:: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 ::

There’s no payola in her alphabetical file!

This guy has it figured out.
The plan is to break through - on my own. Thank you Mysteries of Portland for the dissection of music industry 2005.

Believe at Least Some of the Hype

"Has Bullette put out the best album of the year? Maybe not, but it is in the upper reaches of the top 10 list. Already, she has generated some buzz. If she really takes off (or at least becomes the darling of people who over identify with a particular character on The OC), it could be a sign of things to come for the music industry. For the first time, an artist would have broke (relatively) big without the aid of a label of any size, not radio support, and their album being given away for free on the internet. The music industry is not even close to coping with the realities of the internet. Major artists and labels still drag their feet over online download stores, and those models are nearly a carbon copy of the old way of doing business." - entire article here

:: from Bullette at 6:28 AM

largehearted boy wrote me to say he would post about me posted about me!
So in anticipation - Welcome world! - I hope you enjoy the songs. I worked hard with Hangnail to make them shine for you.

Please check out my friends:
Hangnail Phillips - collaborator/pal
Rob Montejo - producer of "We Are Not from Sugar" and musician/painter
Licorice Roots - I had the honor to play drums in this band. Edward makes delicious songs.
The Situation - Joe and Larry from my old band NERO with "5 lover" Christopher and John Paul

:: from Bullette at 8:27 PM

There has been a lot of traffic from LiveJournal people - welcome! Please spread the word about the songs if you like them.

As of tonight there have been 439 downloads of the zip (entire album) since 5/5/05 - this doesn't include individual track downloads.

:: from Bullette at 6:36 PM

The Torture Garden reviewed "The Secrets" -

"The influences listed on her site are wide and varied, but somehow make sense when you listen to the album as a whole. This collection is so original that it's not fair to compare it to anything that has gone before. That said, 'Little Bird' reminds me of The Decemberists' 'Picaresque' for some reason, in its lyrics and narrative. 'Disappearing Act' is jazzy in a Nouvelle Vague way, while 'Lemonade' is what I wanted the new White Stripes album to sound like. The new ideas presented on each track only serve to make the album more intriguing, and to draw you deeper in. I will be listening to 'I Can't Tell You Why I'm Smiling' for the next few months.

In places 'The Secrets' reminds me of The Doors, or Love's 'Forever Changes', and it is impossible to pigeonhole this artist, or even anticipate what the next song will sound like - you may find yourself smiling in surprise at an unexpected move." - read entire review

also -

My Mean Magpie - reviewed "The Secrets" - This is a net record label with free online releases worth checking out.

:: from Bullette at 6:42 AM

I heart the Internets!

Gorilla Vs. Bear reviewed "The Secrets" -

"All I could think as I listened to song after song was, "where did this come from?" On Bullette's website, Nancy Sinatra, Marc Bolan, Loretta Lynn, and Stereolab are all listed as influences, but make no mistake, this woman is an original.

...

Absolutely an early contender for best album, and most original artist, of the year. No question.

And thanks to you, Bullette, it is now nearly 2 a.m. and I have to call in sick to work tomorrow so i can listen some more." - entire review here

The Architectural Dance Society reviewed "The Secrets" -

"...what most impresses me about them is that they're simultaneously musically diverse but clearly the product of a particular musician's perspective and taste. Too often, "musically diverse" is another way of saying "it sounds like a compilation...of ten different mediocre bands in ten different lame styles," or that a musician has no sense of self and has merely been digging through the last several Officially Pronounced Hip styles at Pitchfork...but Bullette (you can think of the name as several puns, even though it's also just her surname) sounds instead like someone with a well-stocked music collection who loves and understands the different sounds and styles she works with rather than merely aping them for someone else's approval." - entire review here

:: from Bullette at 6:54 AM

I'm chuffed!

