Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends The Sounding Joy Review and Giveaway

The Sounding Joy album cover. Cover artwork by Brian Selznick.

We received product free from Smithsonian Folkways to facilitate this review.

The Sounding Joy by GRAMMY-nominated Smithsonian Folkways family musician Elizabeth Mitchell is a tribute to Ruth Crawford Seeger’s overlooked but deeply influential 1953 songbook, American Folk Songs for Christmas. This is Mitchell's first Christmas album and it is a wonderful collection of folk carols for all ages. These are recordings that celebrate a Christmas before commercialization, an all encompassing custom of people sharing music, telling stories and celebrating together. The album includes Mitchell’s family, friends and neighbors, including Peggy Seeger, Natalie Merchant, Aoife O’Donovan, Amy Helm, John Sebastian, Dan Zanes, Happy Traum, and many others. The great assortment of voices, musicians, and instruments on the album breathes new life into words first sung over a century ago by farmhands, country preachers, and small-town congregations and gospel groups.

I love Elizabeth Mitchell! I have many of her albums and enjoy them daily. Now Sounding Joy has become one of my favorite Christmas albums. Most of the songs on the album are a refreshing change from the Christmas songs that you normally hear on the radio during the holidays. There are a few recordings that are not from the original songbook which include classics “Joy to the World,” “Silent Night,” and an a cappella arrangement of “Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming,” a “family heirloom” arranged by Elizabeth’s father-in-law, Michael Storey Littleton. I also loved hearing yet another familiar voice, Dan Zanes, of which I also love, on this album! I now long to have and hear the 1953 American Folk Songs for Christmas songbook to accompany Elizabeth Mitchell's album. The Sounding Joy is a wonderful throwback to a time much simpler than ours where stories and songs were handed down through generations.

Sneak preview:
Listen to “Children, Go Where I Send Thee (Little Bitty Baby: A Cumulative Song)”.


The Sounding Joy Tracklist:

1. Oh, Mary and the Baby, Sweet Lamb
2. Mary Had a Baby
3. Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow (feat. Mike Merenda)
4. January, February (Last Month of the Year) (feat. Amy Helm and Marco Benevento)
5. Joseph and Mary (The Cherry Tree Carol) (feat. Natalie Merchant)
6. Shine Like a Star in the Morning (feat. Simi Stone)
7. Joy to the World (feat. Jay Ungar)
8. Christmas Day in the Morning (feat. Peggy Seeger)
9. Mother’s Child (Child of God) (feat. Peggy Seeger)
10. Sing-a-Lamb (feat. Dan Zanes and Suzan Lori-Parks) 
11. Great Big Stars
12. Baby Born Today (feat. The Silver Hollers - Amy Helm, Ruthy Ungar and Chris Wood, with Larry Campbell)
13. Ain’t That a-Rockin’ All Night
14. Cradle Hymn
15. Bright Morning Stars Are Rising
16. Sing Hallelu (feat. Elizabeth Clark-Jerez)
17. The First Noel
18. The Blessings of Mary (feat. Larry Campbell)
19. Oh, Watch the Stars (feat. Aoife O’Donovan)
20. Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
21. Mary Was the Queen of Galilee (feat. Gail Ann Dorsey and Joan Osborne)
22. Silent Night
23. Singing in the Land (feat. Natalie Merchant, Happy Traum, and John Sebastian)
24. Children, Go Where I Send Thee (feat. Natalie Merchant, Amy Helm, Ruthy Ungar, Gail Ann Dorsey, Dan Zanes, Aoife O'Donovan, Simi Stone)

70 minutes, 32-page booklet with photos.
List Price $14.98 CD, $9.99 Download

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Prize: Elizabeth Mitchell and Friends The Sounding Joy (2 Winners!!)

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers!

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: I received product for free to facilitate my review and some to giveaway. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Court Yard Hounds Amelita CD Review #CYHAmelita

I participated in this campaign for One2One Network. I received a free copy of the CD to facilitate my review. By posting, I am eligible for incentives. All opinions stated are my own.

I love the musical talent of the Dixie Chicks and when I heard that two of the band members and real life sisters, Emily Robison and Martie Maguire had broke off and made their own band called Court Yard Hounds I had to jump on the bandwagon and get one of their albums.

Containing 11 new tracks, Robison and Maguire took a different approach with their second album, Amelita than their debut album in 2010. This album contains a new perspective, which is due in part to time passed since Robison’s divorce. “I’ve been freed of all of those time-heals-everything kind of things,” says Robison. “Now, I’ve opened up to other ideas and ways of looking at life and the world. I think it’s not only a more hopeful album, but it’s more… well fun."

"I love this band...the way we explore new aspects of ourselves and what we can expect from each other, both musically and as people," says Martie. "We are close. Plus, being on the road and being in the studio is like my spa from the everyday challenges of just being a mom.”

