reviews of new singers & singer-songwriters: Micah Blue Smaldone

Private Death Vessel : Stay Close (US,2003)**°

I became curious about this band because I liked already the playing by Micah Blue Smaldone on his solo release. After having heard the 3 soundfiles on their webpage, I really wanted to hear this band he was participating with. They have partly a very American sound which might be have some root somewhere in (the essence of) country-rock, but which still is indie-pendent in every detail, and secondly a singer-songwriter style which I can not define as easily (like on "Nothing Left To Bury").

Band leader / singer, Joel Thibodeau, has a very sweet, very attractive voice, with a somewhat child-like innocence. Another group of hers is The Stringbuilder, which is, (or better was because the group does not exist any more), even more into the Americana / acoustic indie-countryrock style. -A last group where she participates is The Eyeshores (see review at second psychfolkpop review page)-.

On the track “Mandan Dink” we hear Micah sing the second voice, with some banjo, and with some bluegrass influence. Not only here, the sound is pretty original and in fact really very happy. One track, “Snow don’t fall” (not my favourite) is by Townes Van Zandt. “Deep in the Horchatta" has a bit more drumming, and is a bit more s/sw-related rock compared to the other songs....

info : http://www.deathvessel.com/

Info Stringbuilder : http://www.stringbuilder.com

Other review : http://www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/2052

North East Indie Rec.

Micah Blue Smaldone : Some Sweet Day (US,2004)***°

I had to lay this aside for a while, because this is highly unusual for 2004 ! It is very hard to expect such an album that gives the feeling of something from between 1905-1920, and was considered to have died out!? We have here some references way back in time to for instance Blind Blake,..

Micah’s extraordinary voice is definitely an American sounding country-blues voice. It is odd, because it is differently pitched from any other usual white non-slave male voice I know from 2004. "Springtime Blues" definitely recalls the best earliest slavery workman’s blues.

The guitar playing is here and there very banjo-like. Some tracks (like "In the Jailhouse Now") also have something funny harking from very early entertainment music from the 20's. Once you are over the surprise : Nice !!

Audio : "My Angel's Wings", "Some Sweet Day", "Blind Boy Rag", "It Ain't No Good", "Spring Time Blues"

Homepage : http://www.northeastindie.com/micah/index.html

Info : http://stage.vitaminic.com/main/micah_blue_smaldone

& http://www.performermag.com/nepcover.php

Label entry : http://www.northeastindie.com/somesweetday.htm

Small review : http://www.zeitgeist-gallery.org/archives/...

Other reviews : http://www.adequacy.net/reviews/s/micahbluesmaldone.shtml &

http://www.splendidezine.com/review.html?reviewid=1083447391241582

& http://www.fakejazz.com/reviews/2004/smaldone.shtml

PS. Micah also performed with Jolie Holland. -(Review of her releases at next page)-

North East Indie Rec

Micah Blue Smaldone : Live From Belgium -EP- (US,2007)***'

While the first album from Micah Blue Smalldone reminded me much of old time music with banjo or ukulele, this sounds different.

“Untitled” starts much more a slow Fahey-like guitar improvisation, before the song appears. “Coal Black Crepe” is a semi-bluesy moody guitar excursion, but in a slowed down ragtime style, following a song closely and nicely. Third track sounds more like ot is played on banjo again, but I cannot tell for sure what instrument this is (perhaps a much smaller guitar with a more rough, dry and banjo-like sound)*. Last track is sung acapella. Luckily the public was quiet. A nice moody collection.

The sound is different also maybe because the speed of singing was slowed down, with some more tension in the mood creation.

Label info : http://www.northeastindie.com/belgium.htm

First album is reviewed on http://psychedelicfolk.homestead.com/guitar3.html#anchor_63

* it was a guitar.