Tanya Donelly

Suzanne Vega: Classic or Drip? "I have a thing for female singer-songwriters with fringes (Kristin Hersh, Edith Frost."

-- Ben Squircle (squirclemedia@yahoo.co.uk), March 09, 2002

>....listen boys, goody-goody is more like it for these fringed females. "Curt meet Ben - Ben, Curt."

guke, guke...Yawn...

E

Eve

New LP out which ia mostly acoustic and stripped down and personal and stuff (first person to say a**-c***try gets a kick). I started listening to it in HMV yesterday. First few tracks were very promising, then it seemed to start getting a bit boring.

Should I persevere?

Belly's 'Stay' is my favourite song called 'Stay'.

Solo stuff is a bit meh, mostly, though I really should give Whiskey Tango Ghosts another try.

One of the nicest people I've ever "met" (don't-know-when-to-leave fanboyish bothering at gigs) but the records don't grab me like Ms Hersh's.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-afZmeHyc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

thought this would be about the swan song EPs

(really really really super super slept-on btw)

Lovesongs for Underdogs is so underrated

Tell me more about the Swan Songs EPs...

series of EPs featuring approximately everyone, they're on bandcamp

"Mass Ave," from one of last year's EPs, was on my Tracks poll ballot. It's lovely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsTjviZlE-A

beautiful song. beautiful lady in more ways than one.

Lovesongs for Underdogs is so underrated

Heard "Land Speed Record" the other day and was just like, "Why was this album not bigger?"

It's not as strong as the first Belly record but it's pretty damn good.

it's amazing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgkHtpeqoPo

Y'all are ignoring the very excellent King.

holy shit how have I not heard "Bum" before?!

xpost

Yes! King the better of the two Belly records!

Also, you guys all know "Pretty Deep," right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0FaI0OTs8w

lol that video is so nineties

I was just listening to King the other day! I always felt like that album was unfairly maligned by fans. "The Bees" is such a gorgeous song.

I hadn't heard of the Swan Songs EPs until just now. Very interested...

Pretty Deep should have been a huge huge hit, but the music business ya know.

This is also delicious

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZI3ebPe948

Did she song lead on any Breeders songs?

A couple of lines on “Happiness is a Warm Gun” is all I can think of. The second album was supposed to be all her songs, but that spun off to become Belly. She posted the original demos (labelled Breeders) on Soundcloud last year.

What songs did she sing lead on in TM? Off the top of my head I can only come up with "Not Too Soon" and a couple more on _The Real Ramona_ maybe? Or am I way off base.

Usually 1 or 2 per LP. “Green” on the debut for instance.

Green, Pools in Eyes, Reel, The River, Giant, Dragonhead, Angel, Not Too Soon, Honeychain

Yep, "Green" off the first (proper) album; "The Party" from the "Throwing Muses" single, "Raise the Roses" from the Doghouse cassette, "Reel" from the "Chains Changed" EP, "Pools in Eyes" from "The Fat Skier" EP, "The River" and "Giant" from "House Tornado," "Dragonhead" and "Angel" from "Hunkpapa," and "Not Too Soon" and "Honeychain" from "The Real Ramona."

Tanya later reused a few melodic bits from "Raise the Roses" for Belly tracks, like "Angel" (the opening instrumental part) and "Sexy S" (the chorus, with different lyrics).

I'm trying to come up with a list of songs outside her band and solo work where Tanya sings more than just backing vocals - guest vocalist or at least a duet. Using Discogs as my main source of her appearances, here's what I've come up with:

This Mortal Coil - You And Your Sister: duet with Kim Deal
Catherine Wheel - Judy Staring At The Sun (single version): duet with solo verses
Josie And The Pussycats: duet with Juliana Hatfield
The Production Club - Devil's Kiss: guest vocalist
The Blackstone Valley Sinners - To Heck With Ole Santa Claus: guest vocalist
Pocket - Jars Of Fireflies: guest vocalist
Buffalo Tom - Don't Forget Me: backing vocals with one solo verse
Shoplifters Of The World Unite: guest vocalist with Dylan In The Movies
The Wingdale Community Singers - Passing Stranger: duet bordering on backing vocals
The Wingdale Community Singers - Hunan #3: duet on one verse, otherwise backing vocals
The Wingdale Community Singers - A Sweeter Way To Say Goodbye: barely backing vocals
Dylan In The Movies - Girl With The Black Tights: backing vocals with one solo verse
Stephen Hero - Golden: duet
The Lovecats: duet with Dylan In The Movies
Tracy Bonham - Sharks Can't Sleep: guest vocalist
She Makes War - Paper Thin: backing vocals

Discogs also says she sings on No Man is Roger Miller – Win! Instantly! but I've never heard it.

What have I missed?

One of the greatest love songs of all time, 20 years old as of last month:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzhyZz09Kds