What CD are you listening to right now?

[Thelonious Funk]

"Is the Actor Happy?" by Vic Chesnutt

I bought this CD for my wife on Mother's Day after seeing Vic Chesnutt perform on the wonderful Cowboy Junkies DVD that I've mentioned in other posts.

It's a delightful album - very thoughtful words, pleasant melodies and high quality production values.

Vic is a paraplegic who was injured in a car accident when he was 18. He writes and sings folk & alternative pop / rock material.

This is Vic's fourth album, recorded in 1995. He has recorded 11 albums in total, starting in 1990, with the most recent album released in 2007.

Nigel.

After watching the Cowboy Junkies DVD three times in a two day period, (thanks again, Nigel!) I went and checked out Vic's website and read his bio. Its the most interesting artist bio I have ever come across, and he is a great songwriter.

That is all.

[David Meek]

Patrick O'Hearn - Eldorado, some excellent contemporary electronic music.

[r100gs]

I was listening to some of my old cassette tapes awhile back and wondered if I could find one on CD, since it sounded so bad. I found a digitally remastered one on Amazon.com. Anyway they did a really good job on this one. ;x( 10 cc "Deceptive Bends"

[Relentless]

Stone Sour - Come Whatever May .......... Corey Taylor ;x(

[bigburner]

J.J. Cale - "Rewind: The Unreleased Recordings" (2007)

Is this guy the coolest musician alive or what?

As the title of the album suggests, it's a collection of previously unreleased songs spanning a period of twenty years.

I wish that I had a treasure trove of unreleased material this good that I could whack onto a CD.

Nigel.

[greenhorn]

Friday Night - Cool Tunes and a Mellow Buzz

We hit the jacuzzi tonight about 8:00pm for the first time in a while and then the upper patio for some RnR enjoying new patio furniture. Hadn't been out back in the jaquzzi and all since the new neighbors moved in next door so I kept the tunes pretty mellow. Had a nice bubble and then spent an hour or two having a couple drinks relaxing with a nice little fire. Play list was....

Boz Scaggs - Hits
Robert Cray - Best of Robert Cray
Carole King - Tapestry

11:40pm after a bubble, relaxing by the fire and a couple drinks. Cool mellow buzz with a nice Friday vibe :T Looking forward to Saturday ;x(

[eljr]

Forever changes-----------Love

[eljr]

Arc of a Diver-----------Steve Winwood

[Ovation]

The Marvin Gaye Collection (DVD-A, not CD, but still). Great music (especially in MCH)

[David Meek]

Arc of a Diver-----------Steve Winwood

Excellent choice. I think I'll give it a spin. :T

[Gump]

Michael McDonald- Soul Speak

Michael McDonald's new cd "Soul Speak" is worth a listen if you like, well, soul...

Or,even if you don't

[greenhorn]

It's 6:30am Sunday Morning...on the menu

Scrambled Eggs
Bacon
Hash Browns
Biscuits and Jam

Neil Young - Harvest
Alan Parsons - Eye In The Sky
Robert Plant - DreamLand
U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
Finn Brothers - Finn Brothers

[eljr]

Chrome Dreams II----------Neil Young

[eljr]

Platinum & Gold-----------Hot Tuna

[r100gs]

Amy Winehouse "Back in Black" Damn this girl got talent. Hope she can keep it together so we can hear more from her in the future.

[greenhorn]

Shelby Lynne - I Am Shelby Lynne

This is a very very good disc. It's sly, subtle, soulful and very consistant throughout. I wish there were a more opprotunities for her to strech her voice, but then I guess it would lose some of it's subtle qualities. Sq is good, a little bass heavy, but the vocals never lose their presence. Works for both mood music or nice background music.

[bigburner]

I was listening to some of my old cassette tapes awhile back and wondered if I could find one on CD, since it sounded so bad. I found a digitally remastered one on Amazon.com. Anyway they did a really good job on this one. ;x( 10 cc "Deceptive Bends"

That album has got a top song on it - "Good Morning Judge".

I must pull their DVD out and have another look at it.

[bigburner]

"From the Reach" by Sonny Landreth

This is Sonny Landreth's latest CD, which was released a couple of weeks ago. It's a very good album.

