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World    Jazz & Blues

 Soundtracks

Cabaret This is the movie soundtrack, a CD I've been searching for for years. Finally it's made it's way into the digital media. Okay, cabaret culture, Weimar Germany, a bawdy chanteuse, do you have to question why I love this one so much? I'm glad to have it in my collection. 

The End of Violence Yet another great Wim Wender's soundtrack. This one features Ry Cooder, U2 and Sinead O' Conner, Tome Waits, and Roy Orbison to name a few. An excellent compilation. 

Kama Sutra Didn't I mention something before about Indian Film music. Well this is some more in a different vane. Actaully this is more traditional indian music as opposed to the pop stuff that normally makes it to CD from Ballywood. Actually there are portions of this CD that remind me of the collaborative effort of Brian Eno and David Byrne, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts. It's just full of those hauntingly beautiful, ambient and mystical sounds. Great music for tantric meditation. 

Lolita, Leave it to Rhino Records to revive this one. The CD is worth it just to have the Lolita theme, but included with the musical cuts are bits and pieces of the dialogue-of course now all I want to do is see the film again. 

Lost Highway David Lynch, Nine Inch Nails, David Bowie, how could I pass this one by? I've yet to see the film but am already enjoying this soundtrack. I must confess that after seeing the Nine Inch Nail perform live, I'm sold on Trent Reznor's theatrics as well as his production on this CD. 

Romeo & Juliet Well, I never saw this film but I figured I'd probably like the soundtrack better than the film anyway. Lately I've been obsessed with the Butthole Surfers' Whatever and Garbage's #1 Crush, I just picked up their CD. As I listen more I sense I'll be picking up a Cardigans' CD in the near future as well. 

Nino Rota Movies This CD made it's way to my stereo after the death of Marcello Mastrioni and hasn't left since. Of course it makes for good cocktail music of the most authentic sort but it also is the music Fellini. Perhaps my life has been rather Felliniesque lately? 

Trainspotting Okay, I loved the film and as an aging punk-rocker I'm glad to hear the pre-punk tunes of Iggy Pop, Brian Eno, and Lou Reed. All long time favorites of mine. I'm glad Lust for Life has gotten renewed air-play from this disk. 

Trainspotting #2 More music from the film, as well as some music that should have been there. Well whatever the excuse for putting this together it's another fun compilation with more works from Iggy Pop and David Bowie, as well as Heaven 17, Leftfield, and Joy Division. One of the nice additions to this CD is that it contains the opening monologue by Ewan McGregor. 

Until the End of the World This is a wonderful soundtrack to one of my all time favorite films. Wim Wenders has an uncanny ability to assemble some of the best music for his films, and this has got to be the best soundtrack. It features original music from the Talking Heads, Lou Reed, Elivs Costello, Nick Cave, U2, and more. Whenever I travel I take this CD along. 
 

Pop

Laurie Anderson, United States Live This is a personal obsession. I chanced upon Laurie Anderson back in Oberlin quite by accident and saw her United States show. It changed my life. All of a sudden I had seen performance art and I loved it. Ever since I've enjoyed Laurie Anderson's creative wit, her delight in wordplay, her story telling ability, and the joy she takes at dream manipulation. Anyway, this happens to be a 4 CD set, definitely worth it if you're an obsessive fan like myself, but for the uninitiated you might want to try out Big Science first. 

Art of Noise, the Best of Art of Noise And so I begin my descent into techno by picking up a predecessor. These musician's have always put together some amazing covers. Their version of Peter Gunn can't be beat and the combination of their talents with Tom Jones on Kissis unbelievably good. 

Björk, Debut What can I say, this is pop, pure and simple but still I find it captivating. I had to add this back into my collection after the great CD divide of my divorce. 

Björk, Homogenic I kept hearing tracks from this CD on KCRW and found I wanted more. Björk's usual pop sensibilities but with an added to a techno/urban feel. 

Blondie, The Best of Blondie Yeah, I'm celebrating my Punk heritage. For me this is a good "Best of..." CD. I never got all the vinyl in the first place and this pretty much has everything I want from Heart of Glass to Rip Her to Shreds. 

