SOUNDTRACK: VALLEY QUEEN-Tiny Desk Concert #547 (July 8, 2016).
Typically, but not always, bands that play the Tiny Desk Concert are fairly established. Valley Queen had only released a couple of singles on bandcamp when they performed theirs.
Bob Boilen had seen them at SXSW and was impressed enough to bring them in.
They play three sings that are bright and sunny all centered around Natalie Carol’s soaring voice. Sometimes it feels like her voice gets away from her (could be the setting), but for the most part she sings wonderfully with a distinctiveness that I rather like. At times, her voice sounds like an old English folk singer–dare I say unencumbered by precision.
The band plays a kind of light and breezy folk (the main guitar is a hollow bodied electric). “In My Place” is a pretty song that really comes to life when the rest of the band adds their harmonies for the chorus. It’s really catchy with a lot of delightful guitar lines. The way the song ends on a high note (literally) is pretty cool.
I also really like the way the bass is largely unobtrusive but occasionally plays some interesting lines that add some nice lines while the other instruments are jangling along.
I don’t quite understand what her accent is. In the second song, Hold on You” there are moments where she enunciates in such a strange way. This song is pleasant although somewhat unremarkable.
After the second song she says that they would have been jazzed just to take a tour of the place, so they’re really excited to be playing there.
The final song is more dramatic and instantly grabbing. I love the chord progression of the chorus. The way the chords bounce along as she sings that one word “Ride” and holds it for a long time. I love the vibrato guitar sound which gives it a strangely 4AD quality.
My first listen through I wasn’t all that taken with these songs, but by a third listen I was really hooked.
[READ: November 18, 2016] A Mere Pittance
Back in 2014, I ordered all 16 books from Madras Press. Unfortunately, after publishing the 16 books they seem to have gone out of business (actually they are switching to non-fiction, it seems). They still have a web presence where you can buy remaining copies of books. But what a great business idea this is/was
Madras Press publishes limited-edition short stories and novella-length booklets and distributes the proceeds to a growing list of non-profit organizations chosen by our authors. The format of our books provides readers with the opportunity to experience stories on their own, with no advertisements or miscellaneous stuff surrounding them.
The format is a 5″ x 5″ square books that easily fit into a pocket.
Proceeds from Prabhaker’s book go to Helping Hands Monkey Helpers.
This story is constructed entirely in dialogue. We never learn the names of our speakers and the location of one of them is a closely guarded secret. The story is mildly challenging to read. In part because its’ dialogue (it’s mostly easy to follow, but you always get parts where there’s silence or a number of Yeses in a row that tends to confuse the speakers–that’s quickly resolved, though), but also because one of the speakers is deliberately trying to obfuscate things. (more…)
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I recently watched Valley Queen on a Tiny Desk Concert. Initially, I enjoyed it but wasn’t blown away. Although I was blown away by singer Natalie Carol’s voice. And as I listened to their set a few more times I got really hooked by them. So I was pretty excited that they were opening for Laura Marling.
I Just Read About That... 