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Raising Sand
The musical collaboration of the decade, Raising Sand is the sound of two iconic figures stepping out of their respective comfort zones and letting their instincts lead them across a brave new sonic landscape. Despite hailing from distinctly different backgrounds, Alison Krauss and Robert Plant share a maverick spirit and willingness to extend the boundaries of their respective genres. This spirit, expertly honed by producer T Bone Burnett, has resulted in an album pitched three steps beyond some cosmic collision of early urban blues, spacious West Texas country, and the untapped potential of the folk-rock revolution. Supported by the unparalleled musicianship of Marc Ribot, Dennis Crouch, Mike Seeger, Jay Bellerose, Norman Blake, Greg Leisz, Patrick Warren, and Riley Baugus, Plant and Krauss -- as both solo and harmony vocalists -- tackle an intriguing selection of songs from such tunesmiths as Tom Waits, Gene Clark, Sam Phillips, Townes Van Zandt, The Everly Broth! ers, and Mel Tillis. Raising Sand finds Robert Plant and Alison Krauss exploring popular music's elemental roots while still sounding effortlessly, breath-takingly contemporary. The song "Killing the Blues" is featured in the new JC Penney American Living Campaign. Audio CD: Company: Rounder (2007-10-23) List Price: $18.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $7.99  Back To The River
Back To The River is Susan Tedeschi's 2008 album, her second recording for Verve Forecast. Susan writes, sings and plays on a hard-driving collection of new songs that offer an emotionally honest look at love and life. Produced by George Drakoulias (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Black Crowes, Jayhawks) it also features performances by Derek Trucks (who also produced 1 track), Gary Louris and Doyle Bramhall II. Tedeschi's Verve Forecast debut, Hope and Desire, focused on her amazing vocal talents as an interpreter of other's songs. This time out she turns her pen, guitar and powerful voice to her own work having written or co-written all but one song.Atists: Susan Tedeschi Audio CD: Company: Verve Forecast (2008-10-28) List Price: $13.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $9.25 Two Men With The Blues
The event was simply billed as "Willie Nelson Sings the Blues," but the historic two-night stand on January 12 and 13, 2007 at Jazz at Lincoln Center was far more than that. Call it a summit meeting between two American icons, Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, two of the most significant figures in modern-day country and jazz, who discovered common ground in their love for jazz standards and the blues. Their performance stirred the sounds of New Orleans, Nashville, Austin and New York City into a brilliantly programmed mix that was equal parts down-home and cosmopolitan, with plenty of swing and just a touch of melancholy. To say that these shows were a hot ticket would be an understatement. Luckily, the tapes were rolling and the results of this unique collaboration now constitute the Blue Note album Two Men With The Blues for everyone who couldn't cram into The Allen Room. Featuring great playing from one of the hottest bands around these classic tracks are given new life by the extraordinary dual talents of Willie Nelson and Wynton Marsalis. At a time when most people are thinking of retirement, Willie has never been busier. His profile has been high in recent weeks with his various career retrospective releases and sold out tour and this album can rightly stake it's place alongside anything else he has done. Wynton rarely sounds so relaxed and both of these musical giants are clearly having the time of their lives together on these new interpretations of some of the greatest songs of the 20th century.Atists: Willie Nelson/Wynton Marsalis Audio CD: Company: Blue Note Records (2008-07-08) List Price: $18.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $8.50 One Kind Favor
B.B. King returns to his blues roots with the help of producer T Bone Burnett on "One Kind Favor,". The legendary artist is backed on the effort by pianist Dr. John, drummer Jim Keltner and bassist Nathan East. The track list includes such blues chestnuts as Big Bill Broonzy's "Backwater Blues," Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night," Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and T-Bone Walker's "I Get So Weary."Atists: B.B. King Audio CD: Company: Geffen Records (2008-08-26) List Price: $13.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $6.74 Something Else
