Vocals |
Sarah McLachlan's
Fumbling Towards Ecstasy,
Mirrorball, Live, and
Afterglow are
simultaneously peaceful and energizing. We listen to one of these
every night before Clarke goes to bed, and as background music for a
great night's sleep when we're traveling. Her newest,
Wintersong,
is wonderful and we're thrilled she contributed to the new
soundtrack for
Charlotte's Web. |
Vocals |
Cat Power
is the most impressive vocalist I'd never heard of.
The Greatest is that and more. |
Vocals |
Brandi
Carlile weaves more than a good
Story. With touching songs and a beautiful voice,
Brandi Carlile is extraordinary. |
Family
Folk |
Elizabeth
Mitchell is what a parent of my generation craves: a gorgeous
singing voice entertaining and introducing children to songs that
feel like those sung by Bonnie Raitt and Carley Simon. Although its
not Mitchell's newest, my favorite CD is
You Are My Sunshine. We
also truly enjoy
Catch the Moon (Book & CD) she sings with Lisa Loeb,
You Are My Flower, and
You Are My Little Bird. If you think you've never heard
her, you be surprised to discover she's on another family favorite
Sing Along with Putumayo (Putumayo Kids). |
Jazz |
John
Coltrane's
My Favorite Things is probably my all-time favorite album. It
was originally recorded in 1960 and re-released in 1990. Other
favorites include
John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman,
Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane,
Gentle Side of John Coltrane,
Lush Life (remastered),
The Best of John Coltrane [Atlantic], and
Coltrane Quartet. |
Family
Folk |
Dan Zanes is a musical phenomenon in homes with
wee-ones. My son and his friends have been dancing and
singing with Dan and his friends since they were old enough to
hokey-pokey. Reggae-styling Father Goose receives special cheers
whenever he joins the band. Recently been listening most to Dan's
Grammy-nominated
Catch That Train! but most days
don't go by without also listening to either
House Party,
Family Dance,
Night Time, or
Rocket Ship Beach. We also enjoy dancing along with Dan Zanes &
Friends on their new DVD
All Around the Kitchen! We also
enjoy
Sea Music,
Parades and Panoramas: 25 Songs Collected by Carl Sandburg, and
the Dan Zanes website. What Dan lacks in vocal talent, he
makes up for by introducing families to timeless folk music and
terrific instrumentals. |
Rock
Bluesy |
When my hair was long complete
strangers walked up to me and would say, "You look just like Bonnie Raitt."
I'd smile and say thank you, as if I had not heard it before. If only
I could sing like I her. Although I've been a Bonnie Raitt fan
for over 20 years (I first saw her at a small bar in Madison
Wisconsin when I was a college freshman), I enjoy her recent albums
most of all.
Silver Lining from 2002 is my very favorite.
Souls Alike,
her newest is wonderful (2005). I also love
Nick of Time (1990),
Longing in Their Hearts (1994),
The Bonnie Raitt Collection
(20-song CD 1990), Luck of the Draw (1991), and
Fundamental (1998). The
Best of Bonnie Raitt does a far better job of capturing her best
than many with similar titles (2003). |
Bluegrass
Country
Folk |
The
Nickel Creek self-titled album from 2000 includes amazing
vocals and instrumental pieces. Specifically, Chris Thile's mandolin
playing started me listening to bluegrass for the first time. My
favorite songs, although I enjoy all of them, are
Reasons Why and
When You Come Back Down.
I encourage you to listen to this album no matter your musical tastes.
This Side
(2002) and
Why Should the Fire Die (2005) are also very good! |
Bluegrass
Country
Folk |
Allison Kraus and Union Station are getting attention
at our house, in the car, and so on.
Lonely Goes Both Ways (2004) is fabulous. Although my husband
has been a fan of theirs for years, it's the soundtrack of
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
that convinced me to listen more. |
Jazz |
Miles Davis's
Kind of Blue was re-released in 1997. This is so good people who
don't normally listen to jazz will appreciate it.
