On the lighter side of things, I've been discovering (and rediscovering) a lot of good music lately. The return to the studying grind after winter break definitely helped, and you'll find that the common thread in my music for the week is an emphasis on continuity as an album, ideal for playing and forgetting while the pages drag by. Links to the Amazon page are included, but if you're in college use Ruckus - it's free and legal, and the artists get compensated.
Leave a comment - tell me what you think of my picks, and let me know what you have been listening to lately.
- Sara Bareilles - Little Voices: With aspects similar to other female musicians arriving lately, as part of the latest resurgence in bluesy influenced pop-piano, what sets her apart are her tremendous vocal work, and the occasionally inspiring depth of her lyrics. It has it's limits, and sometimes the themes seem a little repetitive, but taken for what it is this is a solid, solid album - most importantly it's very listenable. (link)
- Alison Krauss & Union Station - Live: Wow. This album is a roller coaster ride of amazing Blue Grass music, complemented by Krauss' positively haunting voice. If you're not a fan or familiar with the genre, this is an excellent primer. If you are, then you will not be disappointed. Several of the instrumental pieces really shine, as do most of the countrier twanged, upbeat melodic tracks, and Krauss' crooning on the ballad numbers is chilling. One of the few albums I've ever come across that immediately captivated, and kept me there from start to finish. I can't recommend it enough. (link)
- Kings of Convenience - Riot on an Empty Street: I've been stuck on this one for a while. Kings of Convenience, as described by the person who introduced me to them, "are a mix of Folk, Rock and Norwegian Bossa Nova " (hat tip: GLS). Their unique style of guitar and instrumentation lends itself to a sort of beat-driven Simon and Garfunkel. This album in particular manages to contrast their quicker, funkier side, with haunting melodies and deeper prose of their slower works. The harmony on Surprise Ice will catch your breath every time, and Misread has one of the catchiest beats this genre has produced in a while. Check out "Quiet is the New Loud," their earlier album too - they're both winners. (link)
