CAROLINE HERRING LISTSERV

OCTOBER 2009

Dear Friends,

It seems like I have been waiting for this month all year long. I am proud to announce that Golden Apples of the Sun (click on it to hear a few songs), my newest release on Signature Sounds, arrived on my doorstep just the other day, and it will be for sale on my website mid-month and in the stores by the end of the month. This album is a departure for me in some ways, because I’m not leaning nearly as hard this time on the sounds and people of Austin, TX. This album I made in Connecticut, with one other player by the name of David Goodrich. The recordings sound stripped-down and bare, much like the farmhouse where we recorded, and with a blizzard outside to boot.

Golden Apples of the Sun is a combination of covers and originals. However, as I started experimenting with the covers I found it fun and interesting to rewrite melodies and arrangements. That is one of the joys of the creative process, and so many done it. However, one can fool oneself into thinking that the altered takes sound original and interesting because of the tinkering. J We’ll see what you think.

The covers include traditional songs such as See See Rider and Long Black Veil, as well as crazier-for-me tunes such as Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors. Before you protest, take a listen! I love it, and am proud of it. In addition, I did a straight version of Joni Mitchell’s Cactus Tree. Lastly, I put some poems by Wendell Berry, Pablo Neruda and WB Yeats to music – and not in that order.

There are still several originals (six!), as well as an accompanying EP entitled Silver Apples of the Moon, which I’ll also be offering.

As for the originals, I’ll mention one for now – Tales of the Islander. You’ll also be able to hear that one if you click on the link above. This is an ode to Walter Anderson, a beloved Mississippi Gulf coast artist. We’re at work on a short film about this song and the work of Walter Anderson. Keep an eye out for that on the new ‘video’ page of my website. You can learn more about Walter Anderson HERE.

Here are excerpts from a couple of early reviews:

Fish Records UK: “The beautiful songs and guitar work form the framework for her vocals, and on ‘Golden Apples of the Sun’ she’s never sounded better, there’s a delicacy and world-weariness that makes her perfect for emotionally powerful songs; there are moments here that are breathtaking in their power and simplicity. For the last few years Caroline Herring has been one of the best low-key singer/songwriters around, and this album shows a confidence and power that will bring her to a wider audience.”

Cover Lay Down: “Golden Apples of the Sun turns this southern girl’s lyrical eye inward to great effect. The originals are exquisite, featuring deep, deliberate, mature songwriting coupled with that stripped-down sound and breathy, gracefully fragile voice. But to my immense joy, Herring’s growing awareness of her forebears and influences here comes to a head in a wealth of coverage. Her comprehensive transformation of Cyndi Lauper’s oft-covered True Colors into an almost unrecognizable dustbowl folktune is both surprisingly intimate and perfectly, plaintively Caroline; in keeping with its gentle yet confessional bent, the album also includes a truly beautiful cover of Joni Mitchell’s Cactus Tree, plus strong melodic takes on two traditional American folk standards.”

Thank you all for your support and help. I am hard at work with friends and professionals on my social networking presence. Check me out on any of the following to see the evidence: the sixtyone.com, facebook.com, myspace.com, reverbnation.com, twitter, lastfm.com, and last but not least www.carolineherring.com. If you know of others I should join, let me know. I’ll also have a blog starting within a couple of weeks.

I’ll be playing in Jacksonville this Thursday evening ,and I hope folks there who have seen me at surrounding festivals will come out for a listen. After that, let the cd release parties begin!!

Warmly,

Caroline

DATES

10/8 – JACKSONVILLE FL – European Street Listening Room

10/16 – Eddie’s Attic CD RELEASE, with Cary Hudson from Blue Mountain, DECATUR GA

10/22 – OXFORD, MS – Thacker Mountain Radio and Music in the Hall

10/23 – JACKSON, MS – Hal and Mal’s

10/28 – MILWAUKEE WI – Shank Hall (supporting Chris Smither through 11/7)

10/29 – ANN ARBOR MI – The Ark

10/30 – CHICAGO IL – Old Town School of Folk Music

11/6 – BOSTON MA (really Arlington) – The Regent Theatre

11/7 – NORTHAMPTON MA – Iron Horse

11/19 – AUSTIN TX – Cactus Café

11/20 – SAN ANTONIO TX – Casbeers at the Church

11/21 – HOUSTON TX – Anderson Fair