500,000

Wildy's World began in January of 2008 with one goal in mind, to write about artists who are working hard to craft original music.  Whether it's in a posh recording studio in Beverly Hills, a basement bedroom studio in Portland, Maine, or anywhere in between, there are a whole host of hard working artists out there.

Sometime today we will pass 500,000 visitors to Wildy's World.  While some might take this to be a reflection on the writer of this blog, it's really a comment on all of the great artists I've been lucky enough to write about over the past five years.  And while I may not publish as often as I once did (did I really publish 900 reviews in one year?!?!), the mission goes on.

Thank you for five years of great music.  Thank you for visiting, whether it be on a regular basis, once in a while, or for the first time today.  Keep all of that great music coming, and we'll try to spread the word!

The Wildy's World Top-12 for 2012!

I try to do a countdown each year of the best albums I've reviewed.  The blog hasn't been as active in 2012, as I have been working on some other things.  Nevertheless, there were some incredible albums I did get to cover this past year that deserve recognition.  So without further adieu... the Wildy's World Top-12 of 2012.

12 - Rob Morsberger – Ghosts Before Breakfast
Morsberger is stunningly personal, and prophetic, in an album that explores mortality, legacy and all the emotions that swirl around these two concepts.  Written before Morsberger’s diagnosis with terminal brain cancer, Ghosts Before Breakfast transcends humanity and every day experience for simple truths on deep and dark thoughts.

11 – Mara and the Bitter Suite – Unspoken
An actress/Broadway singer and a composer/musical director venturing into alt/folk/rock would generally be an omen for disaster, but Mara and the Bitter Suite find a bit of magic in Unspoken.

10 – Meghan Cary – Building This House
Eight years might seem like too long to produce an album of songs, but for Meghan Cary it was apparently just right.  Highly personal and evocative, Cary takes a craftsman’s approach to storytelling, weaving each scene and story to perfection against minimal yet striking arrangements for a listening experience you won’t soon forget.

9 – The Hollyfelds – Title Stealers
The Hollyfelds might keep a low profile nationally, but they shine in their home market of Denver, Colorado.  In fact, they shine so bright on Title Stealers it’s hard to imagine them staying just a regional band.

8 – SethGlier – Things I Should Let You Know
Seth Glier’s first album earned him a GRAMMY nomination.  His second, Things I Should Let You Know, is even better.  Glier is more nuanced and personal than ever, and maintains the intense musicality that has always made him such an intriguing listen.

7 – Nate Kimball – Warrior’s Journey
By far one of the best collections of classically oriented original jazz have ever heard.

6. Jodi Shaw – In Waterland
Jodi Shaw writes from the heart and lays it all on the line.  She lays out her stories and characters in wonderfully robust and ethereal musical arrangements.  The imagery peppered throughout In Waterland is nothing short of brilliant.

5. The Do Good Assassins – Rome
The Do Good Assassins are the latest outgrowth of Ron Hawkins’ personal muse. This time out he is helped and supported by good friends in creating one of the best and most divergent double albums of the last several years.  Personal songwriting, amazing lyrics and an organic feel make this a can’t miss listen.

4. Cara Luft – Darlingford
Cara Luft is one of the darlings of Canadian folk music.  A former Wailin’ Jenny and Juno Award nominee, Luft delivers one of the most compelling singer/songwriter turns of 2012 with Darlingford.

3. Rob Morsberger – A Part Of You
Morsberger manages two albums in the top-12.  A Part Of You is a song cycle written to Morsberger’s youngest son; a collection of songs to see his son through the times when Morsberger anticipates not being there.  This intimate collection is full of laughter, hope and the joy of discovery.  There is also a hidden sadness; a melancholy of the artist who is envisioning all that he might miss out on.  This is what songwriting is all about.

2. Jason Plumb and the Willing – All Is More Than Both
Jason Plumb takes his prodigious writing/singing talents and his crack backing band (The Willing) and puts them all to work under the watchful eye of Canadian super-producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda.  The result is Plumb’s most soaring collection of songs since his days with The Waltons.  In almost any other year this would be the winner.

1. Delta Rae – Carry The Fire
There are great albums, and then there are albums that transcend their time.  These are the albums that people look back on two or three decades later as benchmarks of their era.  I fully believe that Carry The Fire is just such an album.  From the alternating lead vocals of Eric and Brittany Hölljes to the alternative folk-rock arrangements that soar one moment and lie down beside you and rock you to sleep the next, Carry The Fire is the sort of debut album that only comes along once or twice a generation.

Wildy's World Auctions (American Cancer Society)

Greetings fellow travelers!

