UNIQUE LINER NOTES

Yesterday at the Starbucks located within my office building, I conveniently picked up the latest project from Band of Horses. Once upstairs I put their CD Infinite Arms on and went right to the liner notes. However, I didn't find the traditional booklet of artwork and lyrics. Instead I found a sealed square with a photo of trees about an eighth of an inch thick.

What the heck was this?

I slowly peeled back the sealed area on the end as if I were about to say, "and the award goes to" and just like that 13 square sheets of paper fell to my desk. Random photographs of wooden buildings, a giraffe, various rooms of a house, etc were scattered before me. It was odd, but upon turning the pieces of paper over I discovered each paper represented a song on the album.

On one side of each square was a song title, a line or several lines from that song and some hand drawn artwork that relates to each title. On the other side was a color photograph of an item or scene that also relates to that song.

Some squares, like the song "Laredo" were easy to figure out. You had a hand drawn horseshoe on one side with the lyric "are you having troubles in droves" while the other side showed a photo of a cowboy roping his cattle. However, not all of them were so easy. Take for example the song "Dilly" with the line "it really took a tall one to see it, two to believe it, three to just get in the way" and the number 3 drawn on the one side, with a photo of an old wooden church on the reverse side. I had to find out the meaning of dilly and then listen to the song to put it all together.

Now mind you I didn't do this on company time, but rather it became a side project for today. The cool thing is Band of Horses did something unique. It showcased creativeness and made me listen to the album again, but this time with pieces of paper in my hand.

DO KIDS IN LOVE STILL MAKE MIXTAPES?

Over the past few weeks, I've had two run-ins with a key element of the 1980's and 90's youth culture- the mixtape.

Three weeks ago I was back home in PA, where I keep a box in the back of my old closest that's filled with memories of my adolescence. That box is mostly filled with cards, jewelry, and miscellaneous items from young suitors. There in the midst of all this stuff were three mixtapes from my ex-boyfriend Dan. These tapes brought a smile to my face as I could recall sitting in that very room listening to them over and over again. It was hard to read the song titles on the cassette cover due to his scribble, but the hand drawn heart said it all.

I was reminded again today of that PA moment when I heard Butch Walker's song "Mixtape" in which he sings about a relationship that has ended, but that she made him the best mixed tape ever. Having your boyfriend love your tape was the best because you put thought and time into your selections. It was like John Cusack said in HIGH FIDELITY, "making a tape is like writing a letter."

The mixtape was my generations love letter and I hope that today's youth still have that experience. Although I guess it would be called the mixed CD these days!

ALBUM PREVIEW (sort of) : KIMBERLY CALDWELL

If the name Kimberly Caldwell sounds familiar, but you're not sure why, rewind back to season two of American Idol. Caldwell was the blonde Texas beauty with the raspy voice who sang the hell out of Melissa Etheridge songs. She placed seventh that year on Idol and has seemed to do more television work than music since then. However, that will change with the release of her debut album Without Regret.

Originally slated for an April release, Without Regret has been pushed to summer so additional songs could be added. I have a copy of Without Regret, just not sure how many of the songs will make the final album. Regardless, I thought I'd share my thoughts on take one of Caldwell's debut.

It doesn't surprise me that they want to add new material as the album never establishes a musical flow or consistency. It's a roller coaster that starts out rock'n with "Heart Like Mine" takes an electro-pop turn with "Going Going Gone" and picks up soulful speed with "If You're Gonna Fall." The rest of the work is middle of the road rock 'n' roll.

Vocally Caldwell's strong, sounding a lot like P!nk. She brings it on "Say Love" and the Etheridge cover "Sleep While I Drive." Some songs were written by Caldwell, but Without Regret also showcases some of song writings biggest hitters with the Diane Warren penned "Cost of Love" and Karen DioGuardi/Chad Kroger's "Heart Like Mine."