Between Thought and Expression reviewed "The Secrets" -

"I was happy to find a pleasant surprise in my Gmail Inbox. I love receiving review requests when the music is as polished and enjoyable as this. This is clearly an artist on the verge of big things: her lyrics are contemplative, nuanced, and poetic, and her music is eclectic with variations in tempo and style that complement each song well. The style ranges from good ol' indie rock (Don't Start Believin', a play on Journey's song title) to edgy alternative (Show Me) to contemplative eclectic acoustic rock (Little Bird) to gorgeous unclassifiable downtempo/rock fusion (Uneasy); OK, I'm just making up genres now, but you get the idea. You can hear the influence of Nancy Sinatra (listen to Disappearing Act, wow), Aimee Mann, and Stereolab. She has a unique style that is difficult to describe; I liken it to a mix of Trespassers William, Feist, and Masha Qrella, good company for indie fans.

And if she didn't win me over with her awesome music, she did with the Metric pics on her site that she pointed me to." - entire review here

:: from Bullette at 10:00 PM

I'm happy to present two more reviews:

Spoilt Victorian Child reviewed "The Secrets" -

"...Possibly my favourite album of 2005 so far....

...

The whole album is a joy to listen to, and one of the things that really makes it for me is the lovely slightly rough edges.
Unlike your average singer/songwriter Monika Bullette is not afraid to show the frailties of her voice (I really mean that as a compliment), she could almost be the girl next door... (if you happened to live next door to a gorgeous lady who writes brilliant songs that is!), and the music is played with a certain looseness (and that's a compliment too) that makes this a warm and human listening experience." - read entire review


Dominique at ecrivains.org, PODvains et Versus reviewed "The Secrets" -

"Oui car il s’agit bien d’un premier album plus que convaincant à la richesse étonnante. Il y a tout sur cet album : l’enthousiasme, la profondeur (jetez un coup d’oeil aux paroles, ça vaut son pesant de cacahuètes) et une ironie sous-jacente… et franchement rien n’est à jeter : que ce soit Lemonade avec son riff de guitare dur qui martèle le morceau avec une redoutable efficacité ou le titre phare The Secrets, morceau qui semble léger en surface.

...

"The Secrets sera mon disque de chevet pendant un petit moment, et quitte à suivre le mouvement de The mystical beast, un de mes albums 2005. " - read entire review

:: from Bullette at 3:57 PM

THE FIRST REVIEW!
The Mystical Beast reviewed "The Secrets" -

"Call her an insider/outsider artist, but there's nobody (to my knowledge) making albums quite like this in 2005, full of dropped beats, stream-of-consciousness melodies, un-selfconscious lyrics, and ultra-creative-on-a-shoestring-budget arrangements. I catch the occasional similarity to Linda Smith (another generally solo female artist, who has a number of shared influences) but that's about as close as I can come, and it only applies to a few tracks. Overall feel is more like this should be a forgotten cult album from fifteen years ago, 'cept it's brand new.

...

the most original and intriguing album of 2005..." - entire review here

:: from Bullette at 9:00 PM

20 Questions to a Better Personality

Wackiness: 62/100
Rationality: 74/100
Constructiveness: 68/100
Leadership: 62/100

You are a WRCL--Wacky Rational Constructive Leader. This makes you a Golden God.

You think fast and have a smart mouth, and you are a hoot to your friends and razorwire to your enemies. You hold a grudge like a brass ring. You crackle.

Although you have a leader's personality, you often choose not to lead, as leaders stray too far from their audience. You probably weren't very popular in high school--the joke's on them!

You may be a rock star.

Of the 125261 people who have taken this quiz since tracking began (8/17/2004), 7.1 % are this type.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this was a pretty good test! Or at least anyone would say that with the rock star result... I agree with the grudge part especially.

http://hokev.brinkster.net/quiz/default.asp?quiz=Better+Personality&page=1

:: from Bullette at 8:54 PM

Okay, Okay, I know you might say I only love Floria Sigismondi because she directed videos for Marilyn Manson but her new one for The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid" is (very tiny) just what I wanted to see - white horses, plates as drums, snakes, and white versions of black shoes I like to wear around the haus. Enjoy.