Robin Thicke is primed and ready for Something Else. "It was like everyone was saying the same things, worried about the same things and I just felt we needed something different right now. I asked myself do I have a light? What is that light? How can I spread it, share it and turn it into a Puff Daddy white linen Miami Beach party?" After his highly acclaimed 1.5 million selling album "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" garnering the smash hit "Lost Without U", a tireless schedule of touring and appearances Robin needed to sit back, reflect on the last 2 years and start anew. "On the last album I wanted to let people into my walk of life and connect my life to them and this album is more about involving great minds, hearts and spirits around me. When I started writing songs I was already embracing people and now I just wanted to dance and laugh with them". With that spirit driving the creative process Robin has penned some of the best songs of his career from the retro meets modern groove of the first single "Magic", the upbeat celebration of "Sidestep" to the picturesque "Dreamworld" he is taking the listener on a musical journey that is truly unique, sexy and invigorating. Something Else is exactly the kind of record that the world needs right now to feel inspired again. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
The first solo album by the Fugees' most distinctive voice quickly wipes away the pretensions of so many current hip-hoppers' discs. It does so by both engaging their widescreen ethos--"To Zion," with its martial drums and gospel choir, is as epic a production as has been heard in 1998's pop music--and speaking the plain truth. Miseducation focuses equally on Lauryn Hill's life (especially the birth of her child) and social concerns about the present and future. Its often quiet surface, if anything, lends intensity. --Rickey WrightAtists: Lauryn Hill Audio CD: Company: Sony (1998-08-25) List Price: $13.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $2.64 The Life Of A Song
Husband and wife duo Joey+Rory had never performed together before teaming up to audition for CMT's hit series, Can You Duet, in early 2008-but you'd never know it. Bringing beautiful harmonies, top-notch songwriting plus their natural joyfulness, authenticity and romance to traditional country music, Joey+Rory quickly became fan favorites on the show. As finalists, their rendition of "Cheater Cheater" earned them a huge response and went on to become an internet phenomenon. Now signed to Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records alongside a venerable roster of alternative country, bluegrass and Americana greats, Joey+Rory's musical journey together is just beginning.Atists: Joey + Rory Audio CD: Company: Sugarhill (2008-10-28) List Price: $17.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $9.99 Cadillac Records (Deluxe)(Music From the Motion Picture)
Deluxe Edition Two CD set. Cadillac Records stars Beyonce, Mof Def, Jeffrey Wright and Adrien Brody with the soundtrack featuring Beyonce, Mof Def, Columbus Short, Mary Mary, Raphael Saadiq, Solange, Little Walter and Nas with Olu Dara. The movie is about Leonard Chess who co-founded Chess Records, the pre-eminent blues label of the Fifties and Sixties, with his brother Phil. They formed Aristocrat Records in 1947 and the Chess label two years later with a mind-boggling flood of Blues, R&B plus Rock'N'Roll talent- Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Willie Dixon, Etta James and Little Walter.Atists: Various Audio CD: Soundtrack Company: Sony (2008-12-02) List Price: $22.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $17.23 O Brother, Where Art Thou?
The best soundtracks are like movies for the ears, and O Brother, Where Art Thou? joins the likes of Saturday Night Fever and The Harder They Come as cinematic pinnacles of song. The music from the Coen brothers' Depression-era film taps into the source from which the purest strains of country, blues, bluegrass, folk, and gospel music flow. Producer T Bone Burnett enlists the voices of Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and kindred spirits for performances of traditional material, in arrangements that are either a cappella or feature bare-bones accompaniment. Highlights range from the aching purity of Krauss's "Down to the River to Pray" to the plainspoken faith of the Whites' "Keep on the Sunny Side" to Stanley's chillingly plaintive "O Death." The album's spiritual centerpiece finds Krauss, Welch, and Harris harmonizing on "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby," a gospel lullaby that sounds like a chorus of Appalachian angels. --Don McLeese Audio CD: Soundtrack Company: Buena Vista Pictures (2000-12-05) List Price: $13.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $4.99 Trouble
Some singer/songwriters (think Paul Westerberg and Elliott Smith) develop their world-weariness through the unforgiving trials of passing years and the heart-breaking grind of the music business. Others (Van Morrison, Neil Young) seem to have sprung from out of nowhere with the fully formed soul of a life well-lived. Ray LaMontagne belongs with the latter. On this, his debut, LaMontagne has crafted a handful of quietly devastating meditations on life and love--and delivered them with a raspy vocal all his own. The simple, mournful lyrics of "Burn," "Shelter" and the title track recall a Hank Williams ballad, and the reserved production by alt-country/americana genius Ethan Johns (the Jayhawks, Ryan Adams, Kings of Leon) make this a great disc for smoky Saturday nights, and rainy Sunday mornings. --Ben HeegeAtists: Ray LaMontagne Audio CD: Company: RCA (2004-09-14) List Price: $13.98 Amazon Price: Used Price: $7.19
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