I think Caldwell fans would be pleased with the effort, but Without Regret does not boast a jump-off-the-page radio hit so the majority of people may never even know the album exists. However, that could all change with the addition of a song or two. I know I'm keeping my fingers crossed because I remember being blown away by her Idol Austin audition.

TBC.......

CHELY WRIGHT

Country music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, starting with Barbara Mandrell and The Oak Ridge Boys recordings. I love country music and as I've gotten older I've had a chance to meet many country artists and work with a few. The thing that has always struck me is how friendly and appreciative they are and Chely Wright was no exception.

Between 2000 and 2004, I met her two or three times and when I heard she came out this week as a lesbian I was surprised, I'm not going to lie, but when I watched her interviews on TODAY and Access Hollywood I felt sad. Sad because someone felt that they needed to hide a piece of themselves because an industry they wanted to be a part of so much and had given so much to (both musically and through charity work) would not except them for who they were.

I know my views on many topics are liberal and maybe I simplify things, but at the end of the day I guess I just want people to be happy- whether they've been friends for years or someone I've spent just a fraction of time with.

I pulled a photo I shot of Wright from an old photography portfolio and couldn't believe how much she seemed to have aged in the last eight years. When compared to her appearance on TODAY, the presumable stress of her secret life can be seen in her face.

The country music world trends conservative and many can still remember the country music backlash the Dixie Chicks experienced in 2003 from comments made about the war and President Bush. I realize that Wright's situation is different than the Chicks, but it does beg the question - will the country music family and Wright's fans continue to support her?

Wright sure hopes so telling EW.com, "I want my country fans to stay with me. I'm not giving the finger to country fans. By all measure, they already like me. They voted me 'most philanthropic,' 'country star with the biggest heart,' People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful, Kansan of the Year. I'm still all those things."

http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/05/05/chely-wright-comes-out-qa/

It will be interesting to see what happens with Wright's career, but this blog is titled Its All About The Music and for me that's still what it's about with Wright. So if you heard the name Chely Wright for the first time this week and haven't checked out her music, I've always been a fan of "While I Was Waiting," "Jezebel," "Never Love You Enough," and of course her big hit "Single White Female."

HOW DO YOU LISTEN TO A NEW ALBUM?

If you are laughing at my question, I'll assume one of two things- you've either been gobbled up by the single driven music machine and haven't listened to a complete album recently or can I dare say EVER or you're thinking silly girl, one can only listen to music via a player of some sorts.

If you fit into the first bucket then I feel sorry for you, but I do understand that there are few great albums produced these days and your desire to not give up an hour of your time is understandable. However, if you fall into the second group, let me elaborate.

Ask yourself:

Do you always listen to new music as background noise while making dinner?

Do you always stop by Best Buy and listen on your drive home?

Do you always listen on your iPod while at the gym no matter the genre?

You see where I'm going here? Yes you listen to new music via some device, but is the environment always the same? If so you may be missing out on a great musical experience.

Take for example the last new album I listened to- Court Yard Hounds by Court Yard Hounds. I had heard clips from the project weeks ago and viewed the DVD The Making of Court Yard Hounds (it comes w/ the new CD) prior to listening to the album, so I had an idea what the album would sound like. Consequently, I lit three candles, slipped the disc in my Mac, turned out the lights in my bedroom, put my earplugs in and closed my eyes. In a relaxed, peaceful environment I could fully appreciate the instrumentation and texture of the music with Emily Robinson's lyrical journey dancing around vividly in my head.

Do I listen to all albums this way, absolutely not. I can't imagine listening to the latest MGMT project that way, but if you know a little about the album and the artist, changing up the way you listen to new music can be very rewarding!

MY INTERVIEW WITH: STEPHANIE URBINA JONES

Stephanie Urbina Jones grew up in Texas and has been influenced by musicians from both sides of the border. Her new album, The Texicana Sessions was just released and I caught up with Jones who called in from Nashville (she splits her time between music city and San Antonio) to discuss her musical journey and her latest project.