Those of you who know Sonny's work will wonder why he is still relatively unknown when he is so good. His two songs on the recent Crossroads 2007 DVD confirm this. Hopefully this CD will change all that.

Look who is featured on this album:

1. Blue Tarp Blues - feat. Mark Knopfler
2. When I Still Had You - feat. Eric Clapton
3. Way Past Long - feat. Robben Ford
4. The Milky Way Home - feat. Eric Johnson
5. Storm of Worry - feat. Eric Clapton
6. Howlin' Moon - feat. Dr. John & Jimmy Buffet
7. The Goin' On - feat. Vince Gill
8. Let It Fly - feat. Nadirah Shakoor
9. Blue Angel - feat. Robben Ford & Vince Gill
10. Überesso
11. Universe - feat. Vince Gill

Can a blessing by His Royal Ericness change Sonny's status in the music world? Time will tell.

Nigel.

[ShadowZA]

"Collection II [SPECIAL EDITION]" by Stacey Kent

Released in 2007, Stacey's last recording on the Candid label before moving to Blue Note. This disc comprises songs taken from her previous albums and superbly remastered in 24bit. A stunning and very well recorded collection imho. I bought this yesterday and it'll get played at least 7 times a week. :T

[eljr]

Number 5-------------Steve Miller Band

[David Meek]

Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South

Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Brad Morgan, Jason Isbell and Shonna Tucker play some excellent southern rock that sounds like Lynyrd Skynyrd crossed with The Allman Brothers and Neil Young. If you are a fan of the genre I highly recommend this group. :T

[bigburner]

Drive-By Truckers - The Dirty South

Patterson Hood, Mike Cooley, Brad Morgan, Jason Isbell and Shonna Tucker play some excellent southern rock that sounds like Lynyrd Skynyrd crossed with The Allman Brothers and Neil Young. If you are a fan of the genre I highly recommend this group. :T

And if you like Drive-By Truckers then try the Jason Isbell album "Sirens of the Ditch" which was released last year. Jason is a guitarist/songwriter who plays with Drive-by Truckers.

Nigel.

[bigburner]

Gary Louris - "Vagabonds"

This is very pleasant, mellow album from a guy who was the guitarist and songwriter with the Jayhawks and still plays occasionally with Golden Smog. "Vagabonds" is Gary's first solo album and it's an exceptional effort.

Nigel.

[catacon]

I'm listening to Initiate Sequence by The Right Aways. There's some good ska stuff on this CD.

[bigburner]

Daniel Lanois - "Here Is What Is"

This is a seriously cool album. I need to go and stand in front of a roaring fire to warm up!

This guy is better known for producing albums for artists such as Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, U2, and the Neville Brothers.

This is his sixth solo album and it's stunningly good.

Nigel.

[David Meek]

And if you like Drive-By Truckers then try the Jason Isbell album "Sirens of the Ditch" which was released last year. Jason is a guitarist/songwriter who plays with Drive-by Truckers.

Nigel, thanks for the heads-up. I'll give it a try.

[ShadowZA]

...This guy is better known for producing albums for artists such as Emmylou Harris,...
Nigel.

Nigel, you're persuaded me to dig into some of my old Emmylou collection. I've always liked her and I always will, especially her ballads.

:T

[bigburner]

Nigel, you're persuaded me to dig into some of my old Emmylou collection. I've always liked her and I always will, especially her ballads.

ShadowZA, are you tempted to buy her new album "All I Intended to Be" which was released about a week ago? It's on my wish list (along with dozens of other titles unfortunately).

Apparently Emmylou has revisited the country / folk influences of her earlier albums with this CD. It's produced by Brian Ahern who was the producer for most of her '70s and '80s albums including "Elite Hotel", "Pieces of the Sky" and "Roses in the Snow". Emmylou and Brian were married to each other for a while.

As her voice seems to be getting better and better with age, this album is probably worth a wee listen.

I'm talking myself into it, aren't I?

Nigel.

[ShadowZA]

ShadowZA, are you tempted to buy her new album "All I Intended to Be" which was released about a week ago? It's on my wish list (along with dozens of other titles unfortunately). ...

