Wednesday, March 25, 2009

#22 - More Vocals, Denouement and A New Chapter Begins

In this episode of the Casey Stratton Podcast I discuss new recordings I'm working on, play another vocals-only mix, this time of the song Escape from Painting the Trees: DIVIDE B-sides Disc 2 and then discuss the final months with Sony. This includes moving back to Michigan and being disappointed when the label declined to fund a great touring opportunity. I then perform a cover of Sarah McLachlan's Hold On. Music recommendation is Paula Cole's 1994 debut Harbinger.

Following in the footsteps of Sinéad O'Connor and Tori Amos, Paula Cole is an art-rock singer-songwriter who turns her personal wounds into songs full of facile psychologizing and strained allegory with overwrought, humorless music to match. Harbinger, the debut album from the Massachussetts native, is full of grievances against glamorous romantic rivals, patronizing men, insensitive high school classmates and cross-burning racists--all so broadly drawn that everyone can easily join in the complaint. --Geoffrey Himes

Listen to Podcast #22

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

#21 - Casios, Classical Work and the Côte D'Azur

In this edition of the Casey Stratton Podcast I discuss my travels in Europe per a question from a listener. I then discuss the composing and recording of Mass For Angels. Live performance this time is Fission, a free track from the DIVIDE days. Music recommendation is William Fitzsimmons' The Sparrow and the Crow.


I bought William's cd expecting a great work and I was not disappointed. Being familiar with Fitzsimmons via online interviews and other media, I was able to see how these songs applied to his personal life. That said, it was still as if he has been sitting quietly in the corner of my life, jotting notes and scribbles, compiling the contents of this awesome set of tracks. - Amazon reviewer


Listen to Podcast #21