with one of the three I suggest here if you are just being introduced to him.



2. I suspect I'd enjoy this album better if I hadn't seen Joseph perform most of these songs live in a much more stripped down haunting manner. "Can't Exist" is the most obvious casualty of the overproduction here, making it for me at least almost unlistenable. There is just something a bit too slick about how this album was produced as if someone was afraid of how stark the material is so they decided to sweeten it. "I Am" is another one that worked quite beautifully live and seems almost hokey on the album, which is a shame as it is almost Beckettian in its clarity. Still some great songs but too much gloss.



3. Let's get the clunkers out of the way first: "I Am" sounds like the more pretentious bits of Pearl Jam via Daniel Lanois, while "Leave Us Alone" sounds like Meat Loaf. Given that Arthur usually writes with a pretty sure hand, both songs sound like jarring missteps.
   
   On the other hand, Joseph Arthur's never been one to play it safe, so he can/should be forgiven if his reach occasionally exceeds his grasp. I've seen a couple of reviewers--here and elsewhere--complain that this album's a stylistic hodgepodge, but I rather liked the variation, which tends to be absent on, say, the more recent "Nuclear Daydream." It should also be said that it's not variation for variation's sake; from the ethereal "Echo Park" to the more earthy "Can't Exist" or "Devil's Broom," the changes are appropriate to the music. They're there to drive home the lyrics, rather than being there for their own sake. In contrast to someone like Josh Rouse (whose songwriting I love, but whose arrangements tend to fall into a middle-of-the-road sameness), Arthur's not afraid to stretch out.
   
   What all of this translates to, when all's said and done, is someone whose work bears up to repeated listening... even if the number of those listening is probably much smaller than it ought to be. Joseph Arthur is one of a small number of artists whose work I'll buy with no questions asked, because the end result--whatever else it may be--is always compelling.



4. Amazing songs, well constructed, different, mixed instrumentation, great use of drums and guitar and voice. Ranks with Hose Gonzalez as Album of 2006. Enjoy.
   
   Davo



5. Listening to this, I am reminded of the best work of Elliott Smith. And that is saying something.

5 comments about Control.

1. I got this album about three years ago. When I first aquired it, I gave it a quick listen and then put it away for about 2 years. I pulled it out again and listened to it. I WAS BLOWN AWAY. I was on a long drive and I found myself getting extremely involved in the songs, the images, and the story Mr. Bazan told.
   
   "Options" sets the mood for the album perfectly: an introduction, or backstory, to the affair between a husband and wife. "So I told her I love her. And she told me she loves me. And I mostly believed her. And she mostly believed me. But for now I need you..."
   
   Then it happens. "Rapture" beautifully reveals the affair. "This is how we multiply. Pity that it's not my wife..." The imagery in this song is inspiring in so many ways.
   
   Throughout the album you find yourself loving, hating, and hurting. My favorite song on the album, "Priests and Paramedics" is incredible. The melody and structural shape of the music is so simple yet so powerful. This album musically is also beautifully crafted and diverse.
   
   Musically the album is an easy listen, but lyrically this album is one to think to. It's impossible not to find yourself becoming so involved in the album. You'll laugh, cry, and even find yourself in anger. This album demands emotion. This album deserves far more than 5 stars...



2. This is the first Pedro the Lion album that i heard, and i was very skeptical at first. I found it too slow, and almost depressing. But as i listened to it, i guess i began to understand what they were about and became extremely intrigued. Now they are among one of my favorite new "rock" bands and i own everything they have put out. But i would never have gotten into them without this album. This album was the most easily accessable album of theirs, and needed to fully understand them. So if you have any interest in this band, this is a must have.



3. I'm only writing this review because I don't agree with the most recent.
   
   Most Pedro the Lion fans I know say Control is their favorite. It's a great one to start with.



4. As i read through the reveiws, I see a lot of people that are dissapointed in 'control.' Personally I like it, my favorite song right now is "second best" track 8. I couldn't believe that nobody else even mentioned this song earlier.



5. I have to say how pleased I am with this album. I am completely addicted to it. I love every song on here. I think this is PTL's finest work.
   
