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![]() ShivareeCountry of origin:U.S. Type of music generally:Country-rock, traces of electronica Status:Most recent release, Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight Songs (covers, 2007); most recent release of original material, Who's Got Trouble (2005) See also:Wikipedia's entry on Shivaree Comparisons:Mazzy Star, Garbage, Julie Miller, Lisa Cerbone, Sheryl Crow Covers/own material:Most songs written by Ambrosia Parsley General comments:I've heard Shivaree described as "Southern Gothic" which somehow sounds appropriate, even though I don't really know what it means. The band is VERY eclectic, stylistically. And Ambrosia Parsley's voice is so versatile: sometimes childish, at other times, beguiling and sexy. Apparently the title of their debut comes from an episode of Green Acres. Overall, it's a pretty dark album. Dark as in melancholy, a lovely, mysterious, alluring melancholy. With a twisted sense of humor. (JoAnn Whetsell) Comments about live performance:I actually did get to see them live in concert a while back because i know the drummer in the band and I just went on his say. I had no idea who they were but if they go to a town near you definitely check them out. they put on a really great show. I won't lie, the lead singer is okay—voice wise, nothing spectacular—but overall the show is worth going to. (8/00, mystic18@earthlink.net) Recommended first album:I Oughtta Give You A Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump Recordings:
I Oughtta Give You A Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This DumpRelease info:1999—Capitol/Odeon—CDP 7243 8 38246 2 5 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Ambrosia Parsley—vocals, backing vocals, guitar Guest artists:Tony Mangurian—drums Produced by:Danny McGough, Joe Henry, Tony Mangurian, Mickey Petralia, Tom Rothrock, Rob Schnapf Comments:On one of my regular trawls through the bargain bins of Soho, I reeled in the debut by Shivaree, called I Oughtta Give You A Shot in the Head for Making Me Live in This Dump. Rough DreamsRelease info:2002—Capitol Records—7243 5 31337 2 6 Availability:Wide, but only as an import in the US Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Ambrosia Parsley—vocals Guest artists:Phil Hernandez—digital crowbar, duct tape, drums, programming, drum programming Produced by:Elegant Too, Danny McGough, Micky P., Shivaree, Victor Van Vugt, Paul Dugre Comments:Shivaree is back with another group of songs with eclectic influences—all the same ones from their first album, more electric, and some electronica too. Unfortunately, the album doesn't really gel for me until track 8, the wonderful first single, "John 2" which reminds me of "Goodnight, Moon." The rest of the album is fantastic. One of the early exceptions is track 3, "After the Prince and the Showgirl" which has these tinkling bells that make it sound like it came from the '60s. And there's another track that sounds like '70s soundtrack music (which sounds bad, but I don't mean it too; I really like it). Maybe it's an uneven album or the first songs might just need to grow on me more. Probably both. BreachRelease info:2004—Zoë Records—01143-2006-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Duke McVinnie Guest artists:George Javori Produced by:Victor Van Vugt, Brandon Mason, Shivaree, Danny McGough, Martin Brumbach Comments:Shivaree's Breach ep is both a mini-preview of the band's forthcoming album, Who's Got Trouble? and a solid ep in its own right. The new style is a combination of the best elements of their two previous releases, a return to the eclectic can't-quite-pin-it-down bluesy country-rock of I Oughtta Give You a Shot in the Head... and some of the electronica of Rough Dreams, most prominent on their cover of Brian Eno's "The Fat Lady of Limbourg." The second song, an original from the new album, "I Close My Eyes" is catchy classic Shivaree. Who's Got Trouble?Release info:2005—Zoë Records—01143-1045-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Ambrosia Parsley Guest artists:Mike Duclos—bass Produced by:Victor Van Vugt, Brandon Mason, Elegant Too Comments:After the wonderful Breach ep, I was really looking forward to Who's Got Trouble? The album's sound veers in a different direction than the ep, sort of into a dark universe all its own with lighter touches that remind me of a music box or a merry-go-round ride and lots of electronic noises for good measure. There are lots of influences here, but I can't quite grasp them. Cabaret? Somewhat. Blues? A bit. Something slightly ethnic—gypsy perhaps? Maybe it's not what it's made of but what it makes me feel. That would be a smoky, seedy bar on a dark night, with light rain outside, and something vaguely dangerous going on. It's a strange and eclectic mix, and I admire Shivaree for their ability to pull it off, which mostly they do. It's not my usual cup of tea, but its growing on me with every listen. Highlights are "Little Black Mess" with its intro of Satie!, "It Got All Black," and "I Will Go Quietly." (JoAnn Whetsell) Tainted Love: Mating Calls and Fight SongsRelease info:2007—Zoë Records—01143-1092-2 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Ambrosia Parsley—vocals Guest artists:Chris Maxwell—guitar, bass, keys, backing vocals Produced by:Benjamin Biolay (1, 7); Chris Maxwell and Phil Hernandez (2, 8, 9, 11); Mickey Petralia (3); Doug Weiselman (4); Duke McVinnie and Matthew Cullen (5); Danny McGough (6, 10) Comments:I've now listened to it several times. The list of covers is a wild group that holds fantastic promise, as does the apparent "concept" behind the album: a bunch of musicians in trouble with the law. It's full of possibilities, or so I thought. Unfortunately, Ambrosia Parsley's voice is the only difference between some of the originals and the covers, and it comes down in some cases to a bad cover of a bad song. After getting the CD, I listened to it, but only to "hear" it, and I've not pulled it out since. I doubt I will. The CD starts off with the Phil Spector spectacle, "Paradise." It's nice (in the most generic sense of that word). Shivaree has the distinction of never living up to what I imagine they might do (even with their own music.) R. Kelly's "Half on a Baby" is a disaster of epic proportions. Chuck Berry's "I Want to Be Your Driver" is ruined by the sound. (It may have seemed like a good idea, but it doesn't carry for me.) I'm sure it was intentional, but it sounds like Berry-era own noisy recordings before any clean-up. Staying very true to Spade Cooley's "Shame on You" works, and Nikki Sixx's "Looks That Kill" seems to fit the best with what I think of as the Shivaree sound and is listenable, just listenable, as this whole CD seems to be. "Hello Hello I'm Back Again" (Gary Glitter & Mike Leander) is pretty darn catchy. After all that other crap, it made me smile. Rick James would be proud of "Cold Blooded"—take that as you will. The "biggie" here, Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough," was the only one with which they took some liberties. It's still not enough in many ways. Unfortunately, it seems more of a purposeful aural spectacle (or public masturbation) than a good cover. Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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