Needles & Grooves AoTM /// Vol. 3 - September 2019 /// Nicole Atkins - Goodnight, Rhonda Lee

[High Rant District]

still not interested in the country so might skip this

Calling Nicole Atkins “country” is prob a stretch though.

Some of it is country and some of it has a very fifties feel to me.

Also, remember, I am SUPER excited about this. So, whatever it ends up being, I hope you read my eventual write up and give it an attentive listen before you make up your mind about it. I know not everyone will like it. Just, try.

THIS. I listened to the Atkins album today on Spotify and the country parts were enjoyable while the 'fifties' parts didn't grab me. I'll wait for the writeup, though, because context matters and will motivate me to listen with fresh ears. In college I was the one non-art student taking a Philosophy of Art and Beauty class, and I wrote a paper on how there's just a lot of art whose value is questionable unless you know the history behind it (context).

 

[dhodo]

Angel Olson isn’t pop though?

You don't think Shut Up Kiss Me is a great pop song?

 

[debianlinux]

I, for one, am waiting for the Monday morning bomb clue that the album still hasn’t been guessed yet.

 

[supahypeag]

What else could it be??? I’ve already looked up every opening act of CRJ!

 

[duke86fan]

Calling Nicole Atkins “country” is prob a stretch though.

it really made me think of country though for some reason

i dunno why but it felt very country to me.. just with a lot of soul influence

 

[debianlinux]

I think half the issue is the idea of what country is has become such a bastardization of where it began.

 

[duke86fan]

I think half the issue is the idea of what country is has become such a bastardization of where it began.

"you should listen to country because family guy"
"country is the blues for white people"
-vinyljunkies (he legit said these things)

 

[Skalap]

Listening to Nicole Atkins right now and I like it

1. Female Artist >>> Check with no doubt
2. (Unofficial hint) NOT one of Teeee's top 5 pop albums of the decade:
3. Post November 1964 (Ronettes album) >>> Check with no doubt
4. Artist born in USA >>> Check with no doubt
5. Artist has never performed with Beyoncé >>> Check with no doubt
6. Artist's 4th album >>> Check with no doubt
7. Genre is pop-rock/pop-singer/songwriter, not just "straight up singer songwriter". Not a choreographer. Not stereotypical pop. >>> Check with no doubt
8. Artist did not perform at Lilith Fair >>> Check with no doubt
9. @gouis (who doesn't like pop much) would/might/does like the album
10. Album is from this decade (2010-now) >>> Check with no doubt
11.

>>> There is a song called A Night of Serious Drinking in the album.
12. The artist is still alive. >>> Check with no doubt
13. EPs don't count as albums in Teeeee's counting of albums.
14. JqBX got a clue but probably doesn't know it. >>> Check with no doubt (she also released a lot of covers according to her wiki page)
15.

>>> There is a song called Sleepwalking in the album.
16. Artist has performed at Newport Folk Festival>>> Check with no doubt, she played there in 2017
17.

>>> Check with no doubt

 

[NathanRicaud]

Listening to Nicole Atkins right now and I like it

1. Female Artist >>> Check with no doubt
2. (Unofficial hint) NOT one of Teeee's top 5 pop albums of the decade:
3. Post November 1964 (Ronettes album) >>> Check with no doubt
4. Artist born in USA >>> Check with no doubt
5. Artist has never performed with Beyoncé >>> Check with no doubt
6. Artist's 4th album >>> Check with no doubt
7. Genre is pop-rock/pop-singer/songwriter, not just "straight up singer songwriter". Not a choreographer. Not stereotypical pop. >>> Check with no doubt
8. Artist did not perform at Lilith Fair >>> Check with no doubt
9. @gouis (who doesn't like pop much) would/might/does like the album
10. Album is from this decade (2010-now) >>> Check with no doubt
11.

>>> There is a song called A Night of Serious Drinking in the album.
12. The artist is still alive. >>> Check with no doubt
13. EPs don't count as albums in Teeeee's counting of albums.
14. JqBX got a clue but probably doesn't know it. >>> Check with no doubt (she also released a lot of covers according to her wiki page)
15.

>>> There is a song called Sleepwalking in the album.
16. Artist has performed at Newport Folk Festival>>> Check with no doubt, she played there in 2017
17.

>>> Check with no doubt

It’s 100% Nicole Atkins! Looking forward to checking her out as I have never heard of her before! I’ve listened to the first track on Goodnight Rhonda Lee and I was very impressed. Nicole Atkins’ voice reminds me of Beth Gibbons voice from Portishead, when her vocals are breathy. A Little Crazy sounds so theatrical, musically and vocally. It’s a real tear-jerker actually, like it really felt sincere. I’m interested to hear what the rest of the album will sound like!