   Is it depressing? I suppose. I suppose it is, if you consider dark, thoughtful material to be depressing. I don't think it is. I don't know that taking a look at the dark side of humanity is necessarily immoral, depressing, or what have you.
   
   The level of despair, confusion, and sickness might disturb you - if so, I say good. A job well done. Why should every piece of music be a toothpaste jingle? I understand that modern people, Americans in particular, have never really developed a taste for tragedy, but that's something I'll never understand.
   
   This is simply art. Buy this album.

5 comments about Brushfire Fairytales.

1. The Jack's smooth voice and his music, simple and pleasant, can be addictive. In fact, I bought all the other Jack's albums after hear this vinyl. It's a very good album, it isn't pretentious and that is indeed what attracts. Everyone needs Jack after a hard work day.



2. I have every other Jack Johnson cd and needed this one. I just totally love his mellow voice and the songs are very meaningful to me. I totally recommend it to everyone.



3. Wonderful music! My daughter found this artist on Pandora Radio we will probably buy many more of his CD's



4. makes you want to close your eyes and smile, not to mention marvel at how simple can be so beautiful



5. This CD is true to the talents of Jack Johnson. I was not disappointed with the music/songs on this disc. If you like previous CDs that Jack Johnson has done, you'll love this one too.

5 comments about Pass in Time: The Definitive Collection.

1. Beth Orton is a hell of a songwriter with a unique voice. Why she isn't Sarah McLachlan level as far as popularity is anybody's guess. "Pass In Time" is a collection for casual fans and Beth Orton collectors. (CD#1) The best songs from "Trailer Park", "Central Reservation" and EP "Best Bit". The only thing missing is the touching original version of "Central Reservation". The faster "The Then Again" version is on this set. The new pop song for this album "Same Day" is quite good. "Daybreaker" her 3rd CD gets the short end of the stick. There's only two songs - "Concrete Sky" and "Thinking About Tomorrow". "Paris Train", "Mount Washington" and "Ted's Waltz" - all outstanding numbers belong somewhere in this collection- 4 STARS. (CD#2) Remixes, "B" sides and rarities. More for established fans. The standouts are the Folk songs "Safety" and "Dolphins" - 3 STARS. (THE BOOKLET) Cool photos, extensive liner notes and musicians credits. Beth herself gives thoughts on each song. She's big on Jimi Hendrix and Rickie Lee Jones which makes her all right in my book. 5 STARS. This is a good collection, but not complete from her first three CD's. Beth later released "Comfort Of Strangers" which has a stripped down Americana flavor. For completists "The Other Side Of Daybreak" is a dance remix CD heavy on "Trip-Hop". Beth Orton is something special. This is good place to start for a newcomer.



2. From the OBJECTIVE reviewer...This only thing stopping this collection from a solid 5 star rating is the fact that it includes remixes and some b-sides. Therefore, it ends up being a must have for fans missing some great tracks and too much for someone wanting an overview of Beth Orton's great music.



3. As another reviewer says, this is a fine place to start lovin' Beth. If you don't know her, you should. Once you do, you will at the very least like her. She - IMHO - is one of the best artists to come along in recent memory. So do yourself a favor, and check her out if you haven't already.



4. If you're like i was a year ago, and you are not sure where to put your money when it comes to Beth Orton, you'll buy this CD. This collection contains some of her best songs, with a few missing exceptions ("Carmella," "Paris Train," and her rendition of Cat Steven's "Wild World" come to mind), and is a great introduction to her work. It makes for a great gift to someone who seriously needs to be introduced to Beth Orton (one of the best female musicians of our time).
   
   Additionally the second CD features some jewels that any Beth Orton fan will appreciate. For example "Safety" is a sweet and candid B-side. I would have liked more Superpinkymandy material (a rare album she made with William Orbit in 1993), but what it has still makes it a jewel to own.
   
   The only problem with this edition is that it is not an album of hers. To many this will not be an issue, but i am the type of person that prefers to own entire albums. It is essentially a "greatest hits" album. So, it is great if you're money-conscious, or not a huge fan, or buying it for someone else, but because of this i cannot endorse it with five stars (whereas the music itself certainly deserves such a rating).



