Elijah Drop Your Gun by Mieka Pauley

Afew months ago I borrowed the "10 Tracks" concept from my fellow contributor BC, and brought you all some music by one of my favorite artists, Mieka Pauley, a singer/songwriter/hot chick with a guitar from my hometown, the indie music mecca Boston Massachusetts, and to follow that up, I'm proud to bring you her latest album "Elijah Drop Your Gun" a title taken from the song "Run" which is as stated my last time out with her, is a personal favorite of mine. This time though, Mieka's taken a different turn form her down to earth basement studio style thats gained her critical acclaim and awards for so many years. This is a more stylistic and radio geared Mieka Pauley sound, and though I do miss the style I've come to love over these many years of watching her live, listening to her albums and downloading live shows, I don't overly mind the musical risks she's taking on this album. Plus every good artist knows that its a smart thing to change up their style just abit every few years anyway as to keep from getting stale or stagnant in their genre. So though afew songs probably shouldn't have been changed, over all this album is solid, incredibly done and takes Mieka's music to another level all together, which brings her just abit closer to finally being the success she deserves to be.

The album starts out with a new more rockish version of "All Of The Same Mistakes" which transitions well from a slow sad blues song into a somewhat angry chick rocker style which actually brings the song out more. the second song is "Be Like the Man" which is a pretty nice little southern rock style song, you wouldn't think Mieka's voice would lend well to a song thats music sounds like something akin to "Bad To The Bone" but it does, it really comes through when she starts bringing out the more angry tone to her voice near the end then drops back to her normal tone, this is followed by "Secret" which becomes a very upbeat but still sexy song over its simplistic guitar style of before, I love this song's transformation really. The next song is "Bravely" which goes from a somewhat uninteresting song into a very beautiful bit of music written over lyrics that make more sense with the new arrangement, love when a song makes me see it in a new light like that. The next song is 9:45, one of her newer songs I've not exactly heard enough of it to really judge any of its versions, but i'd assume its about getting up and running away in the middle of the night, if thats so the music on the studio version works so well with it as that, its the kind of thing you'd hear in a movie when a woman's trying to get away from an abusive relationship. The next one is "Devil's Got My Secret" not alot was changed for this, a piano is more pronounced and secondary guitars, but honestly, this song is so beautiful that anything they do to it is just amazing, it really is. Followed by "Fate Day By Day" which has become sort of a signature song for Mieka, its updated well but i'm still more in love with the latest live version of it, just so great.. the next one is "Stronger" another of her signature tracks, I rather enjoy this one's new take, the crashing guitars fit the chorus so well not much was done other then that to it from its original form, but still a very nice listen. The next song is "Run" the track which the album's name comes from, and though i love the bluesy "hunter" feel of the original version of the song, I am slowly gaining love for this more pop friendly version that just seems so, different, i understand what she's doing with the song and all, but, dunno just doesn't seem to fit 100% for me, but thats ok opened mindedness is key to life. the last two songs, "Left To God" and "Draped In Blue" though great songs live, seem so much more deep and meaningful in their new forms, no idea why but they just speak so much more, truly beautiful songs they are.

All and all as long as you aren't one of those closed minded "it must always be the same" kind of music fans and aren't open to new takes or ideas then this album isn't for you if you're a fan of Mieka's work before now. BUT, if you are open minded and willing to watch as a great artist comes into her own voice and her own musical space, then this album will be great for you, its not too pop for us not mainstream lovers and its not too indie that mainstream people will go "eww this isn't top 40 so it sucks" though really no one cares what anyone that thinks that way thinks anyway.. I would say this is the kind of album that everyone should atleast give a listen too, you might love it, you might like it, you might hate it, but its still something you could give a listen too just so you know..

here are some sample tracks and a video

All Of The Same Mistakes

Run



and the video for "Secret"

Artist: Mieka Pauley
Myspace: Here
Homepage: here
Album: Elijah Drop Your Gun
Year: 2007
Genre: Indie/Rock/Blues/Pop
Download: Elijah Drop Your Gun by Mieka Pauley

By: Just A Simple Poet

10 Tracks with Jodi Shaw

I've always been a fan of female vocalists, I've made this well known I think given some of my releases here, but among those whom I like, this one stands out, this is a woman by the name of Jodi Shaw, one of the greatest and well crafted artists to come out of the north east music scene, the newfoundland native has traveled and lived the gambit from Boston to New York and back again many times over, playing her heart out whenever she could and slowly gaining a very big following in clubs and now thanks to the wonders of the internet, there as well. Jodi knows how to write a story, and she knows how to write it out in song. Such a beautiful range of content she has, from happy to sad to introspective, to in some places dark. Its a lovely range and I am glad to share it with you all.... Here are the tracks...

1. The President Knows: This track is a lovely sort of tongue in cheek reference to the resistance in france when it was under german occupation, it tells the story of spy woman who worked in the media at the time, its a very cool very run and uplifting song, I just love it.

2. The Forger: this version, like afew others in this set, is taken from an old boston collage radio show called Main Streets and Backroads, The Forger tells the story of a person who makes a living by forging fake works of art and selling them to those who've no idea its fake, and how inside he's fooling everyone but himself.

3. The End: The End is a song about Abortion and thoughts of suicide, its possibly the darkest song she has ever written, and I love it.

4. Out of Love: this is the version off Main Streets and Backroads, again because its a better quality then the original recording. Its a song about how you always seem to fall in and out of love with the right person.

5. Kristine's Lullaby: this is a lovely song thats done as a lullaby to a child, there are so many lovely images and its just so amazingly crafted, I love this song and it makes me think of parenthood and the joy of it.

6. Kenny: This is a song about the life and struggles of a man named Kenny thats been through a very hard life but ended up on in the end. Its really an uplifting lovely song.

7. The Singer: This is a lovely track about a singer that works her whole life to become what she dreams, and tells the story of her travels to stardom, its a lovely introspective track.

8. Savannah: is a great track about a woman named Savannah who seems to be sad more times then not, and that when she smiles, she apparently had a great smile, its really a nice calm song that is great in so many ways.

9. In Cabrini Green: This is in my opinion, the greatest of her songs. it tells the story of a murder in Cabrini Green in Chicago and how everyone even though they've seen it, will not say a word, its a masterpiece in audio, it really is.

10. Evangeline: this is a lovely song that tells the legend of Evangeline and how it reflects the life of someone who goes through something similar and looks to Evangeline for guidance.

Do I think that Jodi will be for everyone? Sure, I think everyone can find atleast one song in her catalog that will make them happy on some level, which to me is a great statement of her true abilities and the love of music she brings to her songs. So give her a shot if you're up for something outside the normal, but still good listen.


Name: Jodi Shaw
Genre: Indie Rock, Pop, Indie Pop, Chick Rock, Folk Rock

10 Tracks with Jodi Shaw

by: BC