Whos Got Trouble?

You would wonder how a group as talented as Shivaree seems to go largely unrecognized. Perhaps they are better known in other parts of the world. I do know that their second CD "Rough Dreams" was never released in North America. They came to my attention with their song "Goodnight Moon" on the Kill Bill Vol. 2 Soundtrack. At any rate, I believe that "Who's Got Trouble" is the best CD to start with. First of all, this music is difficult to categorize. It's almost alternative jazz. Kind of dreamy heroin music. Very laid back. This CD showcases the voice and talent of Ambrosia Parsley. Although the band itself sometimes seems to fade into the background, that appears to be by design. There is no denying the song writing and playing talent here. As you listen to this CD over and over you appreciate the band's playing and creativity more and more. The lyrics are intelligent and often humorous. I listen to a lot of music and this is my pick of the year. I have been listening to this CD twice a day for a week. That's very unusual for me.

....and I'm not even talking of Ambrosia Parsley, yet. I have Music Choice through my cable system, and one day while on the Adult Alternative channel there plays this little song called "I Close My Eyes"...I literally stopped what I was doing to listen to this wonderful new sound eminating through my stereo TV. From that point on, I dug up all I could about Shivaree online (so much for housework) and found out that "Goodnight Moon" was used on the Kill Bill 2 soundtrack...and that movie was playing later on that night on one of the movie channels, and I kept that movie on for the sole purpose of listening to that song. Once I did, I was lost. Within the week I had the "Who's Got Trouble" CD, and I don't think I have listened to much else for the last few weeks!

Let's start with Ambrosia Parsley. I like all music in general, and tend not to romanticze female singers no matter how many of them I listen to and/or actually meet; in fact, only two female singers ever before I heard Ambrosia had such an effect on me that that I would romaticze them, being Deborah Harry (Blondie) and Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies). Well, Ambrosia Parsley also has me totally seduced. She knows how to wring every last bit of emotion from not only the lyrics but the melodies. She teases you, taunts you, promises you, denies you, pleases you, and always makes you beg for more. You feel like she's singing these songs to you alone, and while she's singing, you enter her own private universe which is much more pleasing than this one ever will be.

Musically, Shivaree is so refreshing! There is that N'Orleans style jazz that pops up, those especially seductive numbers that make you dream of the old smoke-filled clubs of yesteryear, and some early new-wave rock influences hard to deny (thinking specifically of their cover of Brian Eno's "The Fat Lady of Limbourg"). The best way for me to describe the sound of the whole CD is to think of a New Wave version of the film "Casablanca".

I am still listening to the entire CD at almost every listen, but when I pick and choose tracks for convenience (like when driving) I tend, at the moment, to jump to the the songs "New Casablanca" (coincidence?), "I Close My Eyes", "Someday", "It All Got Black" and, in my humble opinion, the most seductive song I have heard in a VERY long time, "I Will Go Quietly" (I dream of Ambrosia singing that song ONLY for me...if only.....). This is an all around solid release from a very solid band that has given a breath of fresh air to the entire music industry. Shivaree is a band worth giving your attention to. They have mine.

Great Album, and like the other reviewer, I had never heard of Shivaree until I listened to the Kill Bill soundtrack.If you like melencoly and vitrolic jazz, then this is for you.

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