David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust Speaking about classics, this was another I couldn't pass by. I've only got one complaint for the reissue, I hate the bonus tracks. In my mind Ziggy Stardust is just one of those perfect concept albums were one song flows from the next making the album a complete whole. The bonus tracks are distracting. I wish they just collected these extras and put them on a new disk-of course there's a reason some of these never made it to the final cut. Still, if you're going to own any Bowie, it's gotta be this one. 

David Byrne, Feelings Everythin this man touches turns to gold. Besides who else does punk rock, bossa Nova, and Indian film music-hmm, perhaps there's the reason for my bias. I'm glad to have this new release full of energy and the usual experimentation. I'm also delighted to see that on Wicked Little Doll David Byrne performs with mark Mothersbaugh, and Jerry Casale (aka Devo) Neo-nostalga? Hey, whatever works. 

The Cardigans, First Band on the Moon Ever since I picked up the Romeo & Juliet soundtrack I had been intrigued by this band. Now thanks to a gift from Lisa, this CD made it's way into my collection. It's good pop fun. 

Cibo Matto, Viva! La Woman A Japanese band based in NYC with an Italian name, how can you possibly go wrong? Full of contemporary rap influences this band is just a lot of fun. Their songs are mostly about food, Sugar Water, Beef Jerky, White Pepper Ice Cream to name a few and coming from Japan I of course am in love with the accents. The do an excellent cover of The Candy Man that will permanently change the way you think about the song. I highly recommend this one. 

Combustible Edison, I, Swinger I originally picked up this CD after hearing their interview on NPR. This group helped popularize the resurgence of cocktail culture, something I obviously appreciate. The remakes of Kurt Weil and Nino Rota definitely strike a responsive chord for me. 

The Crystal Method, Vegas Yeah, so I'm really getting into the trip hop thing. Busy Child has been getting a lot of airplay, and it also found it's way into a number of collections I kept coming across so it seemed only natural that I'd eventually pick up this one. This is fun music to listen to and move to, though I suppose my downstairs neighbor probably misses the days when only cabaret music poured out of my house. 

Garbage, Garbage After getting the Romeo & Juliet Soundtrack I had to get this one, as I realized that I liked everything heard from them. 

Brian Eno, Here Come the Warm Jets A replacement for my beloved vinyl, I listened to this record practically everyday of my senior year in high school. To me no one could really capture the sounds of things falling apart like Brian Eno. This, his first solo album really showcases that talent. It's no wonder that he went on to produce Devo, the Talking Heads, and Ultrovox. I'm happy to hear this one again. 

Marianne Faithfull, 20th Century Blues A couple days before acquiring this one I remarked to a friend after viewing the last AbFab episodes, that Marianne Faithfull would be an excellent Weill performer. Little did I know this recent recording is a collection in just that vain. It's an intimate recording of voice and piano accompaniment. Marianne Faithfull definitely is at home in this element. 

Rickie Lee Jones, "Ghostyhead" Rickie Lee Jones' latest and a departure from her previous work. Critic's have called this a "darker," or "angrier" Rickie Lee Jones. I look at it as a more adventurous and interesting Rickie Lee Jones. Of course the layered sounds and Laurie Anderson-like tendencies are most appealing to me. I hope this trend continues. 

Kraftwerk, The Man Machine This is part of my effort to replace my vinyl with CD. I still love this band. They are probably the most sampled band in history, I hear them in just about every rap song. 

k. d. lang, drag Songs of smoking and addiction with a delightful play of words. k. d. lang appears in the classic Marlene Dietrich pose sans cigarette and belts out songs like Marlene never could. What a torch singer! I definitely need to pick up some more. 

Lounge-A-Palooza This CD is correctly subtitled as Taking lounge music to its illogical conclusion. Okay, you've got the expected Combustible Edison and Esquivel--but on top of that you've got the Pizzacato Five doing The Girl from Ipanema, Glen Campbell & Michelle Shocked doing Wicheta Lineman, Steve & Eydie doing Black Hole Sun, you get the idea. Of course one of the things that amuses me about this CD is that it features a band out of Austin called Fastball which includes Tony Scalzo on bass--an old High school acquaintance. 

Portishead, Portishead Yet another result of listening to KCRW. It was the electronically distorted vocals of (I presume) Beth Gibbons that drew me to this band--A delightfully haunting drone. Now that I have the CD it hasn't left the stereo. Yet another reason that my downstairs neighbor must long for the quite times before I got my receiver in place. 

