trio of vocalists that can handle everything from balkan to gospel, somehow without it ever seeming academic or forced, leading a ornately detailed burning punk / metal band that leans on the prog side of things. (the band on the first two records went on to form Gorilla Sleepytime Museum).
I was spoiled by the frequent live shows in the wake of that release which eclipsed what was on the record. they'd stretch the songs out to 6-10 minutes, and these people could play.
The debut Eat is classic. Punch is out; in some ways more consistent, more precise, but I'm not sure if there's any one track as amazing as 'mi nuera' or 'elenke' yet but yes it is great.
Anyone heard Sarajevo, with the new band? How does it compare?
― milton parker (Jon L), Wednesday, 16 March 2005 03:31 (twenty-one years ago)
A lot of the tracks are really traditional, almost like a tiny bulgarian womens choir w/percussion. Most of the rest are what I imagine Zap Mama would sound like if they were Balkan. Not quite sure if that's a good thing yet.
The best track so far is Aish Ye K'dish, but I've only listened to it once. I would say I prefer "Eat" overall, though.
― John Justen (johnjusten), Saturday, 19 March 2005 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)
― Dominique (dleone), Saturday, 26 March 2005 19:24 (twenty-one years ago)
Holy shit I just dl'd Sarajevo Blues after hearing "Imam Bey's Mosque" on the monotone harmony thread and so far this is kind of blowing me away
― 26 Mixes Focaccia (Stevie D), Wednesday, 10 February 2010 19:27 (sixteen years ago)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WUV09Kjtxw
this
― 26 Mixes Focaccia (Stevie D), Wednesday, 10 February 2010 19:33 (sixteen years ago)
the late 90's lineup of this band were so fucking incredible. no one like them. usually when you have singers singing in multiple folk music styles from song to song there's this formal part of your brain that clicks on and treating the music like an experiment, but with them it came out so directly you didn't even notice, they are not a fusion band. I hope there are some decent live recordings hiding in a shoebox somewhere that can come out somewhere at some point. it doesn't matter if they're lo-fi, Eat is a great record but it doesn't even hold a candle to what they got up to on a stage.
that version of the band essentially ended once Sleepytime Gorilla Museum got going (they shared 4 of CH's 6 members) and although it's too different a project to even compare them... man I miss this band.
Julia & Carla sang together again a year ago when Cutler & Frith pulled together the Art Bears Songbook project, they still sound great together.
― Milton Parker, Wednesday, 10 February 2010 19:40 (sixteen years ago)
/ begins treating the music like an experiment
― Milton Parker, Wednesday, 10 February 2010 19:41 (sixteen years ago)
What language is that song in? Hebrew? Anyone have the lyrics?
― 26 Mixes Focaccia (Stevie D), Wednesday, 10 February 2010 23:13 (sixteen years ago)
love this band (especially carla...one of my favourite vocalists of all time), but only have punch and a couple of spare tracks.
― m the g, Wednesday, 10 February 2010 23:17 (sixteen years ago)
nothing to add except yeah, they were great, and yeah, I hope there's good live recordings somewhere.
― sleeve, Thursday, 11 February 2010 00:50 (sixteen years ago)
yep. punch is awesome.
― SMALL BONES, SMALL BODIES (jjjusten), Thursday, 11 February 2010 00:53 (sixteen years ago)
CHARMING HOSTESS GETS APOCALYPTICwithBABYLONIAN AMULETS OF SEX AND MAGIC Saturday March 9 at 8PM at Barbes, 376 9th St, Brooklyn NY
if ur in NY and can go to this show u def should - i wish i could
― Mordy, Friday, 8 March 2013 04:48 (thirteen years ago)
i have no idea what it'll be like but i wish i had gone when they were doing this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVO203VUJJc
― Mordy, Friday, 8 March 2013 04:58 (thirteen years ago)
She (Jewlia) had this other side-project that I forget - probably 7-10 years ago, I think, or maybe it was just a different incarnation of the band - so great. I got so many facebook reminders to check out the bowls project, and I did not end up going, and I regret it.
― sarahell, Friday, 8 March 2013 06:35 (thirteen years ago)
The internet is wonderful and beautiful - Trilectic
http://www.allmusic.com/album/trilectic-mw0000591653
― sarahell, Friday, 8 March 2013 06:43 (thirteen years ago)
Charming Hostess should do a double a side with Christian Mistress
― dog latin, Friday, 8 March 2013 07:44 (thirteen years ago)
Trilectic is one of the greatest albums ever
― Mordy, Friday, 8 March 2013 14:37 (thirteen years ago)
Jewlia Eisenberg passed away yesterday -- she was an amazing musician and an amazing person and I was proud to have her as a friend, and wish I had gotten to present her work or see her at a show one (or more) last time(s).
― sarahell, Friday, 12 March 2021 17:41 (five years ago)
oh dammit
RIP
the Eat record is the classic for me
this sucks, sorry S
― I like signing up to dead sites (sleeve), Friday, 12 March 2021 18:26 (five years ago)
Vaguely remember the group, and just saw this
https://www.jweekly.com/2021/03/16/in-memoriam-jewlia-eisenberg-a-shining-star-in-the-musical-jewniverse/?fbclid=IwAR3CEM1-eV2V5UJCrqi00KYUc19VrJT8qTUoJ1FKdaYy7xXDEqm7u0cpP58
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 March 2021 03:12 (five years ago)
An amazing person
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 25 March 2021 03:13 (five years ago)
That picture really captures her as a person ... like, it didn't hit me until a few days later, and I put on The Bowls Project and just got weepy
― sarahell, Thursday, 25 March 2021 05:53 (five years ago)
― Mordy, Friday, 8 March 2013 14:37 (ten years ago) bookmarkflaglink
no lie
― imago, Thursday, 28 September 2023 12:16 (two years ago)
(this is how I am observing International Tzadik Day)
― imago, Thursday, 28 September 2023 12:37 (two years ago)
go directly to Eat, do not pass go
― out-of-print LaserDisc edition (sleeve), Thursday, 28 September 2023 15:36 (two years ago)