Lowen & Navarro "Live Radio" You might not recognize the names, Eric Lowen & Dan Navarro, but you no doubt are familiar with songs they wrote - most notably, "We Belong" taken to #5 by Pat Benatar. These guys are fantastic and I like all of their CDs, but this one is my favorite. It's not a "greatest hits" type record, however all but one song had been previously recorded. These versions were collected from four live shows on Roz & Howard Larman's FolkScene radio program in Los Angeles. What I love most about this CD is that it's totally acoustic - the guitars and harmonies shine through.
Slaid Cleaves "Broke Down" Slaid is another young Austin based singer/songwriter who finally put himself on the Americana map with this one. There are some great songs here - one in particular might interest our Canadian friends called "Breakfast In Hell" - although I must admit, as much as I *like* the recording of this song, I *love* his live version with audience participation
Rosanne Cash "Rules of Travel" and "Kings Record Shop" I know there has been some discussion of her new CD in other threads, but I haven't heard it yet. Until I do, I have to site these as being my two favorite albums, though I've always loved all her stuff.
Guy Clark "Cold Dog Soup" Guy is a bit more folk/country than the pop and folk/pop of my previous recommendations, but he can certainly turn a phrase. Anyone who has traveled or lived in Southern California knows that, "If I can just get off this L.A. freeway without gettin' killed or caught." pretty much says it all. But my favorite line comes from the title song of this album, "There ain't no money in poetry, that's what sets the poet free, and I've had all the freedom I can stand."
Rodney Crowell "Street Language" I adore Rodney Crowell and have everything he's ever released including all the "best of" releases, but this one just might be my favorite even though it's probably one of his least known albums. Rodney has several musical personas - this one is an example of what we jokingly refer to as "Rockin Rodney" - it's pop/rock and didn't fit well in the country pigeonhole the industry stuck him in for so long. Another good album by him is simply titled "Rodney Crowell" and contains several songs he wrote that were made popular by others such as "Stars On The Water" - Buffett, "Shame On The Moon" - Bob Seger, "Til I Gain Control Again - just about everybody...Emmylou, Willie Nelson, Crystal Gail, etc.
Berkley Hart "Wreck N Sow" This acoustic duo is local to me in San Diego. They're great guitarists and their harmony is just incredible. This album has some great songs. It's their first one and has everything from toe tappers energizing you as you're "Running For The Texas Line" all the way to "Barrel Of Rain" for which you will need a barrel to collect the tears you shed - that one's a story tellin' song at it's finest.
Well, I could go on, but I won't. I love threads like this. I enjoy learning of music new to me and I love sharing stuff I'm fortunate enough to have in my collection that others may not be familiar with.
(edited to correct Buffett's name)
[ February 07, 2006, 06:04: Message edited by: Janice ]