Beth Kinderman
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
alternative pop/contemporary folk
Status:
Most recent release, Winter Is Coming (2011)
See also:
Beth Kinderman's site
Comparisons:
Susan James, Ani DiFranco
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Beth Kinderman has a guitar-based altpop/altfolk sound. Her music is widely described as geeky and clever, but her music is far more engaging than that sounds. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Recommended first album:
Either
Recordings:
- Fingerprint Collector (cassette ep, circa 2003)
- Lab Rat Demos (ep, circa 2005)
- All of My Heroes Are Villains (2008)
- Apocalypse Blues (with the Player Characters, 2009)
- More Songs About Robots & Death (with the Player Characters, 2010)
- Winter Is Coming (2011)
All of My Heroes Are Villains
Release info:
2008—Beloved Porcupine Music
Availability:
See Beth Kinderman's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Beth Kinderman—vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, mandolin, percussion, handclaps
Guest artists:
Justin Hartley—drums, percussion, accordion, handclaps
Dave Stagner—acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, lap steel, pedal steel, synths, keyboards, percussion, handclaps
Nikki Walker—vocals
Eric Zawadzki—vocals
Produced by:
Dave Stagner
Comments:
Songs about Hannibal Lector, a princess, Stars Wars, the SF show Firefly and a "Hidden Track" about zombies—this album has quite the range of subjects. My favourite tracks here are the urgent "Princess," "Redeemer," and "Underneath the Mask." While this album has a few flaws—these songs would benefit from crisper production and there are moments where the vocals stray off-key—the overall effect is that this sounds like a live show, warts and all, and so it showcases Kinderman's energy and her band's chops. There's a lot to be said for the power of Kinderman's performance, her bravura songwriting (the lyrics are especially intriguing), and the obvious fun everyone had performing. This is a first full-length recording that has verve and tons of promise. (sophiagurley@hotmail.com)
Apocalypse Blues
Release info:
2009—Beloved Porcupine Music
Availability:
See Beth Kinderman's site
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Beth Kinderman—vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, shaker, classical guitar, pots & pans, tambourine, toolbox, resonator guitar, doumbek, mandolin
Guest artists:
Justin Hartley—drums, RIP SIlver Fox, doumbek, accordion, washboard
Dave Stagner—bass, vortex, electric guitar, fretless bass, synths, wookiee breathing, cowbell, resonator guitar, EBow, sonic screwdriver, frame drum, lap steel, feedback
Nikki Walker—vocals, piano, frog, synth, organ
Andy Anda—fiddle (4, 7, 8)
The Twelve Colonies Memorial Women's Choir (Beth Kinderman, Tami Murck, Sarah Ravely, Kelly Reich, Nikki Walker): vocals (4, 6i, 6ii)
Charlie Obert—doumbek, riq (6ii)
Eric Zawadzki—vocals (8)
The Resistance Choir (Corwin Amyx, Iain Anderson, John BonJovi, Faron Burke, Sarah Burridge, Jerid Dibble, Sara Dibble, Justin "Ogsmart" Hartley, Noel Helgreen, AJ Hokland, Beth Kinderman, Cindy Kissee, Arial López, Charlie Obert, Katherine Ostrom, Caylamina Roberts, Mark Roemer, Dave Stagner, Token, Nikki Walker, Eric Zawadzki)—vocals (8)
Produced by:
Dave Stagner
Comments:
Beth Kinderman's new album has a great deal of energy and joie de vivre. She also writes a song about Buffy (The devil you know) and a suite about Battlestar Galactica (the title song). Both are moving and so well-executed that they won't jar even if you are unfamiliar with the TV shows. But it's quite a bonus for us geeks. You also get the up-tempo "Good Intentions" where she recalls Ani DiFranco. The bonus song about zombies is silly and fun. She appears to be enjoying to be recording these songs and it shows. Her album's very easy to like and it gets under your skin quickly. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
Thanks to stjarnell@yahoo.com and sophiagurley@hotmail.com for work on this entry.
