Maria Hines / Life in the Garden

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

Alternative pop, ethereal; some material might qualify as soft jazz

Status:

Life in the Garden disbanded as a band; Maria Hines active as solo artist. Latest release: Life in the Garden, 2000

See also:

No current sites (2006)

Comparisons:

The Story. Certain material by Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks. Possibly an attenuated comparison between Hines and Harriet Wheeler of The Sundays.

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

Life in the Garden was an independent acoustic and string band from Chicago, and one of my favorites on the local coffeehouse circuit. In 2000, faced with high turnover of the original band members, lead singer Maria Hines more or less repackaged herself as a solo artist, though she and her current, more fluid array of backup musicians do pretty much the same sort of material as the original band did. The band did one eponymous, four-song tape, which it sold at its performances; last year Hines and her restructured band came out with a six-song CD, also bearing the name of the original band, which is available both at performances and through the website of the Trunkstock artist's cooperative, of which she is a member.
     The music itself is a highly original blend of guitar, strings, percussion, other acoustic instruments, and Hines' rather ethereal vocals. It is less elaborately produced than that of some other bands with ethereal vocalists, such as The Sundays or the Cocteau Twins; yet highly sophisticated in its own right. Fans of ectophilic music should enjoy it greatly; here's hoping a full-length CD is in Hines' near future. (mapravat@prairienet.org)

Recommended first album:

The Life in the Garden CD, due to its easier availability

Recordings:

• Life in the Garden (cassette, 1997, under "Life in the Garden")
• Life in the Garden (cd, 200, under "Maria Hines")

Life in the Garden

Release info:

1997—self-published (cassette only)

Availability:

Unknown

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Maria Hines—lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion
Johnnie Ray—upright bass, electric bass, percussion, backing vocals
Jane Martin—violin
Tracy Peterson—violin, backing vocals, percussion
Bob Messina—percussion, xylophone

Comments:

See general comments above

Life in the Garden

Release info:

2000—self-published (cd)

Availability:

Unknown

Ecto priority:

Highly recommended

Group members:

Maria Hines—lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion

Guest artists:

Johnnie Ray—upright bass, electric bass, percussion, backing vocals
Jane Martin—violin
Tracy Peterson—violin, backing vocals, percussion
Bob Messina—percussion, xylophone
Jim Mastino—electric drums
Jody Livo, violin
Joe Christopher—lead guitar

Comments:

See general comments above

Thanks to Mitch Pravatiner for work on this entry.

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