Tutu, which was released in 1986, may not be as easy to
appreciate by everyone, it's one of my favorites. |
Vocals |
Carley Simon writes songs that seem to
capture exactly how I'm feeling. My very favorite album is
Letters Never Sent. Also, I adore
Have You Seen Me Lately and
Anthology. |
Country
Rock |
When someone suggested I might enjoy
the Johnny Cash album,
American III: Solitary Man, I thought they must be joking! Sure
enough, though, I loved it! I also enjoy
American Recordings from 1994 and
American IV: The Man Comes Around also from 2002. |
Vocals
Country |
Mary Chapin Carpenter's
Stones in the Road always sounds right. I also listen regularly
to
Come on Come On,
A Place in the World,
Party Doll & Other Favorites,
Time* Sex* Love*,
Hometown Girl,
Shooting Straight in the Dark, and
State of the Heart. |
Blues
Gospel |
Who would have imagined the power of
Amazing Grace sung to the tune of House of the Rising
Son? The Five Blind Boys of Alabama.
Spirit of the Century from 2001 is riveting. Also, be
sure to listen to
Motherless Child.
They had a terrific performance on the October 21, 2001 "Second Cup
Cafe" on the CBS Saturday Early Show
where I've found several now-favorite music groups. |
Vocals |
K.D. Lang's
Ingénue (1992) should not
be missed. Her new CD
Hymns of the 49th Parallel is spectacular!
Her other titles, including
All You Can Eat (1995) are also fabulous. |
Big Band |
Squirrel Nut Zippers is an unlikely
name for a big band sound.
Perennial Favorites (1998) is the album with the most variety. |
Jazz |
Something Else, re-mastered
and re-recorded in 1999, is jazz perfect for a fall day from
Cannonball Adderley, with Miles Davis, Art Blakey, and Hank Jones. |
TexMex |
Los Lonely Boys
offer fun lyrics beside terrific melodies. Great summer tunes with a
positive message and great energy. |
Vocals
Rock |
C'mon, C'mon from Sheryl Crow is a summer classic. Fun and
irreverent.
The Very Best of Sheryl Crow and
The Globe Sessions are also wonderful. |
Vocals
Rock |
Not That Kind from
Anastacia (2001) is my kind of up-tempo music. Fast-paced, great
lyrics, rockin'.
Freak of Nature (2002) is also great! |
Various |
The
Fame Soundtrack was re-mastered and re-released in 2003. I
suspect that I love this music so much because it originally came
out when I was about the same age as the actors in the movie. Or
maybe, it's because the music is fabulous! |
Vocals
Country |
There You'll Be: The Best of Faith Hill (Import) can
make a Faith Hill fan out of most anyone. Beautiful lyrics,
melodies, and messages.
Cry is also terrific. |
Various |
I enjoyed the movie Practical Magic,
but not nearly as much as the
Practical Magic Soundtrack. Songs include This Kiss from Faith
Hill, If You Eve Did Believe from Stevie Nicks, Black Eyed Dog from
Nick Drake, and Coconut from Harry Nillson. |
Vocals |
Joni Mitchell is a perennial favorite.
Hits has all the great songs on one CD. |
Vocals
Rock |
In 2003, Susan won the Soul Cafe's
best new musician contest that gave her the opening act for Jewel's
tour. Congratulations, Susan!
Wake Up!
from 1999 is a wonderful collection of her tunes. My favorite song,
Everything But You, is
on her newest album,
Hey, Hey Hey. Read an interview I did with
Susan for Learning in the New Economy Magazine, Spring 2001 "Musically
Speaking: An Interview with Susan Greenbaum." |
Vocals
Rock |
Alive at Last
live from Train. |
Vocals
Rock |
Every Breath You Take: The Classics is a terrific re-master of
the best album from the Police. The original was one of three
cassette tapes I took with me when I lived in Kenya about 15 years
ago so every song brings back wonderful memories.
The Very Best of... Sting & the Police is also very good. |
Vocals
Folk |
The Very Best of Cat Stevens is just that. The best. |
Family
Lullaby |
Dedicated the One I Love
by Linda Ronstadt was an early favorite of Clarke's. Now we listen to it for fun. Very soothing.
Even snagged a
Grammy for best children's album of the year in 1997. Karl
and my song is on the album she recorded with Aaron Neville,
Cry Like a Rainstorm, Howl Like the Wind. |
