Conference mr1pst::music

    
    	Well, once again I'm right there with you, Michael.  This
    	really is a terrific CD and, for me, a great lesson in
    	singing.  It's far more mellow than her previous CD,
    	Absolute Torch and Twang.  ATT was more country swing and
    	more kicking.  "3 Days" and "Trails of Broken Hearts" are
    	my favorites on that one.
    
    	Don't know the titles offhand but I love the one where she
    	sings to herself "where is your head, Kathryn" and also the
    	one about "Miss Chatelane".  
    
    	For me, the best female voice in music!!
    
    	Tom
    

     
    >For me, the best female voice in music!!
    
    Too bad she's so damn UGLY!!
    
    ;-)
    
    -Ed
    

    I know this will sound cruel, but she reminds me of Martin Sheen in a
    dress.
    
    Killer voice, though.
    

    
    	She does have a great voice...her and Lyle should get together and
    make an Cd...they look enough alike! :*)
    
    She is good though...
    
    B.A.

Re last few:

Hard to believe this thread- I'd just as soon see the last few replies discretely
disappear, myself. Stop and think about it: given the importance of appearance
in our society in general, and in "the entertainment biz" specifically, it's an
*enormous* testament to this lady's talent *and* staying power that she's
achieved such success *without* a pretty face. High kudos indeed.

SET PREACH_MODE/OFF

Re base topic:

I'm planning on picking up "Ingenue" on the strength of the comments I've seen
here and elsewhere. From everything I've read concerning ms. lang, she sounds
like someone I'd not only enjoy hearing, but also enjoy knowing.

Bob

    
    Bob - exactly my feelings.  I saw her sing "Trails of Broken Hearts"
    on Sat Night Live about 2 years ago and couldn't believe how much
    personality came through.  She sings with such geniune emotion and
    I too would love to meet her.  She's on the cover of the Tower
    Records magazine and she comes off as a great person.  She's not
    at all unattractive to me.
    
    Like Michael wrote, the songs are about unrequited love and she says
    that, because they're about her life, she was actually singing flat
    because she was "down" when she first sang them in the studio.  Only
    when she sang them from a third person's perspective did she start
    to sing to pitch.  That's what I call feeling.
    
    Also, her older albums owe as much to punk as they do to country so
    her "look" isn't so surprising.  Looks, sexual preference, race, etc..
    just don't matter and those previous replies make no sense to me
    either.
    
    Tom
      
    
    

The k.d. lang video collection goes all the way back to her first TV appearances
on the Vancouver Barn Dance or some such when she was using the name Katie Lang.
They were crazy about her in Western Canada (about as square as it gets on 
this continent) long before she hit the big time.  

Incidentally,  the first three songs on the video compilation, all from those
obscure days, are songs about women.  In one video where she wears a Jackie 
Kennedy wig, obviously as a spoof.  In a performance video, she brags about
how ugly her shoes are.

To repeat myself from a couple of years ago:  Why should the boys have all
the fun in rock&roll's gender-bending department?

    re: .7 (and others)
    
    I think the earlier name that k.d. was using was "Kathy" - not "Katie."
    Her name is Katherine Dawn Lang.
    
    For more information on k.d., see note 676 in the COOKIE::FOLK_MUSIC
    conference.  
    
    The album (highly recommended!) prior to "Absolute Torch and Twang"
    was "Shadowland."  Before "Shadowland" there was "Angel With A Lariat."
    And her first album - available in Canada - was "A Truly Western Ex-
    perience."
    
    The "video compilation" mentioned in .7 is called "Harvest of Seven
    Years."  
    
    Virginia
    

>    The "video compilation" mentioned in .7 is called "Harvest of Seven
>    Years."  

    That video wouldn't happen to contain "Jingle Bell Rock" from the
    Pee-Wee Herman Xmas special, would it?  I'm not seeking it (since I have
    the PW special), just curious.  That was *my* first glimpse of k.d., and
    a highly pleasurable one it was...   - Jay

    re: .9
    
    As I remember, the "Harvest..." video doesn't contain "Jingle Bell
    Rock" - I'll check it out to be sure.
    
    Virginia

    Wow! It's great seeing such good reviews about kd's latest! I just
    read a review of it in "People" and they didn't like it.  I was going
    to pick it up anyway, cuz I love her other CDs.  Absolute Torch and 
    Twang and Shadowland are my favorites. "Angel with a Lariat" is too
    fast and gives me a nervous headache, although I love "3 cigarettes
    in the ashtray."  
    
    She's quite a character, totally unlike others in the CW field.  
    
