JILL TRACY: Quintessentially Unreal

Jill Tracy

Quintessentially Unreal

© 1995 Jill Tracy (634479207464)

CD permanently out of stock. Sorry!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

A limited reissue of her acclaimed 1995 solo live debut, writer/singer/pianist Jill Tracy conjures an alluring netherworld with her signature dark parlour music that is seductive, mysterious and mesmerizing in its elegant simplicity.

tracks

1 Conjuring #5
2 Extraordinary
3 Between the Black
4 Hour after Hour
5 Make It Burn
6 Quintessentially Unreal
7 (variations on) Paint It Black
8 You Kill Me
9 Anything at All
10 Conjuring #6

notes

***Please note this title is now out-of-print.

However, the CD is available for complete digital download (through CD Baby) and many of your favorite sites including MSN Music, Rhapsody, Emusic, and Apple i-tunes.



ABOUT QUINTESSENTIALLY UNREAL:

This is a limited reissue of Jill Tracy's 1995 first solo demo CD, the album the San Francisco-based pianist/singer said she'd never record. After all, she had just relocated to San Francisco from New York, didn't even have a band yet, not much experience, much less the budget to do a full-on recording.

But do to rabid interest in her stunning live solo performances, her provocative and imaginative lyrics, signature dark parlour piano and glamorous cinematic style, the requests from fans to "own these songs" became too great to ignore. Band or no band. Jill Tracy simply rolled tape alone over two days at Mobius Music in San Francisco and committed some gems to tape. No overdubs, no second takes, no punch-ins. No special effects. "Quintessentially Unreal" is how everything got started.

On the CD liner notes Jill Tracy states "This captures the true essence of my work as intimately as can be possible with a recording. Listen closely and you will hear the wood creak, my fingernail tap a key and other tell-tale nuances of live performance...this is about as real as it gets."

"Quintessentially Unreal" earned Jill Tracy two California Music Award nominations, SF Weekly Music Award, and attention from publications as diverse as Electronic Musician to Redbook. Atlanta's WRAS proclaimed it "one of the most brilliant albums ever received."

Following the release of "Quintessentially Unreal," Jill Tracy concocted her back-up ensemble The Malcontent Orchestra. She has released two more albums "Diabolical Streak" and "Into the Land of Phantoms," both available at CD Baby.

"When you hear Jill Tracy's lush, sultry voice and experience the spooky melancholy of her lyrics, you're hooked...you can't escape the haunting and seductive powers of her macabre torch songs. As you listen, your will is no longer your own."

ELECTRONIC MUSICIAN

"The best surprises are the ones that come completely out of nowhere. Here comes this chanteuse..., her hands deftly pouring over her piano and boom- we have brilliance. Jill Tracy commands your attention, her voice just dribbles down your back- to places you can't even scratch..."

MICHAEL OVERSTREET,WRAS-ATLANTA

reviews

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  • An incredible performer, and incredible CD
    author: Kevin Edwards - DomDominion.com

    I recently played this CD at a party, and could not believe how many people asked me who this was. The music simply grabbed the attention of everyone, and I was very happy to tell them that I've seen Jill Tracy live and she had a show coming up in San Francisco. She's earned a permanent spot on my automatic buy the CD or tickets to the show list! Oh, and this site is one of the best CD stores online as well.

  • We Need More Music Like This!
    author: Scott

    Despite not having the entire Malcontent Orchestra, Jill Tracy is still able to weave a darkly beautiful CD with sharp humour. I bought this CD to complete the current "trilogy" of her CD's, and I can't wait for more. Elegant piano playing + her beautiful voice = buy this now!

  • May her Diabolical Streak continue...
    author: Ben

    After being recommended another of her CDs on Amazon.com, I have become an immediate fan. This album is dark, clever, chilling in all the right ways and is not to be missed. As good as this album is, the quality of her other albums (with the Malcontent Orchestra) only seems to go up. Stay Righteous, Ms. Tracy.