5. I first heard Beth Orton several years ago when I got her first her album Trailer Park. Though I was blown away by several of the songs, some of them did not impress me overly. This year a friend told me about the collection and how great it was. Boy, were they right! There's not a bad song on here. Her voice is so beautiful and so emotive it's hard to not get lost in it. Songs such as Thinking About Tomorrow, Dolphins and Concrete Sky are some of my favorites, followed closely by Stars all seem to weep, She cries your name and Stolen Car. This cd is the best purchase I've made recently and will be playing for quite some time.

5 comments about Ghost of a Dog.

1. I still remember when I purchased my original cassette tape at Rasputin's music store in Berkeley, Ca. I absolutely LOVE this album so much that I'm breaking down & downloading my faves. Being a rhythm & blues kinda person, Ghost of a Dog was one of my initial introductions to "folk music."
   
   I didn't think anyone could get near K.D. Lang's tone & lyrics, but Edie certainly strikes a similar chord with me. When my son was a toddler, we used to dance to Carmelito, which just ROCKS with a Cajun tone. As exciting as Carmelito is, Times Like This will make you WISH for rain and a nice warm blanket, just so you can listen to this dreamy tune. Now that my son is a raging teenager, I'm sure he may finally be able to relate to "He Said." (he can easily change the He to a She to make it more relatable).
   
   I'm tempted to get the cd, just so I can have the nifty words that have a letter missing from the titles (or is it just Ghost of a Dog that has letters missing). If my memory serves me, all of the missing letters spell the album title. Now, how's that for creative?



2. I like Edie Brickell. No, really, I do. I've liked her since I first heard her eons (or so it seems) ago. Ghost of a Dog was the last of her CDs I acquired. Sadly, it's not one of her better efforts. I'm not saying it's horrible or anything, it's just not up to par with her other efforts. However, if you are an Edie Brickell fan as I am, you'll want it in your collection regardless.



3. Edie Brickell and the New BoheMians (rich!)alwaYs manaGe (sound!)to find a way to make things (as a matteR of fact..)ClEAr (riCh!Awsome!..Paul Simon's wife..)aND (certain songs ((Oh oh not well..))arE hippieish themes..)prOductively so..



4. "Ghost of a Dog" is the kind of album that you're not sure about at first, but the more you listen the better it gets. This is always a good sign since with many albums "familiarity breeds contempt". I agree that a couple of the songs sound a bit childish, but this is somewhat the essence of "in tune with her inner child" Edie. It is this quality that makes the other songs like "He Said" and particularly, "Stwisted" so poignant and compelling. For anyone who has ever been broken-hearted, these particular songs leave a lump in the throat. The musicianship complements Edie's delivery style perfectly. If you like music with some substance and emotional authenticity, then you'll appreciate this effort.



5. It's fairly hard to believe that this album only received tepid reviews when it was released - as a long time musician (drums), I can honestly say that this album has some fantastic group playing and the studio players behind Edie gel together wonderfully. There is also some great slide guitar work, excellent bass playing, and the production values are first-rate. This album is also a drumming tour-de-force, courtesy of one Mr. Matt Chamberlain (previously the house drummer for Saturday Night Live.) If you are a student of the drums, grab this immediately and hear a master at work. His drum sound is also incredible and I love the way that the drums on "Mama" are actually mixed to mono except for a single floor tom hit near the beginning of the last verse - genius. Listen also to how Matt and the bass player drive the groove during "Carmelito" by playing the downbeats together - I almost get goosebumps just thinking about it. How in the hell can any so-called music lover listen to this stuff and not like it?
   
   I also think some of you other reviewers are too polite - this album actually blows "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" completely out of the water, as that album and it's pop sensibilities only hinted at the wonders which await here. This is a serious and determined effort and deserves a much better fate than the one it received.
   
   Complaints? Yeah - the acoustic numbers aren't exactly earth-shattering (hence the 4 stars, I'd actually rate this 4 1/2 stars if I could) but ALL of the electric numbers are worthy of your attention. "Stwisted", in particular, is one of the most heartbreaking tales of lost love that I've ever heard and believe me, Edie certainly did not phone in her vocal track here. Stunning stuff.
   
