Born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI, at age two Marisa became convinced she was a musical genius when she corrected her mother's pitch during a lullaby (though perhaps a more astute child would've realized that the strong arm of destiny was guiding her toward criticism, not rockstarhood). Sadly, things never panned out just like she thought they would, but unwilling to admit defeat, Marisa still spent far too much of her time playing and trying to play various musical instruments. At 18, certain she was forever escaping her Midwestern life to immerse herself in the excitement of the big city, Marisa moved to Newton, MA, to attend Boston College, finding inspiration in her English major (the only way she could say "postmodern" while referencing her salad), the unnamed best-punk-funk-band-no-one-ever-heard that she played in, her yearlong sojourn to Italy, and being stuck on the T (all of which prepared her well to write in the third person, a skill she has found very useful while at AMG). Strangely, six months after graduating, like a fish on a line, Marisa found herself pulled back to her hometown, worm in mouth, working for allmusic.com, writing fiction, making jokes to herself in Italian, and trying to create new literary theories in her free time. Musical FAQ First Record Bought: This is a tricky question. My first record, actual record, must have been Free to Be You and Me, and it was pretty great. My first tape was Billy Joel's KOHUEPT, and my first CD was Matthew Sweet's 100% Fun. First Concert: Raffi Favorite Music Movie: This Is Spinal Tap Favorite Music Book: Coming Through Slaughter by Michael Ondaatje. Some may argue this isn't a music book. I guess it's not, in the conventional sense. But it's still my answer. Favorite Songwriters: Ani DiFranco, 2Pac Favorite Producers: Chief Xcel, Madlib Favorite Record Labels: Quannum, Merge, Stones Throw Favorite Magazine: Wax Poetics, Bon Apetit Singer Who Makes You Swoon: Prince, John Lee Hooker, Carmen Consoli, Sam Cooke, Chali 2na Favorite Sound: A B3 playing m7 or 9 chords leading into a final chorus at a live show. Favorite Acoustic Guitarist: Son House Favorite Electric Guitarist: Robert Randolph, Shuggie Otis Favorite Bassist: Charles Mingus, Flea Favorite MC: Gift of Gab Album You Will Always Defend: Ace of Base The Sign Album You Own That No One Else Does: Alexi Lalas Ginger Artist You're Supposed to Like But Don't: U2 Band That Should Break Up: U2 Bands That Should Re-form: Nirvana, The Beatles, The Von Trapp Family Singers, or U2 (but with four different members), whichever would be more likely. Concert You Wish You'd Seen: Nina Simone, or the Quannum stuff they put on in San Francisco that I can't get to. Best Use of "Throw Your Hands in the Air" Motif: Grandmaster Flash's "Beat Street" is the obvious choice, though OutKast's "Atliens" is pretty hot, too. Best Song About the Alphabet: "'C' Is for Cookie" or "Alphabet Aerobics" Best Venue: The Middle East, Cambridge, MA, or any backyard in the summer. 2006 Current Listening (besides what I'm reviewing) Lyrics Born - Later That Day... The Fiery Furnaces - Bitter Tea Joni Mitchell - Blue Tom Waits - Closing Time Amp Fiddler - Waltz of a Ghetto Fly J Dilla - Donuts Spoon - Gimme Fiction Max Gazzè - Un Giorno Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machines Bettye LaVette - I've Got My Own Hell to Raise Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere Aesop Rock - Labor Days Ladytron - Witching Hour Mina - The Platinum Collection (but just disc one) Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide