It wasn't hard to decide what to
recommend this month. These are the albums that are currently spinning in my
CD player and have been for weeks now. They're a mix of blues, soul, folk
and pop and will bring to mind singers like Billie Holliday, Norah Jones,
Joss Stone, Erykah Badu, Carole King, and Heather Headley.
When I was in Australia in March of this year,
I kept hearing this song called "Put Your Records On" and I could not stop
listening to this song - it just made me happy. I flew back home to the U.S.
with Corrine
Bailey Rae's tune safely on my iPod and when I found out a few months
later that her album was debuting here I was ecstatic. I bought it right
when it came out and have been recommending it to everyone I know since.
Track 3 is still my fave, but I also enjoy "Like A Star," "Enchantment,"
"Call Me When You Get This," "Breathless," and "I'd Like To." Corrine lives
in the U.K. where she was raised playing classical violin, listening to Led
Zeppelin, forming her own indie girl band, then unexpectedly falling into
the jazz scene where she began performing solo and writing her own music.
All the songs on this record are written or co-written by Rae and she plays
some of the instruments on the album as well.
Listen or Buy the CD
here.
Disc 2 in my CD player is Words Came
Back To Me a collection of 12 songs all written by 17-year old Sonya Kitchell. Think back to the first time you heard Joss Stone and add more
Norah Jones and a touch of Carole King and you can begin to imagine what
this Massachusetts country girl sounds like. Sonya began singing and
songwriting as a true vocation at the age of 12 after writing a moving song
on September 11, 2001 as a way to cope with the day's events. The soul and
talent that emerges from a singer so young is quite impressive. Songs to check
out include: "Let Me Go," "Can't Get You Out of My Mind," "Cold Day," "Think
of You," and "Jerry."
Disc 3 takes us back across the Atlantic
to Scotland and KT Tunstall. KT grew up playing music and began to write
songs in her mid-teens. She ventured out in several different bands and
finally discovered her own voice with her music -
Eye to the Telescope is truly a gift.
This is the CD I would take with me on a solo road trip, driving across the
country. It speaks to me of breaking free, independence, and self-discovery.
Check out "Other Side of the World," "Another Place to Fall," "Miniature
Disasters," "False
Alarm," "Suddenly I See," and "Stoppin' the Love."
My collection picks up tempo a bit with
"anti-folk" soon-to-be-sensation Regina Spektor. The music found on
Begin To Hope is mostly piano and electronica with Spektor's bouncy
vocals creating surprising melodies that result in wonderfully clever and
catchy songs. A New Yorker by way of Russia, Spektor's second album released
State-side is very reminiscent of Feist's
Let It Die with a bit of a Russian edge instead of Feist's French
input. Check out "Fidelity,"
"Better,"
"On
the Radio," and "Hotel
Song." If you like Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Fiona Apple, or even Sarah
McLachlan - check out Regina Spektor.
Lastly, Joan Jett cranks out another
rockin' album with Sinner that will get
you ready for your Friday night out. If you've ever wondered about Jett's
sexuality
the songs on this CD seem to put the debate to rest! This is her first U.S.
release
in 10 years and it's worth it if you don't already own the Japan release
Naked. At least check out the following songs - they're hot! "A.C.D.C.,"
"Riddles,"
"Change the World," "Androgynous,"
and "Fetish."
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