   So Edie, if you happen to read this (yeah right), you've created a wonderful album here and I'm sure that there are MANY of us out here who would love to hear a follow-up 17 years later.
   
   I mean, I own about 2,500 CDs and still manage to play this at least a few times a year - it must be doing something right!

5 comments about Awake Is the New Sleep.

1. I've been hearing the song "We're All in This Together" at my job for a few months now. For some reason, they feel like playing it all the time, and it is like torture.
   
   Anyone with the lyrical skills of a three-year-old could come up with this song. It's so irritatingly bad, with him singing "we're all in this together" after every other line, I find it hard to believe that people like it. This guy is just one more in the long line of horrible artists that have destroyed music today. Just awful, and hearing that song would make me not only refuse to listen to this album, but refuse to listen to anything else by this guy.



2. Came across track 12 by chance and then tracked down this album - fantastic! Loses it a bit, in my opinion, on track 13 but the rest of the album is faultless! Smashing!



3. This was an artist I had never heard of until someone told me about him. I bought this CD, and was very pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed it very much. It's easy listening... light, and fun.



4. Ben Lee refreshes the listener with one-of-a-kind upbeat and positive music. I recommend listening to everything this artist produces: he should continue to surprise and delight us for years to come with each new album he creates.



5. This is an all around great CD. I love his voice and the lyrics. Tracks 4 and 7 are my favorite. There are only a couple songs on here that I don't totally love.

5 comments about Redemption's Son.

1. To me, when it comes to the younger generation of American songwriters, Joseph Arthur is one of the very best. Only Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie and Ryan Adams are superior to him. Redemption's Son is a great album / cd - his best so far.



2. I purchased this because I love the song Honey and the Moon, which turned out to be the best song on the album. The rest of the album was just mediocre. The use of spiritual references were throughout the album. I'm not saying this was a bad thing but in this case none of the spiritual referances reached me other than the song You've Been Loved. It is the other song that in my opinion carries the album. I still would recommend the purchase of this album if for no other reason than to support the artist that could write such a beautiful song as Honey and the Moon. Hopefully he has more songs like this one in him.



3. "Redemption's Son" remains my favorite Joseph Arthur recording so far. Both a clever wordsmith and talented musician, Mr. Arthur weaves his insights, hopes, and fear into tight songs layered with sound effects but not cluttered from overindulgence. The production and packaging are top shelf, too.



4. Another great album by one of the most interesting comtemporary singer-songwriters. Joseph Arthur draws of a wide-range of American music influences to create a unique and engaging sound all his own. He also does the art work on this and other albums which is interesting in its own right. If you do not own a Joseph Arther CD - this is an excellent one to start with.



5. What to say about this album. The bottom line is there are some great, classic songs on here, then there are some not so good song. Luckily the cd has 16 tracks and is 75 minutes long so that even if you weed out the ones you don't like you still have a lot of music to listen to. The problem is this cd has so many different types of songs in it that you really have to be a fan of all music I think to fully enjoy this album all the way through. It seems like he was trying to do a little of everything possible here, having some type of identity crisis or something. If I had to split the songs into seperate categories I would say we would have 1)Classic Joe sound (which is basically him and his guitar with possible drum beat, singing from his heart about past or present girlfriends) 2) pop/emo 3) rock/grunge 4)industrial 5)country
   
   Now I am not a fan of somewhat cheesy pop/emo songs or country, so that makes for a problem for me and this album. I love the classic sound where he just sings his poetry and let's his voice and acoustic guitar work all the beauty, those song mostly comprise of this:
   
   Signature Joe sound: Redemptions son, Honey and the moon, Innocent world, september baby, termite song, favorite girl, and you are the dark.
   
   These are far and away my favorite songs on the album and I can't get enough of them. They take me to a whole new state of mind when I hear them.
   
   Then we have "Nation of slaves" which is kind of grunge ish with kurt cobain type vocals. Then "Permission" which sounds like it could be a nine inch nails song. Not a bad thing at all if you are a fan.
   