I've just taken a squizz at her site and I feel excited about this. I'm more than tempted. This one's on my "to buy" list as we speak. :T

... her voice seems to be getting better and better with age, ...

I couldn't agree more.

I'm talking myself into it, aren't I?
Nigel.

Well, you've talked me into it too. For this, I'm most grateful, Nigel. Thanks.

[ShadowZA]

Eva Cassidy - "Live at Blues Alley"

I tend to prefer smooth jazz to blues (and this live album isn't only blues), but listening to Eva's beautiful voice after reading up about her very short life (she passed away at 33 from melanoma) had me quite choked up with emotion.

http://www.evacassidy.org/eva/eva.shtml

[Briz vegas]

Right now

Radiohead - In Rainbows its been having a rest but its back again

This week

John Coltrane Blue Train
Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers VolII

and my most recent purchase (yesterday)
Sarah Blasko What the sea wants, the sea will have
........which will get another spin shortly

Sarah has said that she went for a more live sound on this 2006 recording and I can say that it is certainly more hifi in audio quality than any recent "alternative pop" recording that I have purchased, although it is still relatively 'hot' judging by the volume setting, but it does not strike me as over compressed at all.

[bigburner]

Eva Cassidy - "Live at Blues Alley"

I tend to prefer smooth jazz to blues (and this live album isn't only blues), but listening to Eva's beautiful voice after reading up about her very short life (she passed away at 33 from melanoma) had me quite choked up with emotion.

ShadowZA, we seem to be on the same wavelength at the moment because last night I ordered the "Eva Cassidy Sings" DVD. I wanted to see her after listening to the "Songbird" CD for the first time two weeks ago. That is a truly beautiful album.

Here's what allmusic.com says about "Songbird":

Though many recording artists meld and straddle a variety of genres, few if any defy categorization by excelling in so many disparate styles as the late Eva Cassidy. The diverse offerings from the evocative thrush from Washington, D.C. — who died tragically of melanoma in 1996 at age 33 — run the gamut from the radio-friendly pop cover of Sting's "Fields of Gold" to a jazz chanteuse rendition of the standard "Autumn Leaves," to the soulful R&B of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" to her spine-tingling gospel delivery of "Oh, Had I a Golden Thread." Cassidy's mastery of each is perhaps best evidenced by the fact that the Washington Area Music Association honored her (in 1996) as Best Female Vocalist in four separate categories: blues, jazz-contemporary, jazz-traditional and roots rock/traditional R&B, in addition to naming her Artist of the Year, and her then-current release, Live At Blues Alley, Album of the Year. Songbird is a posthumous anthology culled from that album and her other solo release, Eva By Heart, along with one track from her 1992 duet album with Chuck Brown titled The Other Side. Though the production value on several songs falls well short of state-of-the-art, the shimmering beauty of her crystal clear voice, combined with her seemingly limitless range and imaginative phrasing, cuts through to both heart and soul. Whether she beckons a soothing timbre for seductively restrained passages or shakes the rafters by unleashing her formidable power and gorgeous falsetto, Cassidy's warblings always fuse her purity of tone with a purity of emotion and a palpable connection with the lyric. Though the songs described above are luscious, the coup de maitre is the album's finale — surely one of the great recordings in recent popular music — Cassidy's stunning version of "Over the Rainbow." Recorded with only her own accompaniment on acoustic guitar, keyboards and synthesizer, Cassidy's voice swoops and soars over a musical panorama — though with a wistful, melancholic shading that almost seems to betray a premonition of her own demise, despite the fact that it would be nearly four years before she would be diagnosed with her terminal illness. Cassidy more than rearranges the Judy Garland classic — she reinvents it. The song is immediately familiar, yet the beautiful colors that arc the sky are very much hers. In an eerie coincidence, if one inverts the two words contained in the album's title, "Songbird" (which was taken from her straightforward rendition of the Fleetwood Mac cut), the result is "Bird Song." The irony is that "Bird Song" is the title of the Grateful Dead's ode to another phenomenal woman singer whose melodious flight was tragically cut short: Janis Joplin. One could argue that its lyrics and sentiment are equally apropos of Eva Cassidy.

