Music is one of my great loves. My grandfather was a band leader and played many many instruments. I grew up in a house that had music on and while I never learned to play anything it is in my DNA. I do not listen to the radio other than to NPR so my music comes from stuff I grew up with and I also do a fair amount of reading and poking around for new and interesting stuff.
For something to get onto the Ipod, it has to be authentic, unique, and strike my emotional bell Sometimes this can be Lady Gaga and sometimes this can be Dolly Parton and this is always Miles Davis.
Here's my list of music I most loved in 2011 in no particular order:
Florence and the Machine, Ceremonials: This is a 2011 release. Her second album. It felt bigger, juicier and somehow more poignant than the first one which I also quite loved. This has been in near constant rotation since it was released. If nothing else, that girl has some pipes.
Feist, Metals: I didn't really like Feist before this album. I have a subscription to Rolling Stone and they reviewed this one and I bought it after checking out one track. Maybe because she recorded it on the cliffs over Big Sur. It is about nature, love, loss and its quiet and it also stomps. Love it.
Tom Waits, Bad as Me: This album is nuts. Its meandering and drunk. Keith Richards plays on it. And he when he sings the lines "I'm the last leaf on the tree. The autumn took the rest" in that voice that comes from Dante's hell piled high with bourbon bottles and crumpled cigarettes I am smitten. This one is really a shiny brilliant penny you find on the side walk and keep your pocket to reminder yourself of possibility.
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue: This album goes with me everywhere. I will not listen to it on any kind of iPod shuffle. It gets all my attention every time from start to finish. For me, one of the soundtracks of my life time. The curl of that horn and the quiet breath in the notes it both slays me and reminds me that we are capable of great beauty.
Ahmad Jamal, A Quiet Time: Jazz pianist who's been around a long ass time. Listening to him play is like being baptized in warm butter. The effortless ripple of the music pokes at my heart edges and makes me smile.
Afrocubism, AfroCubism: The title of this album says it all. It has both Toumani Diabete and Eglis Ochoa. Joy. Melancholy. Sheer loveliness and perfect.
Pistol Annies, Hell on Heels: I am always attracted to girls that sing with hick accents and wear pointy toed boots. This is a super group of sorts with Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Anjaleena Presley and it is sheer brilliance when it comes to strong women singing old school country music. Its jaunty, irreverent, and saucy. I loved this one.
Ryan Adams, Ashes and Fire: I was way over this dude. He had some ok stuff a few years back but there was something about it that never cut deep. I resisted this album and then fell in love with it. Its great and common all at the same time. It creates a pang in my heart and also melts me at the same time. Not bad :)
The Steeldrivers, Reckless: I am not really a huge bluegrass fan. And I guess these guys are considered to be that but there is something far to dark about them that eludes that classification. The voice of the singer is that dark corner in a bar after too many drinks sort and the music is full of longing and ache. It slays me every time and I listen to it a lot.
Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More: Just really good stuff. Odd and great all at once.
Dawes, Nothing is Wrong: I found these guys because someone said they were reminiscent of the Eagles. This dates me and perhaps says things about me I would prefer not to be known but some of my favorite songs are from that band "Lying Eyes" being at the top of the list. This band has hints of that kind of music but with a modern, darker edge. They are kinda old school sounding with a wistfulness to their music that reminds of a food I can't describe.
The Rolling Stones: Everything they ever recorded always. I have Keith and Mick constantly in rotation and it never gets old. Those boys make me very happy.
Check any of these out - would love to hear what you think!
0 comments:
Post a Comment