The Propellerheads, Spybeak! and On her Majesty's Secret Service As usual I first heard this band interviewed on KCRW. They have no full length CDs available, just the two singles I picked up here. There a band with the usual techno influences, but these pieces uniquely blend the orchestral elements of traditional James Bond soundtracks. This is a must for your next cocktail-rave. 

Jane Siberry, When I was a Boy Since I've been listening to Until the End of the World again, I became intrigued by one of my favorite tracks, Calling all Angels. The song is by Jane Siberry with k. d. lang doing the vocals. That drew me to this CD which I discovered was produced by Brian Eno-with so many connections to artists I greatly respect I knew I couldn't go wrong. Hauntingly beautiful music, I'll probably be pursuing this one for awhile.

Sneaker Pimps, Becoming X This is yet another band that I kept hearing on KCRW. They've got a real unique sound that sets a definite mood. If you've got Real Audio, check out this concert and interview. 

Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hot Actually, my mom turned me on to this one. Great neo-dixieland, repackaging the musical traditions of New Orleans with an energy that can't be beat. Besides, it's also a CD-I disk, so I get to have some computer fun with it as well. This CD is great for some high-energy fun. 

Stereolab, Dots and Loops I don't know if it's the French female vocals, or just the sort of subtle techno melodies that have hooked me on this band, but whatever the reason, I'm hooked.

Stereolab, Emperor Tomato Ketchup Going for more techno, I had to pick up some Stereolab. Hearing an interview on KCRW about how they put their projects together, a sort of assemblage of multifaceted talents, I knew I had to have some. This particular disk features some of those techno sounds tempered with French female vocals that provides the bridge to my current obsession with French pop vocals. 

The Velvet Underground & Nico The famed Banana album, uh CD. Well I'm still on a quest to replace my vinyl and this was on the top of the list. The recording's a subculture classic capturing the darker side of the 60s with songs about sadomasochism, Venus in Furs, and Heroin. Besides, it's produced by Andy Warhol. 

Violent Femmes, 3 I picked this one up out of a combination of nostalgia and guilt. You know, it was one of those albums I never owned but always borrowed from my friends? Anyway, When I realized I had no Violent Femmes of my own I just had to pick this up.

World Music

Brigite Bardot, la madrague What? You didn't know Brigitte Bardot was a musician? Well, perhaps it's a bit of a push at times, but her pairing with Serge Gainsbourg in such tunes as je t'aime or Bonnie and Clyde are amazing. The album is pure 1960's French Pop, trying to be bold with a little honky-tonk piano here and there for appeal to a wider audience. This is cocktail music pure and simple, perfect for my bachelor pad... 

Rubén Blades, Greatest Hits When I read that Rubén Blades got a Grammy this year I though I had to check him out again. When I heard some of his stuff on the radio post-Grammies. I knew I had to pick something up. This collection is full of that classic Salsa sound that I love so much. In instantly reminds me of my college days, partying with La Union, making sangria, and Mike F.'s dancing lessons. 

Café Tacuba, Avalancha de Exitos Okay, so following in the tradition of the above, Café Tacuba is the poular Mexican band that also blends traditional and contemporary music. These guys are getting a lot of airplay from KCRW, and for good reason. They've got a unique sound and are just a lot of fun to listen to. 

Chaba Zahouania, Le Meilleur de Chaba Zahouania Chaba Zahouania is one of the premier Rai bands of Algeria. It's fun dance music, popular among the youth of Algeria, though derided by parents and fundamentalists. Sound familiar? In other words, a perfect recipe for good music. If you'd like to check out Rai music and have Real Audio or Shockwave plugins in your browser check out Maroc. This Moroccan radio station in Casablanca has some excellent samples of Rai as well as some more traditional North African music. 

Cheb Khaled, Khaled Algeria's premier Rai musician making inroads to the West. This CD's produced by Don Was who does an excellent job capturing the energy and pure fun of Rai. What's Rai? . If have Real Audio or Shockwave plugins for your browser check out Maroc. This Moroccan radio station in Casablanca has some excellent samples of Rai as well as some more traditional North African music. 