  • Amazing!!!! More please!!!!
    author: Tim

    I stumbled across Jill Tracy when looking at Janet Klein material. I am COMPLETELY hooked on this woman. Her music is creepy, sensational, gothic, completely original. I LOVE every track on this CD. MORE PLEASE!!! Jill Tracy, where are you???

  • Enchanting, endearing, envoking.
    author: Jenny

    I loved it from the first note. It was pleasantly pleasantly surpised. It really draws you in. A little bit of tori amos influence perhaps?

  • Wow, seductive and smart
    author: Gordon

    The quality of the recording is excellent, it feels very intimate and personal. This has quickly become a favorite album with it's smart writing, delicious piano, and lovely vocals. I'll definitely check out more of her work.

  • Very Good (if you're in the mood)
    author: Mike Brandt

    An excellent CD for those "dark" moments in life. I went to sleep one night with the radio softly playing and woke up at 3am with rain outside and the song "Extraordinary" coming out of the speakers. It gave me the shivers, to say the least! Her musicianship and song writing are way, way above average and the recording is techinically outstanding (straight to DAT). However, I'm suspect JT will never become a household name because of the darkness of her songs. But if you're "in the mood", this is top notch. Not a sunny day, happy, kind of album.

  • author: zz

    Still Jill Tracys best record. I think make it burn and anything at all are among the best songs ever written. The tempo are just right on this cd and much too slow on diabolical streak (her second cd)and this version of extraordinary are much better and she use her voice in the right way too. I hope her next cd will be recorded in the same way as this. (note about reviewing on this site. Cd Baby whats wrong about comparing to other cds by the same artist?)

  • Late night rainy weather music
    author: Jay 13:13

    Tracy's music is darkly cabaret themed music that is at times thoroughly haunting yet always enchanting. Her voice blends well with her piano style. If you like Gitane Demone's piano based music or the Dresden Dolls, you'll certainly enjoy Jill Tracy's work.

  • Enchanting depravity from an artist who deserves to be HUGE!
    author: Jim Robson

    As Jill Tracy's Edwin Gorey-like scenarios play out on this wonderful CD, you realize that none of the tales will end well, but you can't help but hang (no pun intended) on her every word. She sets the dark mood like no other, and the intimacy of her masterful piano work begs you to come closer, exactly at the same time you're tempted to look away. It won't matter of course, you're helpless under her spell. In a word, she's... well, extraordinary.

  • Passionate, silky, mystical, greatness. Jill Tracy seduces me daily.
    author: Christian Fitzharris
  • If you're not listening to Ms Tracy, you don't know what you're missing.
    author: Nick

    Take two fine instruments, piano & voice, add a bit of the macabre, sharp sense of wit and a heaping dose of intelligence and you have Jill Tracy's 'Quintesentially Unreal'. Picture a cabaret-style act, the room is dark except for the spotlight on the stage illuminating the chanteuse and cigarette smoke hangs in the air - and she is singing only to you. Literally stumbled upon while searching CDBaby, I was taken aback when I heard samples of her work I immediately bought this & her Nosferatu soundtrack and signed up to be notified when 'Diabolical Streak' is re-issued. If you're not listening to Ms. Tracy, you don't know what you're missing.

  • A beautiful, silk thread.
    author: Barbara Dronenburg

    I'd only intended to play it once to check for flaws in the disc, having just received it in the mail, but, like a beautiful, silk thread, the music had spun itself around me and I let it go three times through before I could turn it off... No flaws.

  • I wish I had found out about Jill Tracy sooner.
    author: Rick Pyles

    Better late than not at all, I suppose. When I recieved then listened to my first Jill Tracy CD( Diabolical Streak), I emmediatley came back and bought her other two CDs. This being her 1st release, it lacks the finesse of DS but I'm finding myself listening to this one much more. I like the raw personal element of just Jill and her Piano. Plus there's some tracks that didn't make it to DS that I find just amazing( between the black, make it burn, and anything at all). This and the others are the best sounds I've found in a long, long time. Jill Tracy has now become my own personal Muse. just to Damn Good!

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