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Janis Joplin - Bye, Bye Baby |
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For those who love "angsty" female musicians, this year is heaven.
 Alanis Morrisette released her Jagged Little Pill Acoustic last July for the 10th year anniversary of the original Jagged Little Pill. It has all the songs in her first album in acoustic. Gone are her angsty hyena-like shrieks. She's now actually singing the songs. Beautiful. Others may see it as a weakness. I see it as musical growth. An artist cannot be angsty forever. There are whole lot of other emotions that an artist should explore aside from angst. And nothing beats Jagged Little Pill. All her other albums fall short compared to it.
And speaking of musically maturing, Tori Amos is a classic example. Just listen to Precious Things (Oh I wanna smash the faces of those beautiful boys, those Christian boys, so you can me cum that doesn't make you Jesus...) and then listen to Sleeps with Butterflies, and you'll see what I mean. Tori released her 8th album, The Beekeeper, last February. Click here for my The Beekeeper review.
Aimee Mann also released an album last May. It is entitled The Forgotten Arm. I haven't heard any of the songs from this album yet, but it is enough to know that she's back. Save Me (Would you save me from the ranks of the freaks who suspect they can never love anyone...) and Wise Up (And it's not going 'til you just give up...) are two of the saddest songs I've ever heard, and I love them.
And of course, Natalie Imbruglia is back with Counting Down the Days which was released last April. Haven't heard all her songs in the new album yet, but I love Shiver, and I love Natalie. I love Left in the Middle.
 Kate Bush is also back after long years of oblivion. She will be releasing an album, Aerial, in November. Take this, a double CD. Exciting! Her The Dreaming is like no other. It's Tori Amos meets Bjork meets satanic music meets ultimate weirdness hahahha. Basta super weird ng album na 'to, and it's scary to listen to sometimes. Hounds of Love was also great. Tori loves making covers of Kate songs from this album.
 Bjork released the soundtrack of Drawing Restraint 9 last August. I must listen to at least one song, goddamnit! Though not really angsty, she's in the same league as with all the other artists mentioned. I have her albums except Debut and Medulla. I love Vespertine. It's just phenomenal.
 And oh so finally!!! At last, shitty Sony Music/ Epic Records already agreed to release Fiona Apple's long awaited third album, Extraordinary Machine. Fiona finished the album in 2003, but the said record company refused to release it because they don't think it would sell enough for them to promote and distribute it. What the fuck?!?!?! Have they actually listened to When the Pawn...?! Or even Tidal (When the Pawn is better for me...)?! Fiona is a genius through and through!!! How her songs stayed raw in When the Pawn... despite the commercial success of Tidal is unbelievable. Freaking money hungry executives. Well, but there's reason to celebrate, all ye fellow Fiona fans, because Extraordinary Machine will be out on October. Hurrah!
 Kulang na lang si Paula Cole, and the Lilith Fairy fans can die in peace. Whatever happened to Paula anyway??!?! I don't know any songs from Harbinger, but This Fire was brilliant!! She had so much talent. I can't forget her line in Throwing Stones, "Call me a bitch in heat and I'll call you a mother fucker!" Whoa. Astigness to the highest heavens. Sadness though because Amen flopped. Oh well.
And Sarah Mclachlan. Loves Mirrorball. One of the best live albums ever! Her last album, Remixed, was released on 2003 pa, and I'm not a big fan of remixed music (except maybe in RnB). Even Tori's were bad.
And Vienna Teng. Loves Vienna Teng! Her Waking Hour is divinity. Sadly, haven't heard any of her songs from Warm Strangers yet. I wonder when she's gonna release a third album.
And no, I will not include Jewel in the list. Her Pieces of You was really great, but her last album, 0304, was such a disgrace that it just undid all the beautiful work she's done in Pieces of You, so tinakwil ko na siya bilang isang demi-goddess of music. What the hell was she thinking when she was doing the video of Intuition?!?!
Note to self: Will have to explore the music of Sinnead O' Connor, PJ Harvey, and Ani Difranco. I know them, and I am familiar with their music, but I just don't know them well enough. Something tells me that our relationship will grow from like to love once I've thoroughly explored their music.
In other genre, there's Mariah Carey back with a vengeance. Her Emancipation of Mimi, released last April, is a tremendous success, a far cry from the pathetic Glitter sountrack and Charmbracelet. Do I even need to mention The Remixes and every musician's sorry excuse for releasing an album-- the greatest hits. I'm not really a Mariah fanatic, but I have the outmost respect for her as a songwriter.
And of course, the one and only Madonna is set to release a dance album on November entitled Confessions On A Dance Floor. I love, love Madonna. Loves Ray of Light and all her songs in Something to Remember. Loves Erotica. Loves Bedtime Stories. Madonna is and always will be.
 In the local scene, there's the jazzy Mishka Adams. Her voice is sultry, and she sounds so amazing. And would you believe, she's only 21 years old?!! Wow!!! Her debut album, God Bless the Child, is also amazing. I love it. It was released November of last year, but it is only now that she gets the exposure, publicity and recognition she so rightfully deserves. Her renditions of Autumn Leaves, Over the Rainbow, and God Bless the Child were just divine. Loves Mishka!!! I promise to buy your CD as soon as I have a disposable income (hopefully soon hehehe).
Kitchie Nadal, former frontact of Mojofly, released her solo album last year also. Its success can be compared to Alanis' Jagged Little Pill, and why not?! Kitchie sounds amazing, and all her songs in the album are good. Same Ground is haunting.
 And Kitchie, I'm sorry, but you've found a rival in Barbie Almabis of the defunct Hungry Young Poets and Barbie's Cradle now that she's just released her solo debut album. Personally, I like Barbie more than Kitchie. Barbie's style is more original and refreshing. She's cute and her voice is soothing. Must also buy her album.
Ahhhh, female musicians. I loves them.
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