Chico Science & Nação Zumbi, Afrociberdelia I've been searching for these guys for awhile and was delighted to finally stumble across them in the Latin section of a Tower Records in Brea. Chico Science is first a Brazilian band, but are heavily influenced by contemporary American music. The result is a kind of Punk-Rap-Samba, well worth a listen. Check out this interview for more info-this is one of the few sites I found in English 

Serge Gainsbourg, Comic Strip Speaking of bachelor pad music, this CD simply IS the origin of Euro-pop. We know what went on in Britan and the US in the music world during the 60's, but what of the continent? This music was made well before it's time waiting for it's campy revival. My poor neighbors... 

Ofra Haza, Shaday Galbi was a hit among world music fans when this CD first hit the market in 1988. It was piece that combined contemporary instrumentation to traditional Jewish/Yemeni folk songs into a truly hypnotic expression. Much of the rest of the CD stuck to the Europop formula and thus was overlooked. I find I enjoy it's flavor in this particular mix. 

Ofra Haza, Fifty Gates of Wisdom Not Klezmer, but music of a different Jewish tradition, that of Yeman, one of the oldest jewish communities in the world. This music has a definite medieval, Arabic flavor. Ofra Haza performs songs of the Diwan, a collection of devotional poetry, combining traditional vocalization with modern instrumentation the effect is quite hypnotic and well worth a listen. 

Hungama Ho Gaya And you thought I was joking about Indian film music didn't you? Well, I found this collection for $4.99 in Tower so how could I pass it by? Anyway, I do really enjoy this stuff. 

Antonio Carlos Jobim Compact Jazz Despite my growing collection of the sounds of Brazil, I had no Jobim. This Verve collection makes up for that. It's got everything you'd expect, including The Girl from Ipanema, and How Insensitive. This is an essential addition for any collection of Brazillian clasics. 

Patricia Kaas, Scène de Vie Quintessential Europop to be sure but this Alsatian chanteuse is definitely in the cabaret tradition that I've come to love. 

Ute Lemper, Ute Lemper Sings Kurt WeillFirst read the above about my obsession. Kurt Weill is the classic representative of the Berlin/cabaret and I just can't get enough of his stuff. Add to this composer the performance of Ute Lemper, who in my opinion is the only possible successor to Lotte Lenye, and you cannot loose. Besides I just love the way she says Dollar in the Alabama Song. 

Ute Lemper, Berlin Cabaret Songs This CD was made for me. Thanks once again to Lisa for picking this one up in NYC for me. What could be more perfect, a chanteuse of the highest cabaret tradition combined with the music of Weimar Germany ultimately banned by the Nazi's for its degenerate content (e.g. political satire, homosexuality, and sexuality in general) . This is a personal obsession of mine so be warned, but if you've got any kind of interest in this genré get this CD! 

Ute Lemper, Crimes of the Heart This is an earlier CD of hers before she rediscovered the cabaret. Contemporary Europop, but I still love her style and above all her accent! 

Evan Lurie, Selling Water by the Side of the River This Lounge Lizard musician took on contemporary tango and mastered it. This collection makes me think instantly of Astor Piazola, the Argentine tango master. Forget Evita, try this CD out for a taste of Argentina. 

Madredeus, O espírito da paz This is a hauntingly beautiful band from Portugal. They were featured in Wim Wenders' Lisbon Stories, which has yet to be distributed in the United States. The music sets a sultry mood perfect for AM lounging. 

Mouth Music, Shorelife Once in a while I get too caught up in a band and don't stop to think about what I'm buying. Unfortunately that happened with this one. Mouth Music's original CD, a blend of modern instrumentation to classic Scott's, Gaelic voclizing made them a mesmerizing musical experience. Alas, they decided to get a bit more pop, dropped the Gaelic, dropped the traditional approach and the result is just bland and uninspired. Pick up the first CD, Mouth Music, but leave this one in the bin. 

Nova Bossa: Red Hot on Verve Another from the Red, Hot and... collection, as well as from Verve. The list of artists is impressive, Astrud Gilberto, Stan Getz, João Gilberto, Caetano Veloso, and of course Antonio Carlos Jobim. Perfect music for the Summer time. 

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Rapture Pakistan's greatest vocalists. He's probably best known here for the collaboration he did with Eddie Vedder in the soundtrack for Dead Man Walking. Truly haunting melodies, great for the languid hot days of summer 

Edith Piaf This is a compilation that my mom gave me from some strange German CD club. It has many of the classics. Besides when exploring the music of the continent how can you overlook the woman who started much of it? One can never have enough Edith Piaf. 