   But for me at all gets worse from there. Firs we have the pop/emo songs that just dont' work for me. It's not that they are horrible songs, it just sounds like he is trying to be somebody he is not. Those songs consist of the following :
   
   I would rather hide, evidence, let's embrace, and in the night.
   
   Then finally, my least favorite type of music, country. There are three songs on here that are borderline county songs and just can't listen to them:
   
   Dear lord, blue lips, and you've been loved.
   
   Well there you have it and know you know what to expect. It's worth getting for the songs that you do become passionate about, but be prepared to probably find some you dont' like.

5 comments about Cover Girl.

1. I just had to leave a five-star rating in hopes of bumping up the overall rating of this album. This is at the top of my list of Shawn Colvin albums, with Polaroids probably being right next to it. I especially love her version of Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go." I also love "Killing the Blues," "Window to the World," and "If These Walls Could Speak."
   
   Shawn Colvin has such a smooth, iridescent, mesmerizing voice. One of the most soothing voices I've ever heard.



2. Did you see her with Lyle Lovett on Austin City Limits? Super!



3. This is a good album....but I had a question for Colvin fans that I could not find on the net.
   The local radio station use to play a radio Promo of "Every little thing he does is magic" that was acoustic guitar only without the strings. Does anyone have any info on how to get it? The version on Cover girl is not as good.



4. I am in love with Shawn Colvin. I love her in concert and consider her to be one of the great voices of our time. But I only "loved" a few of the songs on this CD. But I do feel that even a "mediocre" Ms. Colvin is still better than almost anything else out there.



5. Believe it or not, Shawn Colvin started out playing hard rock with her own group, the Shawn Colvin Band in Illinois. But the music played havoc with her voice. Then she ended up in the Dixie Diesels, a Western swing band in Texas. By the early 1980s she had moved to New York and was writing and singing folks songs there and in Boston, when she was not appearing in off Broadway shows like "Pump Boys and Dinettes" and "Lie of the Mind." By 1987 she was singing backup on Suzanne Vega's hit song "Luka" and a year later paired up with John Leventhal, writing the lyrics to his melodies. A decade later we get to her big album "A Few Small Repairs," with the hit single "Sunny Came Home," which won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
   
   The 1994 album "Cover Girl" is actually a look backwards in Colvin's ascent on the music scene. When Colvin first started working the folk circuit in Greenwich Village in the early 1980s she would take rock songs and turn them into tunes she could play and sing on her guitar, such as "Every Little Thing [He] Does Is Magic" by the Police and "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" by the Talking Heads. Of course, when she was signed to a recording contract Colvin focused on her original material. But the generation of music lovers weaned on MTV's "Unplugged" are more amenable to hearing covers of familiar songs done in interesting ways, which justifies this effort. This is not to say that everything here is a radical interpretation of the text, because that would certainly not apply to Dylan's "You're Going to Make Me Lonesome When You Go." The only problem is that the best songs on the album are ones that are not mainstream works and it is hard to appreciate a cover song if you do not know the original (e.g., Greg Brown's "One Cool Remove" or Willis Alan Ramsey's "Satin Sheets").
   
   This album is a mixture of studio and live tracks, and after listening to the likes of "Heart of Saturday Night" by Tom Waits and "Twilight" by Robbie Robertson, I will state a preference for the former. I have picked up Colvin's last album in preparation for hearing her in concert again this month. Since the last time was Lilith Fair it will be nice to hear her do more than a short set, and in addition to listening to her best known songs I will be interested to see what cover songs she shares with us this time around. Hearing this album can only whet your appetite for such things.
   
   Concert Update: Colvin, back to playing solo with a pair of acoustic guitars, did some very inttresting covers during her performance at the Big Tent Chautauqua. She did a capella versions of the provincial song of Ontario and a couple of beer jingles ("Amazing what you remember," she told us). She also did "If These Walls Could Speak." Then during her three song encore she opened with "(Looking For) The Heart of Saturday Night" (which apparently she only sings on Satruday nights) and closed with a stellar version of "You're Going to Make Me Lonesome When You Go" (her guitar playing is as good as her singing, which my wife finds a compelling combination of being husky and high). So all of the "new" stuff was from the album she is working on for release next February, which will certainly give us something to look forward to.