Amelita does not disappoint! With great country and folk rhythms, wonderful instruments and all the swinging, strumming and fiddlin' sounds these girls can muster, you can sure rock out to this! The beat just gets you going and makes you wanna dance. I love the violin and banjo parts the most and the vocals are amazing. I love the sweet fiddle sounds and tambourine in Phoebe and the righteous guitar in The Road You Take. These ladies have evolved well in their musical careers. Their music is both familiar and defining, but definitely noticeably better with age. I highly recommend this album!

Media Links:
CYH on Twitter
CYH on Facebook
Emily Robison on Twitter
Martie McGuire on Twitter 

TRACKLISTING:

1. Sunshine
2. Amelita
3. The World Smiles
4. Aimless Upward
5. A Guy Like You
6. Rock All Night
7. Phoebe
8. Divided
9. Gets You Down
10. Watch Your Step
11. The Road You Take 

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DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to One2One Network for sending me a free CD to listen to and review and the information to share with my readers. My post is also eligible for a gift card via random drawing by One2One Network. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

Elizabeth Mitchell Blue Clouds Review and Giveaway

One of my favorite folk children's music artists is Elizabeth Mitchell. Her newest album called Blue Clouds is precious. There are acoustic guitars, harmoniums, banjos, pianos, fiddles, glockenspiels and gentle drums and bass creating a deep ambiance together with her voice. Like honey her voice is lovely and sweet. She also has her beautiful daughter and others on this CD singing along with her. This CD has included them in the title as "You Are My Flower" which is also the name of her first album. There are a few songs from her other albums on this CD, but I love this one as much as all her others. I love the simplicity and darling childlike manner of all her albums.

My daughters love to dance and twirl to Hop Up, My Ladies. Many times my 4 year old daughter Teela has said, "this is my favorite song, Mommy" to practically all the songs on this CD. I love to sing along with Elizabeth on this CD. I think it would be a great honor to be a guest singer on one of her Albums. Arm in Arm is a cute song about an octopus family inspired by a book by Remy Charlip of which the illustrations to this album are also from. Kooks is one of my favorites by David Bowie. I Wish You Well is such a wonderful heartfelt song by Bill Withers. Summer is Icumen In is a beautiful traditional medieval round that is written and sung in Middle English. Rollin’ Baby was written by their own Aunt Anna and perfectly tells the story of a little baby's perspective in a large city. Little Bird is one of my favorites because it reminds me of last fall when my kids and I made these peanut butter and birdseed pine cones to hang in our large cherry tree and we would watch all the birds fly over to nibble on them. Circle of the Sun is about their daughter's cousin Destry, who died tragically at the young age of 4, in remembrance of her. May This Be Love is a gorgeous guitar and vocal piece. It was originally written by none other than Jimi Hendrix and the guitar work by Daniel Littleton (Elizabeth's Husband) is inspired by Joni Mitchell and her lovely dulcimer music! It sounds like a waterfall. I love San Toki (Mountain Bunny) and Yuki (Snow) because they are bilingual and teach children both the Korean or Japanese and English equivalent of the song. Blue Sky is a sweet soft melodic song by the Allman Brothers. Blue Clouds is the perfect song to close this album of the same name and it was written as a lullaby by Daniel for their daughter Storey when she was only 3. There are many other great songs on this album too, sixteen songs in total.

Track List:
01. Hop Up, My Ladies
02. Froggie Went A-Courtin’
03. Arm in Arm
04. San Toki (Mountain Bunny)
05. Kook
06. I Wish You Well
07. Summer is Icumen In
08. Rollin’ Baby
09. The Little Bird
10. Circle of the Sun
11. Moon Don’t Go
12. Everyone
13. May This Be Love
14. Yuki
15. Blue Sky
16. Blue Clouds

Elizabeth Mitchell will be in Portland, Oregon on Sunday, November, 4th! Maybe if I am lucky I will get to go with my family to see her perform at The Village Ballroom there. You can see listings of all her shows HERE.

BUY IT
You can preorder this album from You Are My Flower for $14. It will be released October 23rd.

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Prize: Win a copy of Blue Clouds by Elizabeth Mitchell.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers! 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Smithsonian Folkways for sending me product for free to review and letting me giveaway one. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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Elizabeth Mitchell Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie Review and Giveaway

Oh how I love the "Little Seed" album sung by Elizabeth Mitchell. The simplistic humbleness of the songs are just so wonderful. They play tribute to the legendary Woody Guthrie and his album "Songs to Grow on for Mother and Child". Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie sung by Elizabeth Mitchell  nicely coincides with the Woody Guthrie Centennial.

