Album Review: Eliza Doolittle

I buy quite a few CDs. Some of them are a bit shit, but that's what you get when you take a lot of chances, musically. However, here's one I got recently that I just can't relegate to the back of my iPod yet. It's Eliza Doolittle's album - a whimsical purchase that is really rather good. Like, leave it in the car as a go-to-album kind of good. Its accessible catchy upbeat tunes will make you tap your feet and put a smile on your face. The big band backing gives it credibility and the chirpy tweeting voice of Eliza herself makes it a decent purchase all round.

Though she's getting airplay for the 'Pack Up' track hidden at the bottom of the album, it's the Moneybox, Mr Medicine and Skinny Genes tunes that do it for me.

So, go buy the album, here. If not for the gorgeous melodies then so she doesn't sue me for using a picture of the album cover. Please. Oh and she's touring Europe at the moment, UK in March/April - go see a show while she's still doing the little venues.

Gig Report: Ani Di Franco

Date: Tuesday 25th January 2010
Venue: Lowry Theatre
Face Value: about £15 I think (again, The Husband bought them)
Support Act: none
Gig Buddies: The Husband

Close friends will know this story, but about 9 years ago I met The Husband. We worked together. Not unusual, but yes, our eyes met across a partitioned desk in the winter of 2002. He was the friendly Account Exec with the softest Northern Irish accent. I was the bright-eyed Aussie new to town, just trying to work it out in the big city.

One morning I trudged into work, as ever plugged into my minidisc (seriously, it was 9 years ago, remember those?) and sat at my desk. The lovely desk buddy greeted me with his usual cheery ways and enquired as to what I was listening to. I was a little hesitant to answer. Usually when I mention 'Ani Di Franco' people (especially men) attach the "angry lesbian" label. Nevertheless I told him and he smiled and said he liked her music too. How polite, I thought.

The very next day, I arrive at work and his smiley face greets me as usual. He pops an orange minidisc over the partition and says 'here's an album you might not have'. Turns out he wasn't being polite the previous day. He is also a massive Ani Di Franco fan. And that's how we became proper friends. To this day, I still have that minidisc, but would like to point out (in case Ms Di Franco ever reads this) that I did then go and buy the actual CD.

Anyways, that was a long way to say we are both massive long standing fans. One of my first ever gigs was to shell out $9 in 1996 to cram into a sweaty uni bar in Canberra (Australia) to catch the woman who created the genius that is Untouchable Face. I bought the album (Dilate) based on the strength of that one song and have subsequently purchased pretty much everything she has ever done since as well as seek out her gigs at every opportunity.

The difference between that first gig and the one this Tuesday night on in Manchester many years later is that Ani has mellowed a lot. Though the dreadlocks are gone, her politics are the same, but she exudes a softer more mature image. Make no mistake though, she's as talented as ever with her new material 100% pure folk joy. Her lyrics every bit as engaging and clever and the voice as powerful.

She performed loads of the old favourites (Both Hands and Fire Door both on the set list) but the absolute highlight for me was 'Garden of Simple' to which I could almost have cried out of nostalgia. All in all a fantastic night and a special shout out for the support act who was Liz Lawrence - a coy London with a catchy set of tunes.

Top gig, Ani.
Liz: sell your darned CD at the merch, I'd have bought one for sure.