    I'll be sure to pick it up.  
    
    Kath

    re: .11
    
    To balance the review in "People, see the review in "Pulse" 
    magazine, p.25, and the article beginning on p. 73.
    
    re: .9
    
    Nope, no Jingle Bell Rock.  Here's a list of the selections on
    the video, "k.d.lang, Harvest of Seven Years (cropped and chroni-
    cled)":
    
           Friday Night Promenade (1984)
           Bopalena (1984)
           Polly Ann (1984)
           Pine & Stew (1984)
           Hanky Panky (1984)
           Johnny Get Angry (1985)
           Don't Be A Lemming Polka (1986)
           Pay Dirt (1986)
           Turn Me Round (1987)
           Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray (1987)
           Crying (With Roy Orbison) (1987)
           Turn Me Round (1988) - performed live at
                the Winter Olympics in Canada
           Honky Tonk Angels' Medley (1988)
           Trail Of Broken Hearts (1989)
           Pullin' Back The Reins (1989)
           Crying (1989) - performmed live at the 
                Songwriter's Hall Of Fame telecast
           Ridin' The Rails (With Take 6) (1990)
           So In Love (1990)
           Barefoot (1991)
    
    k.d. narrates the video, and in addition to the songs,
    viewers get to see some surprising footage from the Juno
    awards in Canada and an ending clip from her Austin City
    Limits appearance.
    
    Virginia                         
    

    re .2, "best female voice in music"
           "too bad she's so damn ugly"
    
    That's sort of how I feel about Van Morrison, but in reverse! :-)
    
    
    Well, just look at a picture of Chynna Phillips while you listen to
    K.D. Lang!  :-)
    
    
    Lorna
    

    Personally, I don't think shes particularly ugly, but who cares anyway.
    
    The album Ingenue was a bit of a disappointment to me. Having played
    her previous two albums "Shadowland" and "Absolute Torch and Twang"
    for a couple of years I don't think Ingenue is in the same class. Her
    singing on the two previous albums is far better and IMHO the earlier songs
    are better too. Those of you who just have Ingenue, go out and buy
    Shadowland and ATT and if you think you don't like country listen a few
    times with an open mind - it certainly grew on me.
    
    Paul
    

    RE: all the "she's so damn ugly" replies
    
    
    SET/TERM=FLAME_ON
    
    If I've ever heard of such a sexist, male chouvinistic remark, you guys
    just tipped the scales!
    
    Please accept my appoligies for all the females in the world whom you
    do not find actractive. Go ahead and belittle us with your penis thinking
    attitudes. Seeing as its 1992, I was hoping that this kind of prejudice
    could be left behind, but you've made it quite clear that the world
    is still full of individuals that feel slighted by the lack of a pretty
    face and great bod to accompany a truly talented person.
    
    You're really a sad example of the male human race (IMO)
    
    
    BTW: Maybe you ought to check out the movie Beauty and the Beast. Maybe
    you'll learn something.
    
    
    Kelley

    .15�    do not find actractive. Go ahead and belittle us with your penis thinking
    .15�    attitudes. Seeing as its 1992, I was hoping that this kind of prejudice
    
    	Well seeing how I have never seen *YOU* and I have seen K.D, You
    must ah never mind it's not worth it...:*)
    
    .15�    face and great bod to accompany a truly talented person.
    
    	We've(I've)said that she is very talented...but wouldn't want to
    marry her!
    
    	Sorry we got you upset...
    
    one more thing...as far as the Male Chouvinistic deal goes..my wife
    thinks K.D is pretty damn ugly as well.
    
    B.A. 

    First off, I don't care what she looks like. I'd rather look at her than
    some of these imps that pass themselves off as teen idols types, i.e.
    Cinderella, Skid Row, GnR and the like. k.d.lang is a fine musician and
    that's why I buy albums. Enough of the tasteless cheap shots about her
    physical appearance already. If you want babes, buy a magazine not a CD.

    Anyway, I only wanted to interject that there is a big write-up on lang
    and Lovett in this week's Newsweek. In case anyone's interested. She
    says she's through with country music.

    --Ron

    
    must be love at first sight.
    

    A female perspective...
    
    These days everything is visual.  When the Buggles sang "Video Killed
    The Radio Star", they weren't kidding.  Groups that SOUND good, but
    don't have a distinctive look (either super ug or super wow), get
    passed up for groups that have so-so sound, but grab the eye.
    
    k.d. lang is an exception, but at the same time, she isn't.
    
