Click www.glennabell.com to hear Glenna Bell’s Christmas Song, Be My Valentine (On Christmas), playing for you “in stereo.”
Dear Everyone—It’s a beautiful, mild and sunny day in Houston, and I’ve been enjoying a quiet morning with my dog, Lilly, here at our hundred-year old white, wood-frame house in downtown’s east end, second ward warehouse district. It’s amazing how silent it is in the midst of this vast city—all I can hear outside is the chirping of birds and the occasional barking of a dog or churning of a train passing through. It is the perfect day for unexpected good news that came in the form of a phone call from friend and musical collaborator, Jimmy Pizzitola, who informed me that Perfectly Legal was one of the Houston Chronicle’s top local album picks of 2010! I haven’t read the article yet, but, for those in the Houston area, it’s in today’s entertainment section of the paper (Thursday, December 23). And everybody can check it out online with just a click of the mouse at http://www.29-95.com/music/story/my-favorite-houston-cds-2010
I noticed that there are also quite a few videos of the local acts, which the writer, Joey Guerra, observes are very diverse, reflecting the great diversity of Houston itself. He says, “Houston music isn’t hip-hop. It isn’t indie-rock. It isn’t Texas country, either. (Whatever that means.) The truth is, there’s no wholly defining sound to the city . . . I believe that messy, all-over-the-place vibe is what makes Houston great. Rap and rock collide with bluegrass and folk. Salsa and pop occupy space alongside country and jazz. And most all of it seeped into my favorite Houston albums of 2010. It was tough narrowing down to these precious few, and there were many more worth repeat listens. But I thought about what remained a constant on my iPod and what, even now, makes me smile or get a little misty-eyed . . .”
Thank you, Joey! I think you've got me feeling a little misty-eyed, too! Once again, I am flattered to be on this list, and proud to be a part of such a hometown scene that is like no other.
And Happy Holidays to “Each and Every One.” I hope that yours is whatever you had wanted it to be or whatever you never would have imagined that it could be . . . Don’t be a stranger, now. I would love to hear from you when you have time--as always . . . Y’all come!