The models are about my height – just under six feet tall – yet seem to tower over me in the elevator. Their posture, their svelteness, their perfect hair and the unearthly regularity of their features gives them the aura of demigoddesses. It’s painfully difficult not to stare at them. …

A “musicians’ musician” is one known primarily as a virtuoso sideplayer rather than an artist in his or her own right. Though such players are usually not household names, major stars utilize their services, and less gifted musicians – especially those who play the same instrument – hold such individuals …

Susie Suh‘s smoky vocals and spare, gutsy writing, combined with gorgeous Glen Ballard production, make this debut a cathartic listen. With a snaky, soft-pop sound that brings to mind a less precious Sarah McLachlan or a sadder Norah Jones, Suh just might be perfectly positioned to take advantage of the …

This week’s crop of indie releases proves that the slightly amateurish can be more satisfying than the slickly professional(ish) – it’s all about inspiration and having something original to say. – JS INDIE ROUND-UP for April 7 2005 === CD: Tim Young, Red If you pine for the time when …

New York, NY, April 1 2005 Tired of being slavishly imitated by legions of marginally talented singer-songwriters, music legends Joni Mitchell, Ani DiFranco and Tori Amos announced at a press conference today that they are forming a supergroup called The I’s Have It. “Yeah, we’ll be making some music,” DiFranco …

For a well-executed mix of goofball and straight-ahead rock, Wammo is hard to beat.

This is the first regular installment of a bi-weekly review of CDs, performances, news and events that cross my path or strike my fancy. Enjoy! INDIE ROUND-UP for March 24 2005 === Cadillac Moon rocked the house at Cornelia Street Cafe last night in a return engagement. The eight-piece blues …

Marketing Playbook: The Manual for Growing Organizations The world of business is a strange one. Artsy people often think of corporations as drab, soulless places, but nothing could be further from the truth. Companies are home to many wonders and mysteries, as most anyone who’s worked in one will tell …

I've had it with remixes.

MYSHKIN’S RUBY WARBLERS: Corvidae This is an unusual fusion of cabaret, singer-songwriter, lounge-jazz and gypsy music, yet it’s not quite any of those things. Myshkin’s promo material says “Gypsy torch punk” but the word “punk” must just be an attention-grabber, because although there are faint hints of anger and brashness …