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Of course.
It's been bothering me for a while. How on earth did Wendy & Lisa end up in an episode of Showtime's The L Word, anyway? It's not like anyone's ever heard of them.
But here they are, name checked in "Lynch Pin":
Jenny: What kinda music do you like?
Ewan: Well, uh, mostly I listen to, uh, R&B and funk. Sly Stone, Chaka Khan, Prince. [Jenny and Shane smile at each other.]
Ewan: But I've got no problem wearing headphones if you're not into it.
Shane: (smiling) No, no, Prince is excellent. Especially the Revolution.
Ewan: Yeah, with Wendy and Lisa?
Shane: Yes!
Jenny: God, I love Wendy and Lisa.
Ewan: (chuckling) That's his best shit, hands down.
And it finally occured to me this morning, driving around listening to Miss Gwen Stefani (who also name checks them on her recent solo album's UK release) -- it's got to be Lisa Cholodenko! Yes, I finally Googled the transcript for "Lynch Pin" today, and woudn't you know, the director is Lisa Cholodenko. Another pop mystery solved.
Showing posts with label Press Mentions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Press Mentions. Show all posts
Monday, December 5, 2005
Sunday, December 31, 2000
Year in Review - 2000
In recent years, Wendy & Lisa have existed not only as a band, but as some of the most sought after sessionists in the business. The last year has proved no exception. After the excitement, shows and press surrounding 1998's critically acclaimed Girl Bros., Wendy & Lisa have returned to their places behind the scenes to create more of the best music you never knew they worked on. Here are highlights from the session work, scoring, press and other goodies that made up the Wendy and Lisa year.
Session Work
There were a number of appearances as Bramhall with frontman Doyle Bramhall II. Beginning on February 12, Austin City Limits began airing its Bramhall session. Taped in late 1999, the session featured four songs by the band, with Wendy & Lisa (and Susannah Melvoin, of course) in the lineup.
Wendy Melvoin, as always, proved herself as one of the hardest-working sessionists in the business. In April she was in the studios with Jonatha Brooke, working out song ideas for an upcoming Brooke album Steady Pull,, due for release on CD and DVD in February 2001. May saw the release of two albums featuring Wendy's session work. First came the bass and guitar work she did with Japanese artist Bonnie Pink, under the auspices of producer friend Mitchell Froom. Let Go featured Wendy's work on the track "Call My Name." Two weeks later, Pearl Jam released Binaural, featuring Wendy's work on percussion.
There were the family sessions with Susannah and Doyle Bramhall II on Riding With The King. The Eric Clapton and B. B. King collaboration featured "Marry You" and "I Wanna Be" from Bramhall's Jellycream, so naturally (at least some of) the band came along for the ride. Wendy and Susannah contributed backing vocals not only to those tracks but the majority of the album. And in family sessions of another variety, Wendy lent guitar licks to k. d. lang's Invincible Summer. Whew!
Wendy didn't have all the fun, though. Wendy & Lisa both flew down under over the summer to help out Neil Finn with some studio work for his second -- still untitled -- solo album. They also took part in a handful of live dates -- including a concert in September for the 2000 Olympics. On many of the live dates, Finn gave the duo time to display a few songs of their own, a small showcase from the Girl Bros. album. (You can check out a hint of Neil Finn live on the recently released Sessions at 54th St. DVD.)
Scoring
With the television show Snoops cancelled, Wendy & Lisa had time to pick up other scoring work. They spent the first half of the year scoring the upcoming film The Third Wheel starring Ben Affleck. At last report, the film was due to be released in early 2001.
Late fall saw the (apparently very limited) release of Loving Jezebel, which Wendy & Lisa scored in 1999.
Press
ROCKRGRL was all over Wendy & Lisa this year. First, they gave the duo kudos in their list of Rock's Greatest 50 Women of All Time, calling the duo an "underappreciated national treasure," while ranking them at place 27 in the list. Then they gave Wendy & Lisa a four page interview in their May/June 2000 issue. (If you missed it, don't worry -- they have back issues available at the website.) Last but not least, they invited Wendy & Lisa to be panelists at their Music Conference 2000 in November.