Yes, there are more reviews coming.  I’ve been a bit slow on that front of late as I have been putting much of my spare time into fundraising for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life!  I have about 60 or so reviews in the can, most of them handwritten; all just waiting for me to find time to type them out.

Yes.

But right now Wildy’s World is engaged in an exciting project!  We reached out over the past couple of months to the artists we’ve worked with over the past several years, and many have been gracious enough to offer their time and talent for song auctions on eBay (seller ID wildysworld).  The idea is simple:  The highest bidder from the auction gets to fill out a short survey telling the artist what they would like their song to be about.  The artist then takes that information and interprets it how they will.  The winner will then receive a recording of the song via email. 
The recording is expected to be a demo – clean but not necessarily the finished product you might hear on an album.  Some artists are going further than this based on the time and resources available to them.

Even some of the artists who do not have time to engage in the songwriting project are contributing.  One artist is donating a cover song – winner gets to pick the song, any song, and the artist will interpret it.  Still others have donated or promised to donate signed items, rare CDs, artwork, etc.  I’ve even added a few signed items I’ve personally received over the past four or so years to the mix.

As of this morning there are seven auctions live on eBay, and I would highly encourage you to check them out!  All proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society through my Relay For Life Team, the Cave Crashers.  And even if you don’t want to participate in the auction, but want to make a donation on my behalf, you can do so through my personal Relay for Life page here.
Here are the auctions currently live.  All are for original songs written by the artist named:

Kati Mac (NYC)    - Ends today

John Mueller (Buddy Holly of Winter Dance Party) – End 6/9/12

Benjamin Russell (Canada) – Ends 6/10/12

Andy Hawk (Hamilton, VA) – Ends 6/11/12

The Spanish Channel (Brooklyn) – Ends 6/12/12

Missed You At The Show (Manchester, UK) – Ends 6/13/12

The Blisterz (Albany, NY) – Ends 6/14/12

The following auctions are forthcoming, with the start date listed.  All auctions are for original songs to be written, unless otherwise specified.

BFF (6/8/12)
Jodi Shaw (6/9/12)
Skyler (6/10/12)
Zak Smith Band (6/11/12)
KeyDragon (6/12/12)
The Amplifires (6/13/12)
The Modern Airline (6/14/12)
Randy Stern  (6/15/12)
Joshua Jesty  (6/16/12)
Deborah Crooks (6/17/12)
Mar Harmon of Music With Mar (6/18/12)
Jerry Falzone (6/19/12)
Brian Pounds (6/20/12)
Styx – Signed Electric Guitar (6/21/12)
The Energy Commission (6/22/12)
Jeneen Terrana (6/23/12)
Halie Loren – Cover song (6/24/12)
Aurical (6/25/12)
John Byrne (6/26/12)
Ron Hawkins of Lowest Of The Low – An original oil painting of Bjork (6/27/12)
Joel Dobbins (6/28/12)
Trout Fishing In America – Signed T-Shirts (6/29/12)
Amanda Belardinelli (6/30/12)
These Curious Thoughts (7/1/12)
Crown Point Band (7/2/12)
Steve Haggard (7/3/12)
Kaitlin McGaw (7/4/12)
Shane Lamb (7/5/12)
Amos Lee – Signed, rare CD (7/6/12)
James Scott Fant – 7/7/12
Beth Whitney – 7/8/12
Pat Flanakin – 7/9/12
Brother Joscephus – 7/16/12
Phoebe Legére – 7/18/12

As you can tell, we still have some dates to fill between 7/10 and 7/17/12.  If you would like to participate in an auction, please contact me at wildysworld@gmail.com.  I also have some items to be scheduled, including signed items from Val Emmich, Kristoffer Ragnstam, Lee Alexander (promised), Marian Call (promised), John Mueller and Stars Go Dim.

Bid early, bid often, and tell everyone you know.  Once again, all proceeds will go the American Cancer Society, so it’s all for a good cause! 

John Mueller (Buddy Holly) could write a song for you!

Ever wish a great songwriter would write a song just for you?  Wildy's World is partnering with some of the best and brightest Indie songwriters working today to give you this chance as a benefit for The American Cancer Society!  Tonight a new auction has begun on eBay, featuring an original tune per your request from singer/songwriter John Mueller.  Mueller is best known for his portrayal of Buddy Holly in shows such as Winter Dance Party and Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, but Mueller is a very accompished songwriter in his own right, with a fine musical ear and a wicked wit. 

The winning bidder will fill out a brief survey telling Mr. Mueller who, what or where they want their song to be about.  John will then interpet the song in his own inimitable style, and record a demo of the song for the winner. 