I love how Elizabeth Mitchell is joined by her friends and family on every album that she does. Her daughter, Storey, is adorable and sings along with her mother, father and others on the album. Elizabeth Mitchell is acclaimed by Time magazine as one of the "Stars of Kindie Rock". Kindie Rock is Indie Rock for kids. One of my favorites on this CD is "Why, Oh Why?". This song is so perfect because children have so many questions and even though some of them are often silly they really want to know the answers and explore their world more. I also love the balafon in "Sleep Eye" on the album...it is one of my favorite instruments. "Who's my Pretty Baby?" is one of my favorites to sing to my little ones. Everyone knows "This Land is Your Land...at least the first verse...I was not aware of other verses, but sure enough Elizabeth sings all of them on this compilation. My daughter Teela's favorite is "Merry-Go-Round" for obvious reasons...she loves horses! There are many other great songs on this album. Elizabeth's re-imagination of the Woody Guthrie songs are pure and wonderful.

Here is Elizabeth Mitchell singing Sleep Eye:

You can also listen to "Bling Blang" and "This Land is Your Land" from “Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie sung by Elizabeth Mitchell” from Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Track List:
01 Riding In My Car
02 Bling Blang
03 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
04 Why, Oh Why
05 Sleep Eye
06 Who's My Pretty Baby?
07 Rattle My Rattle
08 This Land Is Your Land
09 Merry-Go-Round
10 One Day Old
11 Little Sugar
12 Grassy Grass Grass
13 Little Seed

BUY IT
You can purchase this album from Smithsonian Folkways for $12.98 or download it for $9.99.

WIN IT
Prize: Win a copy of Little Seed: Songs for Children by Woody Guthrie sung by Elizabeth Mitchell.

I am trying out Rafflecopter on my blog. Please click on this post link if you do not see the script for it below. Also, if there is anything that is wrong with it let me know by emailing me: finamoon AT gmail DOT com I will try my best at fixing it. Thanks for being awesome readers! 

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: Thanks to Beth Blenz-Cluc​as of Sugar Mountain PR for sending me product for free to review and letting me giveaway one. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.

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Give Up The Ghost by Brandi Carlile Review

ABOUT BRANDI CARLILE:
Born in the small town of Ravensdale, WA, Brandi Carlile grew up listening to the classic country music her parents loved (Patsy Cline remains Carlile's favorite singer). She made her first stage appearance at the age of 8 after she was taken to a local country radio show by her mother. At 17 she was inspired to learn to play guitar after seeing the Indigo Girls in concert at Lilith Fair and having developed a taste for rock & roll through Elton John's classic albums of the 1970s (Tumbleweed Connection is one of her favorites) she began hitting the clubs in Seattle, playing anywhere she could get a gig. While playing, she heard a band called the Fighting Machinists, featuring twin brothers Tim Hanseroth on guitar and Phil Hanseroth. Carlile became an instant fan and when the group broke up she persuaded the Hanseroth twins to form a group with her. In 2005 Carlile was signed to Columbia Records, releasing a self-titled album later that same year. Her last album, The Story, debuted on Billboard's Top 200, peaking at #2 on iTunes and was named one of VH1's "You Oughta Know" artists. Also many of her songs were featured on various episodes of "Grey's Anatomy". She's toured with Tori Amos, Dave Mathews Band, Sheryl Crow and many others.

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ABOUT GIVE UP THE GHOST:
Give Up The Ghost was released by Columbia Records on October 6th. Brandi's dream was realized recording Give Up The Ghost. She got the opportunity to work with her idol, Elton John. “Brandi has an amazing voice,” he says. “She’s a great songwriter and has a tremendous career ahead of her.” The album was recorded at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, birthplace of legendary recordings by The Doors and Led Zeppelin. The first single, “Dreams,” was written with her longtime bandmates, twin brothers Tim and Phil Hanseroth. The CD includes special guest appearances by Sir Elton John, Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

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Tracklisting
Looking Out
Dying Day
Pride And Joy
Dreams
That Year
Caroline
Before It Breaks
I Will
If There Was No You
Touching The Ground
Oh Dear

MY THOUGHTS:
I was given downloads of all her songs on the Give Up The Ghost album by One2One Network to review. Brandi was here in Portland, OR on Oct 22 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and I wish I could have gone to the concert...maybe next time she tours. Her CD, Give Up The Ghost, is fabulous! I am a big fan of the Indigo Girls and Brandi worked with Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls on this CD! My friend commented while I was listening to her music that Brandi reminds him of Radio Head. You can really hear the influence of Elton John in the song Caroline! Elton John is a great performer and artist! If you like Indie pop or folk rock you will LOVE her. Her voice is rich and strong. I love singing along with this CD! I could not pick just two songs as my favorite. My favorite songs on this CD are Looking Out, Dying Day, Caroline (about Brandi's niece) and Touching The Ground.

One of the radio stations I listen to out here in Oregon is Kink FM and they had her perform at their Live Performance Lounge. Here is her performing Dreams there...



BUY IT:
Buy this CD on Amazon.com for only $8.49! You can also go listen to samples of the songs there too.

DISCLAIMER: Thanks to One2One Network, the women's word of mouth marketing network, for providing me with this opportunity and a download of this CD in advance to review as part of a campaign to spread the word. All information about the products I received from the official press release, email from One2One Network, the Brandi Carlile website, and the information from the download website. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this review.