Here we are with another episode of ‘Ladies Night”, and this looks like volume four…so you know we have worked the kinks out, right??  With such posts it is difficult to segue into the post as such, being a man I often sit back, mouth agape at the intricacies of women.  I did dig into some quotes that might lend to a bit more understanding of why the ‘Ladies’ deserve a post of their own today.  I guess the fact that the below 6 songs are all great and should be on your listening list already isn’t good enough?  Oh well, the quotes:

“Women speak two languages – one of which is verbal.”  ~William Shakespeare

A man gives many question marks, however, a woman is a whole mystery.  ~Diana Stürm

“Men will always delight in a woman whose voice is lined with velvet.”  ~Brendan Francis

Well, I am not sure if the quotes are going to help me, so I guess it is on to the playlist, hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Ladies Night – Volume Four

• “Willis” – Sea of Bees – VISIT HER
• “Bruised Ghost” – Amy Millan – VISIT HER
• “Moving Slow” – Karli Fairbanks – VISIT HER
• “What Have I Done” – Anna Ternheim – VISIT HER
• “In Summer In The Heat” – Shannon Stephens – VISIT HER
• “Come Pick Me Up (Ryan Adams Cover)” – Josie Little – VISIT HER
• 
  

~Smansmith

As a Canadian, one has a reputation to protect.  Other than the obvious traits such as good looks, massive talent in winter sports, ability to intake an entire pint with a “sip” there is the other one.  We are nice people.  With that in mind, how can I continue to be sexist in my playlists and single out some simply due to their gender – I mean it just isn’t right people.  As a Canadian, I think this playlist will be a non gender specific collection of music.  Hey, someone had to point out the elephant in the room, it might as well be the Canadian.

“Cold Beer & Cigarettes” - David Bazan
Probably one of my favourite songs in the last couple years is his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and that alone gets Bazan on this list.

“Postcards from Kentucky” – Rocky Votalato
David Bazan’s label mate and traditional singer songwriter provides a solid track from his “Brag & Cuss” album from 2007 – anyone with banjo accents is approved for Slowcoustic.

“Daughter of the Plains” – Magpie Wedding
A bit darker indie folk rock from this unsigned foursome form Italy.  I find myself drawn to the ominous violin and sounds that normally would run through your mind’s ear while walking down a unlit alley.

“Silver Train” – Serena Matthews
Discovered from a comment on another post, this future Joanna Newsom has just as much aura and draw for me.  Give it a chance, you will end up not being able to stop listening.

“East” – The Weather Station
I have been listening for a few weeks now on this one and it is a piano/banjo rainy day turned to sound.  The kind of rainy day that has that odd sunny patch, so you feel nostalgic and want to simply go outside and enjoy it.

“All This Time” – Sara Watkins
A nice surprise in the mail (yes actual physical mail, not email) this week was the debut release from the young Ms. Watkins (ex of Nickel Creek).  The album is a combination of original and coversongs and features great alt country/americana which in my books can only be a good thing.  Use of pedal steel, guitar and a lamenting pixie voice leaves you entranced by this country folk newcomer.

“Farewell” – Leiv Reed
Leiv’s great cataloge and honest delivery of classic folk always surprised me why he isn’t more well known.  Well here is your chance to visit him on his Last.fm Page to download a few albums (yes multiple albums) in order to woo you to his cause.  Trust me you will enjoy fighting the good fight along side Leiv.

“Be Kind Rewind” – thomas/richard
This Canadian East coast indie folk artist (you can call him Richard Lann) has an upcoming EP called “& harold” that features this great track that has a great warble in the delivery that completely works and turns this stratight forward acoustic track into something more – listen a few times, you will get it.  This song also makes me want to hit the coast, drive along the Atlantic and basically know more people from Eastern Canada – too much talent out there!