Edith Piaf, Richard Anthony, Gilbert Bécaud, & Jaques BrelGiants of France I just had to replace this pre-divorce CD. Okay, I've already got plenty of Edith Piaf but this collection is just a lot of fun and full of classic French performers. It makes me feel like I'm watching some New Wave Cinema hanging with other Ex-pats along the Seine. 

Red Hot & Rio This collection of Brazillian classics performed by contemporary artists is the latest in the Red Hot &... collections and in my opinion one of the best. Jobim and Sting's rendition of How Insensitive and David Byrne and Marisa Monte's Waters of March are my favorites on this disk, though I listen to the whole thing over and over again. 

Bally Sagoo, Rising from the East This was a complete chance. I know nothing of Bally Sagoo, I wasn't even sure if I'd ever heard him before, but hey, that's what browsing through the world music section is for. Turns out that this is a contemporary Indian artist composing some of that ethno-pop dance music that I'm growing more and more fond of everyday. Yet another good addition to your next rave. 

Talvin Singh, Anokha Soundz of the Asian Underground Talvin Singh is a London DJ that blends an Asian mix into the driving beat of techno music. Again this is a CD which I first heard on KCRW but which took me a long time to figure out just what it was and where I could find a copy. This lead me to the dance music collections at my local Tower. The CD itself takes the high energy of techno-pop and adds that strange eclectic mix of Indian film music that I've come to enjoy so much. This is probably a bit more accessible, certainly suitable to play at your next rave. 

The South American Way This is a great collection of South American tunes from the 30s. It includes music from Xavier Cugat, Carmen Miranda, Glen Miller, Artie Shaw, and the Andrew Sisters. Perfect music for a lazy Saturday afternoon. 

Dave Tarras, Yiddish-American Klezmer Music 1925-1956 This wonderful collection combines classic recording with radio broadcasts captures the heart of the borscht belt. This is a fun CD that reminds one of the influence of Klezmer music on 1930-40s Swing, the music makes you want to move, perfect for celebrating. Been to a jewish wedding? 

3 Mustaphas 3, BAM! Big Mustaphas Play Stereolocalmusic Once refered to as the "Marx Brothers of World Music," this Moroccan band with Klezmer influences is just pure fun bordering on lunacy. Check out their Fan web site, 3 Mustaphas 3 FanWeb for a taste of what they are like. 

Sonali Vajpaiyee, Lata Mangeshkar's Haunting Melodies Yup, more Indian film music. The cover said, "Disco re-mix from Hindi films by Harry Annand" and bore disclaimers that this CD was "Not from the original soundtrack." How could you go wrong? So it's poppy, a bit goofy but there is no other music like this anywhere else in the world. Besides what else could you play for while preparing those late night curries?

Jazz & Blues

John Coletrane, Giant Steps Another post-divorce replacement. While walking through Tower, I saw this on sale and couldn't pass it up. This has got to be the must have classic CD of John Coletrane, as it once was the album. Now with CD bonus tracks, you can't pass this one by. Frankly, I can't figure out why it's been so long since this one was in my possession. 

Louis Jordan, The Best of Louis Jordan Once upon a time my former wife had this on vinyl and I couldn't get enough of this jazz classic, full of swinging music and fun lyrics full of double entendre, innuendo, and a touch of naughtiness. Great party music What's the use of getting sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again). I'm glad this recording of 20 songs is finally available on CD. 

Madeleine Peyroux, Dreamland To quote KCRW's Chris Douridas, Madeleine Peyroux seems to "channel Billie Holiday." Her voice is amazing, and her covers are Billie Holiday and Patsy Cline standards are outstanding. She's a natural chanteuse, it's no wonder all her recent Southern California performances were sold out. Alas I did not see her. If you've got Real Audio check out this live concert and interview 

Louis Prima, Collectors Series Those of you in my generation probably remember Louis Prima from the Disney classic Jungle Book where his voice was that of King Louie the Orangutan singing I Wanna Walk Like You. Alas that one isn't on this CD but the CD has 26 tracks featuring such classics as Just a Gigolo and I've Got You Under My Skin. This is definitely a fun listen and a must for any high spirited cocktail party.