A Look Back: Sarah Masen's Self-Released Albums & Artwork

In 2007, singer/songwriter Sarah Masen self released three EPs, Magic That Works, Woman's Work Is Alchemy, and A History of Lights and Shadows.  I still have the mailer in which she sent them to me (above) and, based on the various autographs that I collected over the years, it appears to be addressed by her own hand.  Additionally, I believe -- although with no concrete evidence -- that she designed, not only the mailer, but the EP sleeves herself; perhaps with spray paint, among other mediums (below).

 

A Look Back: Sixpence None the Richer Concert Review

I reviewed a Sixpence None the Richer concert for The Holland Sentinel in a piece that was published on Jan. 21, 1999.  The show was held at Hope College in Holland, Mich. on Jan. 15, 1999, and featured openers Sarah Masen and paisley dAve.

A Look Back: The Lewis Event Article

I covered The Lewis Event for The Holland Sentinel in a piece that was published on Jan. 9, 1999.  The event, named for author C.S. Lewis, was a four-day program that explored how spirituality relates to the fine arts in today's society, and included concerts by singer/songwriters Fernando Ortega and David Wilcox, as well as pop/rock band Sixpence None the Richer.

Point of Personal Privilege: My second band, MR. levi, was invited to participate in the program and played Hope College's Kletz coffeehouse during the four-day event.

A Look Back: Sarah Masen Album Review

My very first post-college journalistic/music critique endeavor was a review of folk/pop singer/songwriter Sarah Masen's Carry Us Through for West Michigan's now-defunct Fuse Magazine.  The piece was published in Fuse's May/June 1998 issue.

A Look Back: Sarah Masen in Concert

I witnessed folk/pop singer/songwriter Sarah Masen in concert at least five times.  I saw her play at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., at a church somewhere in Michigan -- where she opened for Sixpence None the Richer, if I recall correctly -- and at Luke's Place, a short-lived coffeehouse in Holland, Mich.  All three of those performances took place between the mid-to-late 90s and the very early aughts, and resulted in an autograph (see above).  I also experienced her live show at Hope College in Holland, Mich. on Jan. 15, 1999 as a part of "The Lewis Event."  Years later, after I relocated to Middle Tennessee, I saw Masen perform alongside singer/songwriter Julie Lee at Lee's Baby-Daddies album release show at Nashville's storied Station Inn on Mar. 3, 2012.

A Tuesday Tune

Sarah Masen - Tuesday

Best of 2007

FAVORITE 5 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

~ in alphabetical order, by artist ~

Brandi Carlile - The Story

Feist - The Reminder

Patty Griffin - Children Running Through

tobyMac - Portable Sounds

Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

FAVORITE ALBUM ARTWORK:

Over the Rhine - The Trumpet Child

FAVORITE CONCERT:

~ tie ~

Brandi Carlile - City Hall, Sept. 26, Nashville, Tenn.

Over the Rhine - 3rd & Lindsley, June 8, Nashville, Tenn.

MOST RESCHEDULED CONCERT:
Regina Spektor - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. (rescheduled twice)

FAVORITE RETURN-FROM-THE-DEAD PROJECT:
Sarah Masen - (3 EPs) A History of Lights and Shadows, Woman's Work Is Alchemy and Magic That Works

MOST PLEASANT SURPRISE:
The Rocket Summer - Do You Feel