“Sounds Like an Ending“ – Charlotte and Magnon
Ending this list is a gorgeous track.  Stunning and a new favourite from the self released album “Love Happening” from this Tel Avis (Magnon) via Paris (Charlotte) duo.  While they met online, they did finally connect for 12 days – enough time to create this 60s/70s pop infused album.

Don’t all girls want to be princesses?  I thought not.

So this “Ladies Night” post is getting popular – notably as last week enjoyed a cover (always bloggers and their covers, eh??) of Will Smith’s claim to fame TV theme song “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” from Torontonian Kay Pettigrew.  I have singled this out as I know she makes mention of another young singer songwriter from Toronto on her MySpace page that I had listened to a while ago – and hence, she (Carmen Elle) hits this list this week.  There are many more ladies on this list of note including the great Laura Gibson (new album is fantastic) and Claire Cronin who has some gothic art to go alongside her dark folk.  I am not going to mention something from everyone so dig in and enjoy the “Tiara” edition of Ladies Night.

“Violet” from Carmen Elle – {Visit her}
“I’m A Fly” from Laura Marling – {Visit her}
“Will Try” from Amy Annelle – {Visit her}
“Intelligentactile 101″ from Jesca Hoop {Visit her}
“Spirited” from Laura Gibson – {Visit her}
“Poses Park” from Claire Cronin – {Visit her}
“I Write Down Lists” from Nina Nastasia – {Visit her}
“Be My Husband (Nina Simone Cover)” from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals – {Visit her/them}

~Smansmith

p.s.  Doesn’t the Grace Potter live cover track rock??

Welcome to the sequel for Ladies Night, and I have to say it is quite cleverly called “Ladies Night – Volume Two”.  I was thinking of maybe calling the sequel something such as “Felines take Manhattan” or something, but I just felt it didn’t quite fit or relate my message…ya know?

Above is another great photo to keep the sarcasm flowing alongside the great music – I mean, “Barbie”…what else is the ultimate definition of what women are (to little girls at least).  The rub is that in the end you have to realize that Barbie is just something made by a toy company and really has nothing to do with women…it’s just a doll.  Right?

Well social commentary and gender discussion aside, here are some more great women displaying true beauty.

Pretty Dress from Rosie Thomas – {Visit her}
Blue from Emily Jane White – {Visit her}
Stolen Moments from Fancie – {Visit her}
Now, Now from St. Vincent – {Visit her}
Glory to The World from El Perro Del Mar – {Visit her}
Fresh Prince of Bel Air from Kay Pettigrew – {Visit her}
The Coo Coo Bird from Shelley Short – {Visit her}
The Greatest from Cat Power – {Visit her}

Enjoy your Sunday.

~Smansmith

Nothing like having a stereotypical photo to introduce a selection of songs threaded together due to being part of the fairer sex.  Sometimes I have found myself accused of being in favour of a more traditional “male” singer songwriter.  This could be interpreted by looking at my Last.fm stats; as a lot (I dare say most) of my favourite artists, while not only having incredible talent they tend to not be able to give birth.  I want to go on record as saying I very much enjoy female artists and don’t “disclude” anyone specifically, and thought I might single out a post of talented women.

Ladies Night (volume one, I guess):

Alela Diane – “White as Diamonds” from the “To Be Still” album
Sibylle Baier – “Tonight” from the “Colour Green” album
Julie Doiron – “And There Is Still Enough” from the “Shanti Project Collection 2”
Jill Barber – “Starting to Show” from the “For All Time” album
Anni Rossi – “Ecology” from the “Rockwell” Album
Jessica Bailiff – “Lakeside Blues” from the “Feels Like Home” album
Alina Simone – “Siberia” from the “Prettier In The Dark” EP

Soon to be a classic:
*Lotte Kestner – “Leif Erikson (Interpol Cover)” from the “China Mountain” album

So I hope you enjoy a few tracks that I have liked, loved and that show some great talent here on what is to be my first installment of Ladies Night.

~Smansmith