What’s Been Playin’ on the CD Player

I’ve been listening to a lot of music lately. Much too much to write about in depth, so I’ll just list a few of the sounds that have kept me up late at night.

Soundtracks:

Barry 7’s Connectors 2 -- A collection of rare Italian lounge music from various Euro films.

Kill Bill Vol. 1 -- One of the best soundtracks from 2003. Too bad there are still tracks from the film that aren’t even on it. It’s still worth picking up, though.

Spaghetti Westerns Volume Two -- A fantastic two disc collection of music from some of the most enjoyable Westerns this side of … eh … well, from Italy.

Classical:

J. S. Bach ~ The Art of the Fugue -- A new release from the highly regarded Emerson String Quartet.

Bartok ~ The 6 String Quartets -- Absolutely splendid two disc set from the Takacs Quartet.

Ute Lemper ~ Berlin Cabaret Songs -- Beautiful, sexy chanteuse Ute Lemper interprets a fabulous selection of music suppressed by The Third Reich. Life's a swindle, so take what you can.

Ute Lemper ~ Illusions -- More sad and beautiful songs from this incredible performer. Dreams turning into dust have never sounded more exquisite.

Jazz:

John Coltrane ~ Blue Train

John Coltrane ~ Giant Steps

Miles Davis ~ In a Silent Way

Miles Davis ~ Miles Ahead

Everything Else:

Drive-By Truckers ~ Southern Rock Opera -- Absolutely the best damn thing I’ve listened to in a while. Trust me on this, if your taste in RAWK tends to head 180 degrees South, then check this incredible band out.

Eminem ~ White Man’s World

High On Fire ~ Surrounded By Thieves -- Monstrous thunder doom/stoner metal from three gents who currently reside within the bowels of the earth. Makes Motorhead sound like little girls.

Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ (pronounced’leh-nerd’skin-nerd) -- You think you know what this band’s about? You have no idea. Listen and learn. Great songwriting, deceptively simple, and oh so swampy. I had to pick this up, along with their second album, after listening to The Drive-By Truckers, who pay homage to Skynyrd on their above mentioned CD.

Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ Second Helping -- Do not pass this band off as just a bunch of longhaired redneck howlers. Proudly Southern, yes. But also soulful, skillful, and passionate. There’s a lot more going on beneath the surface than you think. Even better than their first release.

My Bloody Valentine ~ Loveless -- One of my all-time favorite albums.

Oblivians ~ Sympathy Sessions -- Drunken, bluesy, fucked-up garage rawk all about sex, sex, and more sex. Grab your kitten and burn baby burn.

The Polyphonic Spree ~ The Beginning Stages of … -- Been a while since you’ve attended church? Drop this into the CD player and rejoice! Psychedelic pop/gospel/dream emanations from the Soul above!

Tom Waits ~ Blood Money -- What more do you need to know? It’s Tom Waits! And damn if he doesn’t seem to be conjuring up some dire warnings from below on this one. Wake up! The End is nigh!

Lucinda Williams ~ World Without Tears -- Oh, Lucinda. Give me a call.