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Independence Meal by Alix Olson
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fave it Political | Poetry
12 tracks | 54 minutes
Released Feb 2003
on subtle sister productions
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- sample "DOWNLOAD" 05:42 Pirates BUY MP3 05:42 Pirates "GIFT MP3" 05:42 Pirates
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:59 Unsteady Things BUY MP3 04:59 Unsteady Things "GIFT MP3" 04:59 Unsteady Things
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 07:46 Independence Meal BUY MP3 07:46 Independence Meal "GIFT MP3" 07:46 Independence Meal
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 02:40 Subway Lips BUY MP3 02:40 Subway Lips "GIFT MP3" 02:40 Subway Lips
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 03:55 Beautiful Bones BUY MP3 03:55 Beautiful Bones "GIFT MP3" 03:55 Beautiful Bones
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 05:43 Dorothea Tanning BUY MP3 05:43 Dorothea Tanning "GIFT MP3" 05:43 Dorothea Tanning
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 02:55 8 X 10 BUY MP3 02:55 8 X 10 "GIFT MP3" 02:55 8 X 10
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:29 Bedtime Poem BUY MP3 04:29 Bedtime Poem "GIFT MP3" 04:29 Bedtime Poem
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 02:23 Wholly Human BUY MP3 02:23 Wholly Human "GIFT MP3" 02:23 Wholly Human
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:56 Kindness and Rage BUY MP3 04:56 Kindness and Rage "GIFT MP3" 04:56 Kindness and Rage
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:30 Womyn Before BUY MP3 04:30 Womyn Before "GIFT MP3" 04:30 Womyn Before
- sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:16 Blessed With a Family BUY MP3 04:16 Blessed With a Family "GIFT MP3" 04:16 Blessed With a Family
Edgy and intimate spoken word with raw musical accompaniment by Pamela Means, Lyndell Montgomery, and Ubaka Hill
Editorial review
It's difficult to come to a single conclusion on Independence Meal. It's clever and humorous, though not really a comedy album. Alix Olson's message is powerful -- anti-George Bush, anti-big business, pro-environment, and desperate to lend a voice to the marginalized, she speaks for the true democratic spirit of America like Howard Zinn (who makes a guest appearance) with an art folk band instead of a typewriter. Still, it's not a Zinn or Chomsky type of political record. Olson is incisive, though: "You've gotta steal back the truth even from NPR, these days" ("Pirates") is a line that rings so true in an age where even the would-be leftist radio station seems ineffectually moderate. Unfortunately, Olson's breathy spoken word rants over spare guitar picking come off prickly and somewhat annoying. And it's not the words -- Olson's message is amazing -- but the delivery, which would fit quite well at a Boho open mike night but isn't exactly the stuff of rousing rock releases. Perhaps it's unfair to view Independence Meal as a rock or folk album, or even a political comedy record. The music seems amelodic, shambly, and a little dull. But taken as a poetry record, from the broken protests of the title track to the hot sexual politics of "Subway Lips," Alix Olson has a commanding presence that forces the listener to either pay attention or press stop. ~ Charles Spano, All Music Guide
Bio / Background
Alix Olson is one part spoken word, one part peace rally, one part protest. On the road 300 days a year, Alix is a travelling folk poet and feminist force to be reckoned with. "Independence Meal" is Alix's second cd, put out on her label Subtle Sister Productions.