Women's Music CHAT THREAD

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

I've been nattering away off-topic on Stewie's excellent thread asking for suggestions for her International Women's Day CD...so thought I would start an ongoing thread for anyone who, like me particularly enjoys music by female artists and female-fronted bands.

I'm not looking for lists of recommendations - there are two threads called Music By Women which have dozens of brilliant suggestions of artists to check out.

This is more about sharing a recent discovery (artist doesn't have to be new, though!) - a song, album, band, singer/songwriter etc. etc. that have inspired or excited you and you want to share. Or to chew the cud about anything related to women's music that catches your interest. Please join in!

[CardgamesFTW]

Also enjoying this thread :)

[NicholasEggcupkozy]

You're welcome Immaculada.

I can't find any music here by . This is probably my favourite of theirs, it's quite punky and thrashy. :)

[toweraboveyou]

You can't beat a bit of Erin McKeown

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Ooh, The Donnas had kind of passed me by, but I like that one, thanks for posting it!

And love the Erin McKeown tune - I'll definitely be checking more of her stuff out.

It put me in mind a bit of this one by Holly Golightly:

As for feminist sensibilities of the various artists - well, some are more obviously feminist than others, but I guess unless they're actively trying to kybosh feminism and other women, I tend to be fairly forgiving.
After all, a lot of the songs are simply describing various life experiences from a female point of view in the world we live in and while they might not be especially "right on", I tend to regard the fact that the female artists are doing so at all as a good thing in general terms.
Not to mention that the music industry is still very male-dominated so credit's always due to women who do well in that sphere, especially if it's largely on their own terms (and doesn't involve trampling on other women or becoming a handmaiden of the patriarchy...).

Out of interest, has anyone been turned off a female artist because the things she says or sings about seem to be actively against women's interests? I remember being incensed after reading some very anti-feminist remarks in an interview given by the lead singer of The Cranberries and I've never been able to properly enjoy the music since....

[NicholasEggcupkozy]

Ooh, I'd completely forgotten about Holly Golightly so thanks for putting that up. She has a really old fashioned 'analogue' sound, which I like.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Me too, Nich!

That's interesting IAOS - what did you have in mind? I'm thinking you mean Rhianna with the S&M thing? (Although Florence and The Machine's Kiss With A Fist doesn't sit too well with me either....)
And are you referring to Katy Perry about appropriating lesbianism? I tend to agree with you there if you do..!

Although I have nothing against very poppy pop music per se (and there are one or two Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue tracks that I think are pure pop genius, among others) but I find it more problematic as a feminist in the way the artists tend to be marketed and styled.... I don't necessarily have a problem with people not writing their own songs, but I would find it hard to bracket groups like The Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Destiny's Child etc. with the artists whose work I've linked to in other parts of this thread....(even thought I quite enjoy some of their tunes)...

[NicholasEggcupkozy]

A short list of songs my mate Rod was astounded at me liking them:-

Baby One More Time-Britney Spears.
Sweet Dreams My LAX-Rachel Stevens.
Genie In A Bottle-Christina Aguilera.

I suppose he was more used to my usual playlist of Godflesh, Dead Kennedys, Jesu, Carcass, Suicide, Front 242 etc etc somewhat at odds with those songs. My argument was, and still is, that good music is good music, no matter the genre. And those three songs constitute what I call good music.

[toweraboveyou]

Immaculada - Erin is definitely worth checking out, she's incredibly talented, playing every instrument on some tracks.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Nich I have to confess I like all of those songs too [bublush]


*Note to self: seriously Spotify Erin McKeowan

[NicholasEggcupkozy]

Inmaculada there is no shame in liking those songs. They are good, catchy (a pre-requisite I find) pop songs.

Agree re Erin McKeown. That link is great. Bookmarked it for further listening tomorrow.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today is taking a break while I go and enjoy the Cornish drizzle for a few days.

So I'll leave you with a live recording from the alt folk outfit, Whalebone Polly which seems to encapsulate the promise of new growth/renewal and other Easter-ish/Spring Equinox type ideas.

"May the fruits of your garden be the sweetest in the land"
Indeed [busmile]

[TheSmallClanger]

NicholasEggCup, have you heard Android Lust? She's an industrial/electro/goth producer and singer who makes really interesting music that you might like.

I'm going to try some Whalebone Polly.

[NicholasEggcupkozy]

Thanks for the tip Clanger, I've had a listen and yes, that is to my taste. I like very much. She sounds like Peaches crossed with . I know this is a thread for music by women, but I think that song is good enough to be included here. In fact, there's another music thread it's going on: the 'goosebumps' thread.

[SweetTheSting]

I know we've had Suzanne Vega upthread but I've got this one in my head today:

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Thanks for pointing me in the direction of Android Lust, Clanger, nice one!

And that is a most excellent Suzanne Vega track, Sweet.

IC's Tune For Today:

I'm enjoying the new collaboration between Martina Topley-Bird (best known for providing the vocals on Tricky's Maxinquaye album, but she's done some excellent solo stuff too) and the electronica producer, Clark (he's just released a new album on Warp).

Secret by Clark and Martina Topley-Bird

Check it out.

[SweetTheSting]

Rainy Tuesday today = Kathryn Williams for me.

This is from her album 'Little Black Numbers'. I saw her live once and she came across as the loveliest person!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Ooh yes, do like Kathryn Williams.

Have you heard anything from her new project?

It's a trio called Kathryn Williams Presents The Pond.

You can download a free .mp3 preview of one of their tracks here

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

PS yes, I met Kathryn Williams once and she was indeed lovely. Exactly as you would expect from her music, really. Understated, pleasant, with nice line in wry humour.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For The Day

Jesca Hoop is one of those artists who I hear on the radio and have to scurry to find out who it was because her songs pique my interest every time. Especially this one, from her recent Snowglobe EP:

Haunting and beautiful.

[SweetTheSting]

Thanks IC, will have a listen when not at work. Glad she's lovely in person too

The sun's out now so I think I'll switch to Tropical Brainstorm!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Blast from the past, good choice Sweet!

Actually, I've just spent a happy hour and a half listening to Jesca Hoop's entire current collection on Spotify and I have to say, I'm even more impressed. Excellent stuff.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

IC's Tune For Today:

Talking of blasts from the pasts, how about Hazel O'Connor?

From the classic Breaking Glass album and film,