New Music Monthly demonstrated actually having a clue while commenting on Wendy Melvoin's contributions to the new Scritti Politti album Anomie & Bonhomie. Their coverage of the all star cast on the album included mention of "guitarist Wendy Melvoin of Wendy & Lisa fame." (Musiczone wishes that other members of the press would follow this lead, and remember Wendy & Lisa for things they've actually done in the last fifteen years!)
Not everyone was thrilled with Wendy & Lisa's session work, though. The Night Owl gave them mixed reviews for their work on Doyle Bramhall II's two albums, almost accusing them of stealing Bramhall away from his guitar roots. The review praised their influence on "Close to Heaven," but said that "Marry You" sounded like a "second-rate Wendy & Lisa tune." (Ow!)
Random Weirdness
While there were no new releases from Wendy & Lisa this year, there were a few visits from the ghosts of Wendy & Lisa past.
Two British hits compilation albums released in April featured Wendy & Lisa singles from the Eighties. Wild Angels features 1989's "Lolly Lolly," while companion album Modern Madonnas includes "Are You My Baby."
Adding to the slate of nearly obscure Wendy & Lisa cover songs, UK girl group Made in London released a cover of Wendy & Lisa's 1989 single "Satisfaction," on a four-track single Dirty Water, which also features a cover of Grace Jones' "Pull Up to the Bumper."
So . . . after all that work, did we still miss something? Send us your additions and corrections! And however you spend the New Year, enjoy!
Session Work
There were a number of appearances as Bramhall with frontman Doyle Bramhall II. Beginning on February 12, Austin City Limits began airing its Bramhall session. Taped in late 1999, the session featured four songs by the band, with Wendy & Lisa (and Susannah Melvoin, of course) in the lineup.
Wendy Melvoin, as always, proved herself as one of the hardest-working sessionists in the business. In April she was in the studios with Jonatha Brooke, working out song ideas for an upcoming Brooke album Steady Pull,, due for release on CD and DVD in February 2001. May saw the release of two albums featuring Wendy's session work. First came the bass and guitar work she did with Japanese artist Bonnie Pink, under the auspices of producer friend Mitchell Froom. Let Go featured Wendy's work on the track "Call My Name." Two weeks later, Pearl Jam released Binaural, featuring Wendy's work on percussion.
There were the family sessions with Susannah and Doyle Bramhall II on Riding With The King. The Eric Clapton and B. B. King collaboration featured "Marry You" and "I Wanna Be" from Bramhall's Jellycream, so naturally (at least some of) the band came along for the ride. Wendy and Susannah contributed backing vocals not only to those tracks but the majority of the album. And in family sessions of another variety, Wendy lent guitar licks to k. d. lang's Invincible Summer. Whew!
Wendy didn't have all the fun, though. Wendy & Lisa both flew down under over the summer to help out Neil Finn with some studio work for his second -- still untitled -- solo album. They also took part in a handful of live dates -- including a concert in September for the 2000 Olympics. On many of the live dates, Finn gave the duo time to display a few songs of their own, a small showcase from the Girl Bros. album. (You can check out a hint of Neil Finn live on the recently released Sessions at 54th St. DVD.)
Scoring
With the television show Snoops cancelled, Wendy & Lisa had time to pick up other scoring work. They spent the first half of the year scoring the upcoming film The Third Wheel starring Ben Affleck. At last report, the film was due to be released in early 2001.
Late fall saw the (apparently very limited) release of Loving Jezebel, which Wendy & Lisa scored in 1999.
Press
ROCKRGRL was all over Wendy & Lisa this year. First, they gave the duo kudos in their list of Rock's Greatest 50 Women of All Time, calling the duo an "underappreciated national treasure," while ranking them at place 27 in the list. Then they gave Wendy & Lisa a four page interview in their May/June 2000 issue. (If you missed it, don't worry -- they have back issues available at the website.) Last but not least, they invited Wendy & Lisa to be panelists at their Music Conference 2000 in November.
