Ellington

Nora O'Connor, TIL THE DAWN, out Aug. 24 -- Hot on the heels of a sold out CD release show in Chicago, today we release a gem of a record-- Nora O Connor's "Til the Dawn." Nora has been willing to lend a hand on any number of releases from Chicago folks like Andrew Bird, Kelly Hogan and even the Aluminum Group. Now many of these players return the favor on this excellent record.

O'Connor's mellifluous pipes and soothing, uplifting styling lead you
through this record at a right pleasing clip, through some impressively
deft originals as well as beautifully interpreted covers of songs by Squirrel Nut Zippers' James Mathis, guitarist and co-conspirator Matt Weber and even 70s rock goddess Stevie Nicks. Check out what other folks are
saying about her so far:

http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/o/oconnornora-tilthedawn.shtml
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:eu3gtq6zzu4p~T1

And from the August 2004 issue of MOJO Magazine:
Formerly of the country-goth outfit The Blacks, Nora O'Connor reemerges
with a solo calling card that is almost startling in its assured
delivery
and freshness. Where The Blacks dwelled in the dark corners of the
barn
and the church, here O'Connor exudes warmth, romance and (dare we say
it)
optimism. Indeed, the disc plays like an alt-country concept album
about
emotional survival and self-reliance, weaving together off-the-beaten
path
covers like Stevie Nicks' "That's Alright" and the Ketty Lester gem
"Love
Letters" with terrific originals like the bittersweet "Tonight" and "My
Backyard," a breezy declaration of independence. Backed by a crack
band,
including the great Andrew Bird on violin and multi-instrumentalist
Scott
Ligon, O'Connor shines brightly from start to finish. The only problem
is,
at the end of the all-too-brief 31-minute playing time, one gets
impatient
for her next release. 4 stars. -- Tim Sheridan, MOJO

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Split Lip Rayfield, SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT COMING, out Sept. 28 -- The
acoustic/metal onslaught that is Split Lip Rayfield -- a 4-piece from
Wichita KS coming at you with mandolin, guitar, banjo and gas-tank bass
a-blazin' -- is all growed up, and are we ever proud. On their 4th
full-length release, SLR has traded up from their dirt-track hot rod to
a
machine that's finely tuned and high-precision. After sharing stages
the
past few years with bands as diverse as Del McCoury, Leftover Salmon,
Nashville Pussy and the Reverend Horton Heat, they've morphed into a
chameleon-like quartet who can bring the hammer down for the unreformed
metal heads, get their groove on for the dancing, twirling jam-lovers
and
astonish the traditional bluegrass establishment. With tight
four-part
harmonies, power the likes of which you'd never expect from acoustic
instruments, and songs that combine a world-view that's equal parts
Carter
Family and "American Chopper," Split Lip Rayfield stretches out their
one-of-a-kind sound, borrowing from the bluegrass traditions of the
hollers
and backwoods and making it relevant for the flatlands, cities and
backyards of the 21st Century.

Testimonials to the power of Split Lip Rayfield:

"Split Lip would inspire mass conversions at Bonnaroo, much as it has
at
South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, where local fun-seekers and
next-big-thing scouts gather to bask in the warmth of its smoldering
sets."
- Pitch Weekly (Kansas City)

"... Split Lip joins inventive alt-country groups like Austin's
tuba-grounded Bad Livers by maintaining a mostly one-man rhythm
section.
And while such bluegrass variations might border on heresy ... the act
has
yet to be reprimanded for thinking outside the Appalachian zip code." -
Westword (Denver)

"Anyone who hasn't yet seen the quartet will be gape-mouthed that
acoustic
instruments can make that much racket and be played with such
ferocity." -
Austin Chronicle

For band clip art and a shot of Split Lip in action:
http://members.cox.net/splitliprayfield/clipart/

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Various artists, HARD-HEADED WOMAN: A CELEBRATION OF WANDA JACKSON, out
Oct. 26 -- A bunch of renegades paying tribute to a renegade, that's
how
co-producer Holly George-Warren describes this cd in her liner notes
and
she's right on the money. Hailed as the Queen of Rockabilly, and one
of
rock & roll's original bad-asses, Wanda paved a direct route from the
feral
origins of rock to the punks, riot grrrls, and psychobilly
boundary-busters
50 years later. Props are long overdue, and we've assembled a feisty
bunch
to pay tribute to Ms Jackson: Neko Case, Rosie Flores, Wayne "the
Train"
Hancock, Robbie Fulks, Jesse Sykes and a whole passel more cover the
songs
of the woman who's sung at the Opry, dated Elvis Presley, inspired
Elvis
Costello and been covered by the Cramps.