IAATM: For people that may not be familiar with your music, how would you describe it?
SUJ: Tex-Mex American country with Latin influences.

IAATM: You were born in San Antonio, but you have a connection to Mexico right?
SUJ: Correct, my great grandfather came to the United States in 1901. When I was really trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my career a few years ago, that's what was really compelling to me- that immigrant story coming across the border.

IAATM: Was music a big part of your childhood?
SUJ: Yes, during the early years growing up on the west side of San Antonio, I was exposed to the mariachi's and sounds from the border, but that was also the time of the outlaws- Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash. We went two stepping and to honky tonks, that's what my parents did. At three, four, five years old I was going with them. And on Sundays different pickers and songwriters would gather around campfires telling their stories with guitars.

IAATM: I read that Carole King was a big influence, I'm excited to see her in a few weeks, did she inspire you to become a songwriter?
SUJ: She really did. My dad was in Vietnam and he sent me the Tapestry album, I guess I must have been four years old. I just remember it was a time when my parents had split and I missed my father and I just remember having a very strong experience and would spin "You Got A Friend" and remember being comforted by it. When I turned 18 and when I was looking for what I wanted to do, I knew whether I was an artist or a songwriter, I wanted to be involved with music because it's such a powerful medium.

IAATM: You moved to Nashville and landed a publishing deal with Sony music. The songwriting environment in Nashville is like no other, did that climate help you hone your skills?
SUJ: Absolutely. One of my first songwriting sessions that I got to do was with a guy named Mark Allan Springer and that year he was the BMI's (Broadcast Music, Inc) Songwriter Of The Year. I got into situations where I got to write with some of the absolutely best writers during their time, I was very fortunate and I love, love, love writing. It's a spiritual, mythical experience for me.

IAATM: You penned hits for artists like Lorrie Morgan, but when did you decide you wanted to focus on your own singing career and record an album?
SUJ: Honestly, everything for me has been part of an evolution, the next right thing. I started singing in high school and in a band in college, but I just didn't have the confidence at the time to do that, as an artist. Then a few years later when I was a professional writer, I started singing my own demo's and then people hired me to sing their demo's. Then that itch, I just kept seeing myself singing and I just stepped into that experience.

IAATM: How does the new album, The Texicana Sessions differ from your self-titled debut?
SUJ: It really hones in on my Mexican/American heritage. There were elements of that in the first album, but on this one I just feel that it really takes a strong turn into that experience. Feels like my childhood and my experience growing up in Texas, it's fun.

IAATM: There were several years between albums, did you spend that whole time writing?
SUJ: I was constantly writing. The last few years were challenging and a growing experience. When I put this collection of songs together and take it to the stage it's going to be fun.

IAATM: The thing that strikes me about The Texicana Sessions is how diverse it is, in instrumentation and vocal style. Was the diversity something that you knew you wanted going into the project or did it just develop in the studio?
SUJ: No, this was a collection of sessions that I put together over the last few years. I had my daughter, I had a record deal in there, then I went through a divorce, lost some people in my life so I was constantly writing and going in and recording. Some where recorded two at a time and three at a time and pieced together. Done different than any other album I've done before, in that it was put together as a collection of songs that I loved and wanted to perform. The audience kept asking where these songs were. It just all came together and I loved it.

IAATM: What do you hope people take away from The Texicana Sessions?
SUJ: I hope it makes them feel all kinds of emotions. I hope they laugh, I hope they are touched by songs like "Canta Me" and "Choose To Believe." I hope they are left with a smile, a good experience, like a good meal. I hope they want to know me more and that we get another opportunity to experience each other, to connect.

IAATM: Thank you Stephanie and good luck with the new album.
SUJ: Thank you.

To learn more about Stephanie Urbina Jones, please visit her website at:
http://www.stephanieurbinajones.com/