    The gal is UGLY.  Not plain, not undistinctive...UGLY.  She also has a
    voice that can charm the birds from the trees.  But, her look is so
    DISTINCTIVE, that she can sell.  I think that if she grew her hair out
    and wore a bit of make-up (or a LOT of make-up), her looks would become
    not as distinctive - she would be just plain looking.  And, she
    probably wouldn't get as much attention.
    
    Sexist or no...looks attract.  Luckily, k.d. has enough talent (and to
    spare) to avoid being caught in that trap.  I don't think that the guys
    here saying that k.d. is ugly is any different from that blathering
    topic in the old MUSICnotes about how "gorgeous" Jon Bon Jovi is.  The
    difference here is...at least these guys ARE saying how TALENTED she
    also is.
    
    The ONLY thing I don't like about her is her overly preachy
    vegetarianism.  I won't have her, or anyone else, tell me not to eat my
    hamburger and chicken.  But I'll STILL listen to her sing.
    
    K.C. (who still thinks that JBJ needs a haircut)  ;^)

>    one more thing...as far as the Male Chouvinistic deal goes..my wife
>    thinks K.D is pretty damn ugly as well.
    
Whoopee.

You've effectively proven that there's nothing "male" about silliness, IMHO.
I imagine you'd rather have Dan Quayle for president because he's more
attractive than those who have such silly qualifications as good brains. Y'know,
Gandhi was OK, but I mean he was like *ugly,* man! And Ben Franklin? Look at
that dome! Who bloody well cares?

Personally, I'd rather be able to look at myself in the mirror than be smugly
certain that I'm attractive. There *is* a difference, IMHO.

Bob

    re: .19   -< Looking from a female point of view >-
    
    >>These days everything is visual.
    
    Its really a shame you feel this way, and there is an obvious reason
    for it. We (society) allows this to happen. We allow men and women to
    be exploited for their looks. Granted, many do so willingly and make
    alot of $$$ doing so, but does this make it right? Women have been
    fighting for years to be respected as individuals, equal to men, and to
    sit their and judge somebody because their attractiveness doesn't meet
    your idea of status quo ir ludicrist.
    
    It's just another form of oppression, and I'm not suggesting that its
    men doing the oppression, as obviously .19 has pointed out. I think
    this "it's all visual" attitude makes up for alot of discrimination and
    hatered. As an example, how often have you heard someone on the beach
    refering to an obeis person "Beached Whale!" Where do you think people
    get this from? How many advertisements do you see skinny, sexy women
    modeling clothing? Are they the only ones who wear clothing?
    
    I personally think that way too much attention is spent on looks. How
    easy it must be for you to pass someone off because they don't "fit the
    bill" in the looks department. Too bad, you probably missed out on alot
    of descent people/friendships in your life time.
    
    How many times have you ever dated someone soley on their looks only
    later to find out that they really weren't compatable with you at all?
    What a waist.                    

    RE -.1
    
    > What a waist.
    
    	can you say freudian slip?
    
    2 cents . . . Yes, she's unattractive, in my opinion.  So pick up the
    peices and get on with your lives!  She's still extremely talented and
    people will still listen to her.
    					-Jimbo

    
    	Ummm, I think a couple of you are taking the "looks" argument
    	the wrong way here.  Obviously, someone doesn't have to be good
    	looking to be a good vocalist/musician.  But the way the market
    	is, being somewhat [if not VERY] attractive helps to sell the
    	albums and promote the artist.
    
    	Not just because the cute picture on the album cover will get
    	people to buy the album, even though they might not have bought
    	it if there had been a picture of a decapitated warthog instead,
    	but good looks are further marketable when you consider posters,
    	greeting cards, trading cards, picture discs, etc.
    
    	And I'm not saying that I agree with this, but that's the way it
    	goes.  I've never bought an album just because of the picture on
    	the cover [well, except for the Robin Beck CD, but 1/400 isn't a
    	bad ratio], because I don't care what the band/artist looks like.
    	As long as they put out a good album, then I'll be happy.
    
    							GTI
    

    .23�    	bad ratio], because I don't care what the band/artist looks like.
    .23�    	As long as they put out a good album, then I'll be happy.
    
    	Here, here!  
    
    B.A.

    RE: .23
    
    Thank you, Shawn, for saying what _I_ was trying to say.
    
    But, I still say, that noters have just as much right to say how 
    not-so-good-looking an artist is as to say how "gorgeous" one  is.
    
    But MUSIC is the main issue!!!
    
    So, on that "note" (double pun there), lets just say that although not
    physically attractive, k.d. lang has one B*TCHIN' set of pipes!
    