:: from Bullette at 6:09 AM

Hey, It is a month until my birthday - I am accepting:
1. Arches Watercolor Blocks - coldpress
2. Staples Sl5039 Transparency Film
3. Hand of a Craftsman: The Woodcut Technique of Gustave Baumann
4. Pistola t-shirt in brown/red boatneck M by Barking Irons
5. Etcetera Traditional Electric Violin
6. Give some MONEY TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD


Monika Bullette
P.O. Box 7711
Wilmington, DE USA
19803-7711

:: from Bullette at 11:08 PM

I was honored to participate in Mighty Joe Castro's Friday TOP 5 - my favorite Elvis songs from the 50's ...

here it is with MJC's intro:

Stop the presses (or printers) - it’s the return of the Mighty Top Five’s! This one comes from the former Queen of the Newark scene herself now keeper of The Secrets, Ms. Bullette.

Bullette’s Top Five Songs by the King (AKA Elvis) from the 1950’s.
I'm an Elvis Fan.
I love him through the ages - skinny, pompadoured, velvet shirted, caped, mutton-chopped, bedazzled, and bloated. I've been at the Graceland gates twice and touched the gold plated faucets in the Lisa Marie jet. I hold him up there with Frank Sinatra as the greatest vocal interpreter of the 20th century.

Did you see "Elvis by the Presleys"? I watched Lisa Marie and Priscilla speak of a man almost 30 years dead with love and regret and pride in their hearts and it put a tear in my eye. I'm not so keen on the films if you can call them that. I guess they're really "movies" - but I take a bit of comfort in that he was frustrated with them too.

so -

1. "That's Alright" - 1954 - Not even 2 minutes and the beginning of it all - Scotty Moore sockin' down the sound on guitar.

2. "Mystery Train" - 1955 - Any song that can inspire a director to put Tom Waits, Joe Strummer, Rufus Thomas, and Screamin' Jay Hawkins in a same titled film is genius.

3. "Peace in the Valley" - 1957 - a three-way tie with "Amazing Grace" and "I Believe" as my favorite Elvis gospel song. Elvis had 14 Grammy nominations but had his three wins for gospel recordings. I have a conflicted relationship with religious music but am drawn to the works of Nick Cave, 16 Horsepower, Blind Willie Jackson, Mahalia Jackson, Johnny Cash, etc., who all bring their faith to their music in different ways.

4. "Blue Christmas" - 1957 - Do you know how some radio stations change to all Christmas music after Halloween these days? Well I'd rather them change to all "Blue Christmas" and no commercials.

5. "Don't" - 1958 - a delicious Leiber and Stoller tune with excellent backing by the Jordanaires (complete with a baritone slide on the last note) - I sing this song a lot at home.

Bullette has left the blog.
-
Thanks Bullette. Once again, be sure to check out her debut new album, “The Secrets” available for free at www.bullette.net. Have a great weekend, everybody!

:: from Bullette at 3:50 PM

I have discovered that the site for intimate concerts for 500 on the French Riviera has already been built and is appropriatly named. Revisit your high school French and check out Palais Bulles!

:: from Bullette at 6:36 AM

There have been 102 downloads of "The Secrets" in zip form! Thank you! I hope you are enjoying my efforts.

:: from Bullette at 6:10 AM

FYI, this Saturday, May 14 is Delaware's annual "Free to the First
State" Day. Delaware residents get free admission (w/ID) to selected
local museums and attractions.

Download a list of participating museums at the following web address:
www.visitdelaware.com/05FreetoFirstState.pdf

:: from Bullette at 6:28 AM

Someone from Kenya downloaded "The Secrets" - let's get international please. Email your distant relatives and tell them about the free delicious music at www.bullette.net!

:: from Bullette at 6:13 AM

It has been revealed!
"The Secrets" is available for free download - 14 heartwrenchers to warm the cockles.

:: from Bullette at 6:07 AM

One day until "The Secrets" comes out. Nine Inch Nails has never really been a favorite of mine with a few exceptions like "Perfect Drug" and some off of Pretty Hate Machine. I saw Trent perform at the Trocadero in Philadelphia many moons ago - late 80's early 90's??? But I do agree with his reasoning about album art.

:: from Bullette at 6:20 AM