West
Lucinda Williams

A very recent release, I've only heard the entire CD once, and a handful of songs on the radio a handful of times.

The verdict?

A solid performance by Williams, almost as good as her "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" album.

A very typical Williams album, as well, but that's in no way a bad thing.

Time will tell if this is a keeper or not.

 - Originally reviewed: 02/17/2007, 11:38 pm

Horses
Patti Smith

I first heard this album - on a record - in the apartment of a friend in college (~1980). She liked Patti Smith; I'd heard of her, but - shrug - whatever.

I heard the full album and quickly bought same.

I recently purchased the CD and am totally enjoying same. Patti Smith is not to everyone's taste, but damn she is good:

"Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine..."

 - Originally reviewed: 10/05/2006, 9:47 pm

Goodbye Jumbo
World Party

I've been wanting to get this for over a dozen years; this reamastered version is well worth that wait.

When I finally received it, I'd forgotten how good it was. A handful a classics on this one disc, with Put the Message in the Box the highlight of the CD, to me.

 - Originally reviewed: 04/26/2006, 10:10 pm

Ulisses
Cristina Branco

I heard an interview with this singer on NPR early April; I was captivated.

I like her music, her sensibilities (shown during interview) and her voice.

She does songs in French, English and native Portuguese; lovely. I don't know if the non-English songs would hold up for me (but I have the CD in my Amazon cart!), but I just love her cover of Joni Mitchell's "Case of You" - I've already purchased on iTunes.

She is lovely to look at as well (pic from NPR site), but it's the voice...

 - Originally reviewed: 04/05/2006, 11:09 pm

Hotel
Moby

I've always been aware of Moby, but never really paid that much attention to him. When I heard him on the radio, listened, often enjoyed, but didn't give him a second thought.

Then his Hotel CD came out, and a couple of the songs got under my skin ("Beautiful," and "Spiders") so I bought the CD.

I play it often; I'm going to have to check out more Moby.

Very sonic, some songs with a pop flavor yet with just enough techno to move it past mindless.

I dunno, I just like it. We'll see how I feel about it in 10 years.

 - Originally reviewed: 03/12/2006, 12:20 pm

Live at the Gaslight - 1962
Bob Dylan

Live, very early Dylan. I picked up my copy at Starbucks.

I'm a Dylan fan, so I like this - but even those who don't might like a couple of the cuts, including "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" and "Don't Think Twice, It's Alright."

Young, fresh, live, with background noise...this is a nice addition to the Dylan Library.

 - Originally reviewed: 12/30/2005, 8:41 pm

American IV: The Man Comes Around
Johnny Cash

As stated many times before, I'm not a country music lover.

Is this even "country" music? - Cash covers pop and traditional songs in his own inimitable way.

A co-worker told me about this CD.

She lent same to me.

I ripped/copied same.

And then I purchased same - giving back. This is good - BRILLIANT - music.

To me.

 - Originally reviewed: 03/04/2005, 11:41 pm

Mudanin Kata
David Darling & The Wulu Bunun

Vocal music of a Taiwanese tribe with a master cello player.

Sounds odd; it is. Sonic, atmospheric.

I heard about it on NPR; had to get.

Got it today; glad I purchased same. I won't play this every day/week, but this is a great CD. In a "sounds of the whales" type way.

Lovely.

 - Originally reviewed: 09/07/2004, 9:19 pm