    (I'll be listening to her duet with Roy Orbison ["Cryin'"] at lunch
    today - y'all got me in the mood to hear it again.)  :^)
    
    K.C.

Beauty experts: 
Hey, watch the damn Bangles if you feel that way about it.

k.d. lang has a pleasant, plain, intelligent face, a nice smile, and 
a modest manner (except on meat).  She is not UGLY or even ugly.

    
    i agree with .26 on k.d.'s looks, though it doesn't really matter to me.
    I'm buying Ingenue by the weekend regardless..
    
    On the other hand, sex is what rock-n-roll has been about since the
    early 50's, and to think otherwise is perhaps a major self delusion! As
    to what is attractive in that context is highly subjective, but
    personal appearance in one-fashion or another is a big part of r-n-r
    and always has been.
    
    	bob

    KD Lang *is* ugly, but I love her music.
    Lyle Lovett *is* ugly, but I love his music.
    Mariah Carey is pretty, but I hate her music.
    
    There goes your theory on me being sexist or letting appearances affect
    the way one judges music.
    
    Mark.
    
    PS: BA, "where, where?"

	I don't think she's ugly either.  In fact, a couple of years
	ago, she was on Austin City Limits, for what she called her
	"hillbilly baptism", and she did an absolutely killer version of
	"Lock, Stock, and Teardrops" and blew everybody away.  I lucked
	out and was able to tape it - still gives me chills to see it
	now.  But anyways, she was so endearing in her manner on that
	show, she actually seemed cute.

	"Ugly" is such a severe term, and I agree that it's quite
	disheartening that it was mentioned in the first place.  Most
	unkind.

	Di

    .28�    PS: BA, "where, where?"
    
    
    	There, there!   :*)
    
    B.A.

    I recall seeing her on SuperDave a few years ago, and don't recall her
    being either attractive nor unattractive.  Has she shaved off the left
    side of her head, or something?  
    
    Please remember that although this is the MUSIC conference, the point
    of the music is to entertain, and most performers must be able to
    perform in both the musical and visual dimensions.  If I'm watching
    MTV, I prefer that the performers not be so ugly that I forget to
    listen to the music.  
    
    I sense that those with the strongest negative feelings sometimes feel
    that it distracts from the enjoyment of the music.
    
    Carl

I picked up the new k.d lang album, and finally got a chance to listen to
it on the way into work today. Overall, I'd say its ok but nothing great.
Her voice sounds quite good, but the music seems to straddl the line between 
sincerity and Holiday Inn lounge music. Too many times, it seems to cross
over that line and sound a bit boring and lame.

Like I said though, k.d.'s voice sounds really nice on this! I just wish the
background music wasn't so mediocre. My favorite song so far is "Save Me",
while my least favorite is "Miss Chantreuse", or whatever that title was...

BTW, k.d. seems to be latest in a string of female singers that are suddenly 
into pre-rock'n'roll era music. I think it all started back when Ellen Foley
did her "Spirit Of St. Louis" album (great stuff!), then Linda Rondstat's
work with Nelson Riddle (quite good), and then Natalie Cole finally 
"discovering" her father's music (and then trashing it, but that's opinion 
I'll save for another day). 

alan

    Thanx for the review,Alan.
    My Mom's a big fan of hers but think she might be abit suprized
    with this one.Well,I think I'll get it for her anyways.
    
    For those commenting on her face....When was the last time you
    looked in the mirror?         So *in THAIR!!!
    
    My Mom jokes around and calls J.L her girl friend.This drives my Dad
    Nuts!!
    
                        Crazy_Love_it_Al

    
     I was trying to describe Ingenue to someone at work and couldn't
    do it, then I saw her decription in Newsweek and it fits:
    
           "...post nuclear cabaret".
    
    
     PAW

    FWIW,
    
    	K.D. is going to be on Letterman this week...
    
    B.A.

    
    i bought Ingenue along with Little Village and I love both albums.
    
    I object to comparing a style or era with Holiday Inn Music.   H.I.M
    generally means real bad to me - performance wise.  However, there is lot's
    and lot's of good music from way back then - perhaps if you tried
    performing it, you would discover that good and bad are there all the
    time. I think k.d does a fine job on all the material.
    
    I do not find k.d. fugly at all.

I don't think that k.d. is ugly by nature, but rather has adopted and
exploited a severe androgynous look as her trademark.  As for her singing, 
I've seen her on TV several times, and agree that she has a good, strong 
voice - but I don't like what she does with it.  Seems like she sings 
according to a formula:  Sing softly, belt, start line off with canny 
'scratchy voice' to express "angst", belt, start another line off with 
'scratchy voice', belt, etc.  The high drama wears thin in very short 
order.

