I have to admit, I get the chance to listen to about 1/1000 of the indie music submissions that come in digitally for Addicted to Vinyl, and about 2% of everything else besides that.
My pals at Cleveland Bachelor, Sensory Overload, Burgo’s Blog, and The Frontloader particularly, seem to do a better job with getting their ears around a lot of the stuff that comes their way. But that’s because they’re not spending time hanging out with me, which leaves them with all of this free time.
So what do they do? They listen to submissions from bright eyed bushy tailed artists worldwide, as mine pile up in the email box.
There are happy exceptions in my world, and Caroline Reese is one of them. Last night, I got home from a lovely evening hanging out with Pat, members of The Waynes, and other Cleveland friends at the Grog Shop, watching a reunion performance from our beloved Jehova Waitresses.
I found an email waiting for me with four tracks from Caroline, and wow, what a great gift to get after an equally great evening of music in Cleveland. The mostly acoustic tracks are filled out with some lovely violin accompaniment, and what do you know, the Jehova Waitresses had a violin player too! I was already in the right head space for Caroline’s music, and then I heard her voice, young, and pure, with an innocence that reminded me a lot of the first time that I heard Cleveland’s Liza Bundy.
Reese is only 18 years old, currently living on a ranch in Montana after graduating recently from boarding school in New Jersey. Her life travels helped her find her voice artistically, and she’s come away from the experience with a nice collection of songs to share with all of us. If these are the first songs she came up with, I can’t wait to hear what Caroline is going to come up with next. So good.
From her bio:
If Ben Folds had two X chromosomes, he would be Caroline Reese. Or if Jenny Owen Youngs or Lisa Hannigan were, well, younger, then it’d be the same deal.
Here’s what the blog Knox Road had to say: “Everything about Caroline’s music suggests a maturity way beyond her age. It follows a distinct folk background, relying on strummed acoustic chords and the occasional flourish (an electric guitar riff, male guest vocals, violin, etc.) to change things up. At the front of it all, though, is her voice. Female vocals with such sweetness and confident delivery are hard to come by. And, again, she’s only 18. Great things are on the way.”
Gone, From Where I Stand, and Indian River (originals) as well as Caroline’s cover of Matt Nathanson’s Come on Get Higher, are really representative of the kind of artist that she is — and are incredible songs, as are the others. In fact, “Gone” made the top 30 on the Hype Machine in less than a day.
Here are two of my favorite tracks:
Indian River
From Where I Stand (with Luke Iannacone)
Visit Caroline Reese on Myspace to hear and learn more!
Haha… thanks for the hat tip man, although I have to shamefully point out I definitely don't deserve to be included in that list anymore. The amount of submissions I've let fall by the wayside is reaching embarrassing proportions now, and the lack of regular posting you see on my blog now only adds to that!
Case in point? Caroline Reese is one of those artists whose submission is sitting in my inbox, with nary a listen. This post changed that finally though, and I totally agree with what you've written here; that voice is just… so pure. It's cleansing is what it is… reminds you that sometimes, just sometimes, you can put aside your jaded eyes and take another look.
Thanks Matt, you did good.
(ps. first time I've actually paid attention to the disqus comment system, looks pretty damn cool!)
It's cool, and an easy install too – it's just a plugin!
Glad you dug Caroline's stuff! I appreciate the kind words. You might be taking a vacation of sorts right now, but you left a helluva lot of reading material for people to enjoy before you took that break time!
Haha… thanks for the hat tip man, although I have to shamefully point out I definitely don't deserve to be included in that list anymore. The amount of submissions I've let fall by the wayside is reaching embarrassing proportions now, and the lack of regular posting you see on my blog now only adds to that!
Case in point? Caroline Reese is one of those artists whose submission is sitting in my inbox, with nary a listen. This post changed that finally though, and I totally agree with what you've written here; that voice is just… so pure. It's cleansing is what it is… reminds you that sometimes, just sometimes, you can put aside your jaded eyes and take another look.
Thanks Matt, you did good.
(ps. first time I've actually paid attention to the disqus comment system, looks pretty damn cool!)
It's cool, and an easy install too – it's just a plugin!
Glad you dug Caroline's stuff! I appreciate the kind words. You might be taking a vacation of sorts right now, but you left a helluva lot of reading material for people to enjoy before you took that break time!
I want to thnkx for that the efforts you have put in writing this blog.
I am hoping the same high-grade blog post from you in the upcoming because well.
In fact your creative writing abilities has inspired me to locate my
own blog now. Actually the blogging is spreading it can be wings promptly.
Your write up is a excellent example of it.
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation in spite of this I get a hold
of this matter to be really something that I think I would never
understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me.
I’m hunting forward for your next post,
I will try to uncover that the hang of it! xrumer
Fine web site! I truly love how it is effortless on my eyes and that
the data have been well written. I am wondering how I could
be notified whenever a different post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS which must
do the trick! Have a nice day!
Absolutely outstanding information and very well written,thank you very much for this.
I just put the link of your blog on my Facebook Wall. very nice blog indeed.
~’,:,
some ayurvedic herbs have nasty side effects too which is why you
must carefully go for the safer ones.,
today we would always use eco-friendly stuffs something like, eco friendly foods, shoes and bags.