Anais Mitchell - featured on podcast #9

LINK to Podcast #9: "Betty's Guitar Girls!!"

I had downloaded a few of Anais' free tracks a couple of month's ago and kept returning to them over and over again...So I finally purchased her CD "Hymns for the Exiled" from CDBaby two weeks ago. I am SO IMPRESSED with this CD!! (And I love her name, by the way...Anais Nin being one of my favorite writers.) The website says that her father is a novelist...but doesn't say who...anyone know?

Lone woman with guitar has always been one of my favorite musical genres. Patti Griffin is my hero...I heard her initially eight or nine years ago as an opening act for Jann Arden. The raw emotions and naked energy blew me away!

Anais has much of that same vitality...and her lyrics are so literate, gentle and smart. I also love the fact that she cites the literary influences for many of her songs in the cd jacket. Being an English major and avid reader/writer myself, I love connecting with an artist on a deeper intellectual level like this. Anais is only 23!! So lots of future releases are anticipated.

Some praises from the site:
" Not since Bob Dylan's early years has a 23 year old songwriter had such power and meaning. 'Hymns For the Exiled' comes to us from both sides of a story, here and there, inside and out. With literary aplomb, she gives us footnotes in the artwork, so that we can do our reading and catch up with her. Political and poetic, personal and universal, Anaïs Mitchell's work is my latest obsession. Look for her influence on my future projects."
- Jonathan Byrd

"I am going out on a limb to say that Mitchell may be the best under-30 year old singer-songwriter currently performing. While she doesn't sound like Ani DiFranco, she's every bit as good as, if not better, than DiFranco at the age of 23. Mitchell can write. She writes highly political and social songs, but does so with finesse and poetry. She doesn't beat you over the head, she seduces you. The song 'Two Kids' chills while it brings a tear to your eye. Her melodies are like zebra mussels that latch on and stick to your consciousness. Although this is her second CD, she prefers to think of it as her first real release. I assure you, you'll be hearing a lot more from her."
- Rich Warren, Midnight Special, Chicago, IL

The Kerrville Folk Festival honored her work with the prestigious New Folk award in 2003...NOT BAD FOR A YOUNGSTER! Give her a listen and, if you like it, buy it!!
JUST DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN...

"Cosmic American"

from

Hymns for the Exiled

"Two Kids"

from

Hymns for the Exiled

"1984"

from

Hymns for the Exiled

"Make It Up"

from

The Song They Sang When Rome Fell

...NOT SURE IF THIS IS STILL AVAILABLE...NO LONGER LISTED WITH CDBABY...WILL POST WHEN I FIND OUT!

These tracks are available, along with lots of other information and FREE LIVE MP3S, at

Anais Mitchell's webpage.

If you like the music, SUPPORT THE ARTIST and BUY, BUY, BUY!