Shawn
    

    Speaking of k.d. on T.V. -- I find her albums (and 1 or 2 song cameo
    live appearances) more satisfying than her concert-length televised
    appearances.  I saw her on Austin City Limits and the recent PBS airing
    of a London concert, and I agree with the previous comment, that the
    high drama & virtuosity wears thin (based on those 2 concerts).

    But I find much to like in her studio work (roughly half the album
    cuts).  - Jay

    kd lang will be performing in Portsmouth the end of May. 
    
    

    WHAT???!!!????
    
    At the Music Hall?
    
    Mark.

    I just called the Music Hall office in Portsmouth and the guy said she
    was playing in Port*land*, ME...not Portsmouth.
    
    Mark.

    Whoops!  Sorry Mark, I guess I was wishful thinking. 
    

    I saw k.d. and Lyle Lovett in concert at Navy Pier in Concert in July
    1988.  k.d. played warmup for Lyle.  It was one of the most high-energy
    performances I've ever seen.  She wore this famous cow-girl dress with
    all the plastic toy animals sewn onto the dress.  Her encore was
    "Crying" and her rendition of that made the house go wild.
    
    I was concerned for Lyle, because when he came out, the audience was
    pretty pumped up.  He started off kind of slow and worked the audience,
    like a real master performer into a frenzy.  In contrast to k.d., his
    style could be called "a nice slow burn workup of the audience".  
    
    It was a free concert, and one of the best I've ever seen.
    
    By the way, anyone who says k.d. is UGLY has never seen her live.  She
    has a continuous, warm, wonderful smile and her eyes just twinkle with
    a real love for life and her fellow human beings.  For those of you who
    go around calling people ugly, maybe you should get a special mirror
    and look at the inside of your heart.  I'm sure it ain't too pretty in
    there either.  
    
    Wild Bill

    .43�    Wild Bill
    
    	Hey Bill, I'm going to see Lyle in Charlotte in May...if I get the
    chance to talk with him, anything you want me to tell him for you?
    
    	Howdy? How's the family?  :*)
    
    Looking forward to the small arena with the Large Band!
    
    B.A.

   >> ... For those of you who
   >> go around calling people ugly, maybe you should get a special mirror
   >> and look at the inside of your heart.  I'm sure it ain't too pretty in
   >> there either.  

	Nicely put.  What a sweet guy.

	Jane Siberry collaboration, which album was that?

	I believe Dave Edmunds produced an earlier album, can't say that I've
	heard it.

	- Jim

    Re: .46
    
    Edmunds produced "Angel With A Lariat" which is a bit of a cowpunk
    raver compared to the more "traditional" approach to the two LPs that
    followed.  
    
    							Brian

    
    	anyone have directions to her Providence gig at the
    	Performing Arts Center (I think) this sat. Jun 6th ??
    
    	495 to 95 to exit ...
    
    	thanks - Tom
    

    
    re: .48 (Tom)
    
    Here are the directions given by the Providence Performing 
    Arts Center in its current brochure:
    
           ...95 South to the Atwells Avenue exit #21.
           Go straight to the YMCA bldg.  Turn left onto
           Broad Street which turns into Weybosset Street.
    
    Using this approach, you would soon come to the ...Arts
    Center on your right.  There's a small, covered parking gar-
    age almost across the street from it.
    
    Virginia
    

    
    	Thanks, Virginia !!
    
    	

    	Well, so much for K.D. getting together with Lyle..read in an
    interview over the weekend where K.D. admitted to being a lesbian(sp).

    	Said that she's ready to get on with her life the way it is...

    The interview was for her latest Cd.

    B.A.

    Folks ... End of discussion. Sorry.
    
    No further elaboration on the sexual orientation of Ms. Lang will be
    permitted. I'll leave it up to the author of .51 to change the title of
    the reply.
    
    Brian
    MUSIC Mod

    For kd lang fans! She's playing at the Berklee Performance Center
    in Boston this month!  Her Only area appearance. 
    
    

    I bought Ingenue back last summer.  When I played it I thought it was
    pretty, but I haven't played it once since.  Same goes for the latest
    Lyle Lovett.
    

    
    	From her new CD, her official web site;
    
    	http://www.infohouse.com/obviousgossip/
    
    	Tom
    

    
    	Did K.D. ever record "No More Tears" with Erasure's Andy Bell,
    	like I had read [maybe 2 years ago] she was going to?
    
    	I'd love to hear that one, even though there's a very good
    	chance that it wouldn't be as good as Donna and Barbra's
    	original.