Nigel.

[ShadowZA]

ShadowZA, we seem to be on the same wavelength at the moment because last night I ordered the "Eva Cassidy Sings" DVD. I wanted to see her after listening to the "Songbird" CD for the first time two weeks ago. That is a truly beautiful album.

Here's what allmusic.com says about "Songbird"...

...Nigel.

Nigel, thank you for pointing me in the direction that I'd very much like to travel. I need to add Eva's version of "Over the Rainbow" to my collection. Her "Songbird" CD is definitely on my list now. I think that I'd like to get her DVD too.

Thanks again :T

[bigburner]

This week

Robert Johnson - King of the Delta Blues Singers VolII

If I'm not mistaken "King of the Delta Blues Singers" (Volume I) is the record that influenced and inspired Eric Clapton. In fact I know that for sure because he says so on the wonderful "Sessions for Robert J" DVD!

Nigel.

[Johnloudb]

I'm really enjoying this CD "Pocket Universe" by Yello

http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Universe-Yello/dp/B000006TR1/ref=pd_sim_m_8

Electronic music with some vocals.

"Stella" by Yello is also one of my favorites.

[David Meek]

The Black Keys - Attack And Release

I'm not really sure what to think about this album. I like some of it, but some of it is just a little far "off the beaten path" of their earlier material. It's not nearly as basic a bluesy rock sound. I'll have to spin it again tomorrow....

[Russ L]

Aimee Mann's new album @#%&*! Smilers. A change in style from her previous rock classics Bachelor No. 2 and Lost in Space ....more acoustic with strings and horns. These three albums are genius but don't buy any of her other stuff tho. Ex: The Forgotten Arm is rather pedestrian . Russ

[GRAAF]

Jimmy Cleveland and His All Stars.



Eric Bibb Spirit and the Blues [HYBRID SACD] highly recommended

[Gump]

Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons

Anyone heard of this group? Nigel?

I was watching a dvd lastnight ("Cleaner" with Samuel Jackson) and a song played during the closing credits that caught my ear. Turned out to be "Gettin By" and the group is Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons.

Found another song on youtube by them called "Sinner's Waltz" that I also though was quite good.

Mr Chisel has a very good voice and their song writing is also excellent. I think this group has a bright future and we'll be hearing more about them.

Unfortunately, they don't appear to have a cd out yet. At least I can't find one. It appears that the only way to enjoy their music is by downloading, and that's not my bag-----yet anyway.

[bigburner]

Anyone heard of this group? Nigel?

Sorry Gump, not me, but I'll do the research now that you've mentioned it.

Nigel.

[bigburner]

Steve Winwood - "Nine Lives" (2008 )

I wasn't sure about this album for the first couple of tracks (probably because a friend had told me it was pretty ordinary) but as the album progressed I liked it more and more.

It's definitely on my regular-play heap of CDs for the meantime.

Nigel.

[Glen B]

Dead Can Dance Spiritchaser hybrid SACD, remastered by Mobile Fidelity Labs (latest U.S. street date 7/22). The SACD layer is a noticeable improvement over the already very good redbook -- which is as it should be. I am also awaiting delivery of Into The Labyrynth SACD and now I'm anxious to hear what its SACD layer sounds like. Both disks were shipped the same day from Hong Kong but one arrived ahead of the other.

[dknightd]

right now

Shake Your Hips, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Live At The Wetlands

But I realize I listen more to songs and less to albums now that I have all (or at least most) of my music on my computer. I do still listen to full albums sometimes, but more often than not I jump around. I might go click on the full album now, it is a good one.

[David Meek]

After reading an interview with them in my latest Absolute Sound, I just had to put on some early Judas Priest, so I've been listening to 1977's Sin After Sin and 1978's Stained Class.

[bigburner]

Hubert Sumlin - "About Them Shoes"

A very nice blues album from the guy who was Howlin' Wolf's lead guitarist for 20 years. Hubert is ably assisted by musicians including Eric Clapton, James Cotton, Bob Margolin, Levon Helm and Keith Richards.

Nigel.