Let’s hear it for the women folk! When You Awake is pleased to present a mixtape from O’Death’s lead singer, Greg Jamie. The aptly titled “Top 10 Women Singers I Wish I Sounded Like If I Was a Woman” features tunes by Wanda Jackson, CocoRosie, Odetta, PJ Harvey and other fine female performers. The New York-based lads of O’Death have been mighty busy lately spreading their particular form of Appalachian inspired punk music. In addition to their upcoming split 7″ release on February 16th with Murder By Death, the band is embarking on a two month tour of the US and Europe this very Thursday. So be sure to check out the mixtape and send O’Death some love and good luck wishes as they prepare for their intercontinental journey. The mixtape and tour dates after the jump.

Top 10 Women Singers I Wish I Sounded Like If I Was a Woman (and a quintessential song each):

1. Karen Dalton- “Same Old Man”
Off the album in my own time. haunting singer and someone i wish i could have seen if i were an older man. i wish i could make friends with her.

2. Blind Mamie Forehand- “Honey in the Rock”
This song appears on many compilations including john fahey’s american primitive vol. 1 which is where i heard it first. this song is from 1927 and is one of my favorite recorded songs ever. it sounds like it comes from another realm and always makes me very quiet when i hear it. sadly she only recorded a few songs and very little is known about her, but i guess that does add to the mystery, doesnt it?

3. Elizabeth Cotten- “Freight Train”
Mostly known for her unusual guitar style of playing, its her voice here that actually blows me away. very pure, weathered and honest. this is obviously her ultimate tune.

4. Amanda Jo Williams- Any song
Go to www. myspace. com/amandajowilliamsmusic to get a taste of this. one of the most interesting singers out there right now. her songs seem to keep getting better. o’death played with her some years ago and ive been faintly trying to keep track of her since, but really she is unlike anything and worthy of being followed around and documented. someone alan lomax might have fallen in love, she does seem to come from another world. little known, but maybe she’ll get huge soon. id like to book a show with her soon, you out there amanda?

5. Wanda Jackson- “Tunnel of Love”
Powerful. serious. wow. no one turns a phrase like jackson.

6. Coco Rosie (bianca)- “K Hole”
I love this band. i dont know who sings which songs. i dont know enough about them but i love it very much. my wife and i have a mix cd a friend of ours made- i love all the songs but i have no liner notes really or details about them. great stuff. i think bianca sings this one- just one of many amazing songs.

7. Odetta- “Cool Water”
Again so hard to pick one song. this is off the album one grain of sand which ive had for a long time. its subtle intense, and i guess not really one of her staples. there is no voice like hers. i was luck enough to see her play once when she was still playing guitar. towards the end of her life she was mostly playing with jazzy keeboard players unfortunately. her body of work is staggering. her grace is unparaleled.

8. Mahalia Jackson- “Didn’t it Rain”
http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=J_LPVXPdkH0
My dad turned me on to Mahalia Jackson a long time ago, as he did odetta. obviously jackson has one of the most powerful voices in gospel music. her performance in the great “jazz on a summer’s day” will knock you out.

9. Patsy Cline- “Back in Baby’s Arms”
Something eerie about her precision. i really like this alot. this is my favorite of hers.

10. PJ Harvery- “Grow Grow Grown”
All of white chalk is so fantastic. truly her masterpiece and most diverse vocal performance. this album should be an enduring classic. her vocals here are closer to her speaking voice, she says. that may accounts for the brutal honesty of her delivery.

O’Death- Low Tide

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Jan 29 2009 the zodiac baltimore, maryland
Jan 30 2009 gravity lounge charlottesville, virginia
Jan 31 2009 new brookland tavern west columbia, south carolina
Feb 1 2009 emerald lounge asheville, north carolina
Feb 2 2009 the secret squirrel athens, georgia
Feb 3 2009 orpheum tampa, florida
Feb 4 2009 jack rabbits jacksonville, florida
Feb 5 2009 back booth orlando, florida
Feb 6 2009 the engine room tallahassee, florida
Feb 7 2009 one eyed jacks new orleans, louisiana
Feb 9 2009 bottle tree birmingham, alabama
Feb 10 2009 mercy lounge nashville, tennessee
Feb 11 2009 the union athens, ohio
Feb 12 2009 jim porter’s good time emporium louisville, kentucky
Feb 13 2009 31st street pub pittsburgh, pennsylvania
Feb 14 2009 maxwell’s hoboken, new jersey
Feb 17 2009 botanique brussels
Feb 18 2009 la maroquinerie paris
Feb 19 2009 centre dramatique national – generiq festival besancon
Feb 20 2009 atheneum – generiq festival dijon
Feb 21 2009 theatre granit – generiq festival belfort
Feb 22 2009 l’aeronef lille
Feb 23 2009 leffinge studio brussels radio show de zwerver
Feb 24 2009 paradiso amsterdam
Feb 25 2009 vera groningen
Feb 27 2009 revolver oslo
Feb 28 2009 debaser malmo
Mar 1 2009 voxhall aarhus
Mar 2 2009 molotow hamburg
Mar 3 2009 muz nurnberg
Mar 4 2009 white trash berlin
Mar 5 2009 007 prague
Mar 6 2009 feierwerk munich
Mar 7 2009 kino ebensee
Mar 8 2009 el lokal zurich
Mar 9 2009 bad bonn dudingen
Mar 10 2009 nero su bianco cesena
Mar 11 2009 clandestino faenza
Mar 12 2009 auditorium flog firenze
Mar 14 2009 bloom milano
Mar 26 2009 house of blues – the oddity faire: a mutated mini festival feat. les claypool boston, massachusetts
Mar 27 2009 the electric factory – the oddity faire: a mutated mini festival feat. les claypool philadelphia, pennsylvania
Mar 28 2009 terminal 5 – the oddity faire: a mutated mini festival feat. les claypool new york, new york