Check out the John Mueller auction: eBay item # 221039131890. 

And don't forget we also have a song auction running for NYC singer/songwriter Kati Mac.  Check it out:  eBay item #221038586203

We have other great auctions coming up over the next 5 weeks or so from artists such as:

Benjamin Russell * Styx * Jerry Falzone * Mar Harmon (Music With Mar) * Halie Loren * Trout Fishing In America * The Energy Commission * Amos Lee * Marian Call * Lee Alexander * Spike Nicer * Amber & Dagger * Bucket Boys * Andy Hawk & The Train Wreck Endings *  The Spanish Channel    *  The Blisterz * Missed You At The Show * BFF * Jodi Shaw * Joel Dobbins * Skyler * Zak Smith Band * KeyDragon * The Amplifires * The Modern Airline * Randy Stern * Joshua Jesty * Deborah Crooks * Jeff Littman * Shane Lamb * Amanda Belardinelli * These Curious Thoughts * Crown Point Band * Amos Lee * Steve Haggard * James Scott Fant * Beth Whitney * Brother Joscephus * Unique Monique * Pat Flanakin * Brian Pounds *

And, we may still have a few up our sleeves, so stay tuned!  And remember, all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society through the Relay For Life!

Wildy's World Auctions to benefit The American Cancer Society

Wildy's World writer/editor Wildy (will-dee)  Haskell will be participating in the Relay For Life in Geneva, NY on July 28-29, 2012.  As part of the fundraising efforts for that event, Wildy's World has reached out to a number of the artists we've worked with in the past.  Throughout June and July of 2012, we will be offering a number of unique, one-of-a-kind auctions on eBay.

Our first auction, going live on Friday, June 1, 2012 at 8:00 PM EDT, is the opportunity to have a song written at your request by New York City singer/songwriter Kati Mac. 

Kati Mac is an internationally known artist with five albums spanning and twenty-year career, and her work has been featured on such television shows as General Hospital, The Guiding Light and Sunset Beach.  While the auctions hasn't kicked off yet, you can view it already.  Kati Mac's song auction will on eBay under item #221038586203.  All auctions can be viewed once they go live under the seller id wildysworld. 

This once in a lifetime opportunity is only the first of many.  To date over thirty artists have signed up to write a song in this fashion.  We've also received some great memorabilia from several artists, with several more promising items.  So stay tuned...  you never know what might be coming next!

Wildy's World auctions - American Cancer Society

Keep your eyes open beginning June 1, 2012!

Wildy's World is teaming up with a host of Independent and established artists to offer up some interesting auctions on eBay to raise money for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Auctions will include the opportunity to have a song written for yourself, about a subject of your choosen, or for someone you love from a host of independent artists, many of whom have been reviewed here on this blog.  To date I have confirmed participation from Kati Mac, John Mueller of Winter Dance Party, Andy Hawk, The Spanish Channel, Missed You At The Show, The Blisterz, BFF, Jodi Shaw, Skyler, Key Dragon, Deborah Crooks, Amanda Belardinelli, These Curious Thoughts. Crown Point Band, Steve Haggard and Beth Whitney.  I also have initial indications of interest from 18 additional artists who want to auction off a song for the winning bidder to shape, as it were.

In addition, several artists have stepped forward with items to raffle off.  Confirmed thus far are Marian Call, Styx, Ron Hawkins (Lowest of the Low), Winter Dance Party, Jerome Lee, Andy Hawk and Lee Alexander.

So keep your eyes on the eBay profile amherstcds beginning June 1, 2012.  Profits from these auctions will benefit the American Cancer Society, with a couple of the auctions splitting the proceeds between the American Cancer Society and other charities/projects.  Each will be specified in the auction listing.

This will be a great opportunity to win a one-of-a-kind auction from some of your favorite independent artists and help the American Cancer Society make a world with more birthdays!

And if you're an artist who'd like to participate in one of these auctions, it's not too late!  Drop me a line at wildysworld@gmail.com.  If you'd just like to make a donation to The American Cancer Society on behalf of Wildy's World, you can donate through Wildy's personal Relay For Life page.  Have a wonderful day, and be well!

...wildy

Wildy's World is going mobile!

Wildy's World readers are a mobile bunch, and now you can bring Wildy's World into your world wherever you go!

Wildy's World has now gone mobile! Go to http://www.noticeorange.com/r/WildysWorld to get an app for your phone.  It's free and it has alerts so that you'll know whenever Wildy's World has anything new. What could be better?

As of this time there is a Wildy's World app for Android as well as a Mobile Web App.  An iPhone app is in the works, and should be forthcoming.