 

[Skalap]

It’s 100% Nicole Atkins! Looking forward to checking her out as I have never heard of her before! I’ve listened to the first track on Goodnight Rhonda Lee and I was very impressed. Nicole Atkins’ voice reminds me of Beth Gibbons voice from Portishead, when her vocals are breathy. A Little Crazy sounds so theatrical, musically and vocally. It’s a real tear-jerker actually, like it really felt sincere. I’m interested to hear what the rest of the album will sound like!

It sometimes reminds me of Amy Winehouse too. Great songs.

 

[ChristoBee]

I need to listen to Nicole Atkins, because I wasn't too excited about Angel Olsen (it never clicked for me).

 

[gafacaode]

I just listened to Goodnight Ronda Lee on my commute.
Can I just buy it already? Great album, her voice is *chef's kiss*, those horn arrangements are lovely.
And as a bonus, I'm pretty sure my wife is going to absolutely love it.

 

[supahypeag]

looking at the emojis, Leon Bridges, toddler dancing, repeat watching toddler dancing, Guns n Roses, and Roy Orbison 6 post maybe-clue streak along with the drinking out of cups link, I could find connections to both Angel Olsen and Nicole Atkins.

 

[Teeeee]

looking at the emojis, Leon Bridges, toddler dancing, repeat watching toddler dancing, Guns n Roses, and Roy Orbison 6 post maybe-clue streak along with the drinking out of cups link, I could find connections to both Angel Olsen and Nicole Atkins.

Yeah - the Leon Bridges day of clues has not received a lot of attention. *ahem*

And another:

 

[gafacaode]

Leon Brigdes link to Nicole?

From the All Music page on Goodnight Brenda Lee:
To underscore that effort, she sought out a new production team that makes a lot of sense on paper. Niles City Sound (Josh Block, Austin Jenkins, and Chris Vivion) drew attention for their work on retro-soul singer Leon Bridges' 2015 debut.

EDIT:
And from her bio (also from All Music):

She was raised in Neptune, New Jersey and relocated to North Carolina during her late teens to study illustration at UNC Charlotte.

 

[supahypeag]

Angel Olsen lives in North Carolina (or at least did at one point)

 

[Goatfish]

More evidence for Nicole Atkins:

https://www.salvagestation.com/events2/2018/10/26/nicole-atkins

"Great Art is a journey — and Nicole Atkins traveled quite a distance to bring us Goodnight Rhonda Lee. As Nicole explains it, “This record came to me at a time of deep transition. Some days were good, some not so good. What I did gain, though, from starting to make some changes and going inward, and putting it out on the table, was a joy in what I do again. Joy in the process and a newfound confidence that I don’t think I’ve ever had until now. The album title, Goodnight Rhonda Lee, also came from those feelings. Rhonda Lee was kind of my alias for bad behavior, and it was time to put that persona to bed.“

Jekyll & Hyde

The direction in which these songs were headed was obvious. Nicole’s voice had always recalled a classic vinyl collection. She is the heir to the legacy of “Roy Orbison, Lee Hazelwood, Sinatra, Aretha, Carole King, Candi Staton.” She is untethered to decade or movement or the whim of the hipster elite.

Roy Orbison

In order to capture the timelessness she sought, Nicole enlisted a modern day Wrecking Crew: Niles City Sound in Fort Worth, TX, who had just risen to national acclaim as Leon Bridges‘ secret weapon. “We spoke the same language. We wanted to make something classic, something that had an atmosphere and a mood of romance and triumph and strength and soul.” The album was recorded in five days, live to tape. The album that Nicole and the boys came up with in those five days, Goodnight Rhonda Lee, is nothing less than Great Art and a quantum leap forward for Nicole Atkins who, no matter how much she grows up, will always be a little crazy."

Leon Bridges

 

[Goatfish]

Yeah - the Leon Bridges day of clues has not received a lot of attention. *ahem*

And another:

View attachment 14117

Angel Olsen lives in North Carolina (or at least did at one point)

Angel Olsen lives in Asheville. This is too easy and seems like a clue meant to steer us in the wrong direction, IMO.

If I have to link it, Nicole Atkins grew up in Asbury Park which is on the Jersey Shore (of the Atlantic Ocean)...

 

[Murfocakes]

neat cover of CAN

I had a club night in Belfast called Vitamin C. I played Wired For Sound by Cliff Richard followed by I Can’t Read by Tin Machine. This summarises the whole experience

 

[D Jilla]

Angel Olsen lives in Asheville. This is too easy and seems like a clue meant to steer us in the wrong direction, IMO.

If I have to link it, Nicole Atkins grew up in Asbury Park which is on the Jersey Shore (of the Atlantic Ocean)...

Nicole Atkins went to college in NC (according to Wikipedia). It's a clue that points to both frontrunning artists. Know anyone else who'd do something like that, @Goatfish?