New Music Monthly demonstrated actually having a clue while commenting on Wendy Melvoin's contributions to the new Scritti Politti album Anomie & Bonhomie. Their coverage of the all star cast on the album included mention of "guitarist Wendy Melvoin of Wendy & Lisa fame." (Musiczone wishes that other members of the press would follow this lead, and remember Wendy & Lisa for things they've actually done in the last fifteen years!)
Not everyone was thrilled with Wendy & Lisa's session work, though. The Night Owl gave them mixed reviews for their work on Doyle Bramhall II's two albums, almost accusing them of stealing Bramhall away from his guitar roots. The review praised their influence on "Close to Heaven," but said that "Marry You" sounded like a "second-rate Wendy & Lisa tune." (Ow!)
Random Weirdness
While there were no new releases from Wendy & Lisa this year, there were a few visits from the ghosts of Wendy & Lisa past.
Two British hits compilation albums released in April featured Wendy & Lisa singles from the Eighties. Wild Angels features 1989's "Lolly Lolly," while companion album Modern Madonnas includes "Are You My Baby."
Adding to the slate of nearly obscure Wendy & Lisa cover songs, UK girl group Made in London released a cover of Wendy & Lisa's 1989 single "Satisfaction," on a four-track single Dirty Water, which also features a cover of Grace Jones' "Pull Up to the Bumper."
So . . . after all that work, did we still miss something? Send us your additions and corrections! And however you spend the New Year, enjoy!
Wednesday, August 30, 2000
Wendy & Lisa mention in OhBoi.com
Wendy & Lisa get a nice little news blurb at SoCal website OhBoi.com this week. Check out the Spins n' Needles section for that, and also a nice mention of Wendy in the new k. d. lang review.
Tuesday, January 25, 2000
Wendy & Lisa listed on ROCKRGRL 50 Best
ROCKRGRL gives kudos to Wendy & Lisa in their list of "Rock's 50 Greatest Women of all Time." Ranked at number 27 (right between Tori Amos and Debbie Harry), Wendy & Lisa are finally recognized in print as "an under-appreciated national treasure." You can find the January/February issue on shelves now. Thanks to the irrepressable Sienna St. John for the tip.
Thursday, January 20, 2000
Wendy & Lisa mention in Scritti Politti article
Wendy & Lisa get a quick mention in a recent New Music Monthly feature on the U. S. release of Scritti Politti's Anhomie and Bonhomie. While the article goes into no great detail on the "album's all star line up," it does briefly touch on the involvement of MeShell Ndegeocello and "guitarist Wendy Melvoin of Wendy & Lisa fame." Has a ring to it, doesn't it?
Monday, October 11, 1999
Lisa Coleman - video game reviewer?!
Fright X Magazine will be running video game reviews by Lisa Coleman starting this year. Fright X Publisher Wyatt Perko says that Coleman's reviews will probably start showing up in Issue 14, with possibly one or two to appear in November's Issue 13. Fright X conducted an interview with Wendy & Lisa last year, and has added a new Fright X site online since then.
[Looks like Fright X has been replaced by Media Plus online. -- Ed 2004]
[It's dead Jim, dead. -- Ed 2009]
Wednesday, October 6, 1999
Billboard Likes the "Snoops"
Billboard has a sweet snippet on Wendy & Lisa in the Oct 9 issue. Dance Trax columnist Michael Paoletta gives props to the "sublime" duo for their "savvy soundtrack" for ABC's "Snoops," and contextualizes the new work with reference to previous scoring Wendy & Lisa provided for Dangerous Minds, Soul Food and Hav Plenty.
Thursday, September 16, 1999
Bramhall mention in Dallas Morning News
A Dallas Morning News review of Doyle Bramhall II's recent tour opener there gives wonderful press to band members Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. The Sept 15 review gives props to Wendy & Lisa lending some "big-time talent onstage," and is very favorable overall regarding the entire band and set.
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