Best Music for Boomers

Best Album - Maroon 5 - "Hands All Over" - Rock/Pop - another album that would be huge if Top 40 radio was around. Two huge singles one featuring
Lady A and the other Christine Aguillera. However, the rest of the album is just as good although different from these two songs.

Best Rock Album - Man in Motion - Warren Haynes - Rock - One of the best albums of the year. Haynes just gets better and better. On this album he takes old R&B cuts mixes them in with some originals and gives us a really good rock album that has strong R&B influence. Very Highly Recommended.

Best Blues Album - Love to Beg - Dana Fuchs - Rock/Blues - Her voice is very reminiscent of Janis Joplin, her band reminds me of Big Brother, yes another bluesy
female singer. I admit I like this type of music, however this album and the Joss Stone are two of the better newer releases. "Love to Beg" is
begging to be heard, turn it up and boogie a little. Standout tracks: "Love to Beg, Drive, Summersong, Superman."

Best Country Album - Lady Antebellum - "Own the Night" - Country/Pop - Best album from one of the best groups of the new decade. If this were the 70's and with
Top 40 radio - this group would be huge. Great songs, performance and production. Not to be missed.

Best Jazz Album - Chuck Loeb - "Plain and Simple" - Jazz - A superb jazz guitarist accompanied by some fab musicians (fourplay), especially Pat Bianchi on organ.
Beautifully recorded, great sound, great jazz.

Meyer Hawthorne - "How Do You Do" - R&B/Pop - this album is what you might call "retro", it could have been made in the 60's, it could have been on Motown. If you like Do-Wop Soul Music, then you will like this album. Way fun, way good.

Harry Manx & Kevin Breit - "Strictly Whatever" - Blues/Folk - One of my favorite artists, Harry Manx has just released another stellar album. Everyone who I personally recommend Manx to, end up loving him. Great vocals, great playing and Breit is an excellent teammate. Highly recommended.

Beverly McClellan - "Fear Nothing" - Blues/Rock - They call her the blues, however I think there is a blues influence but she is more rock than blues. Great voice, she is getting AAA airplay. Album is full of good songs, some really good, some just good. This is a contender for "Best New Artist of 2011" - not to be missed.

LP1 - Joss Stone - Rock/Blues - Joss Stone is from England and is quite the accomplished soul singer. On LP1, her latest she teams up with Dave
Stewart (formerly leader of the Eurythmics) for a more pop outing. Although, her incredible smoky pipes and R&B influence still comes thru.
Highly recommended. Standout tracks: "Cutting The Breeze, Picnic for Two, Karma."

Worth Holding On To _ Jeff LeBlanc - Singer/Songwriter/Pop - Jeff LeBlanc is a singer/songwriter, his new album "Worth Holding On To" is
very pop in feel, both the songs and the production. However, this is pop in a good way, this is just an easy album to listen to and like.
Just seven songs - all good, looking for a new voice with some new new songs, look no further. Standout tracks: "Happier, Not Our Best Bet, Stop My Heart."

How to Become Clairvoyant - Robbie Robertson - Rock - Not full of hit songs, however the album grows on you as the songs are consistently good, with guest starts Clapton, Winwood to name a couple.

Here We Rest - Jason Isbell and the 400 - Rock - Southern rock at it's old time best, really a good EP from a good rock band, little bit of country influence.

Sing it Loud - K.D. Lang and the Siss Boom Bang - Singer/Songwriter - This might be my favorite KD album. Certainly one of her best, great songs that highlight her unique voice, good band.

Live at the Down Home - Newfound Road - Bluegrass - I am not a huge fan of bluegrass, however once in a while a bluegrass band comes along that captures my ear. Such is Newfound Road, this band is right up there with the Steeldrivers. Highly recommended.

Live - Brandi Carlile - Rock - She revisits older songs with her own rendition, very nice voice, good band and orchestra. This is an album that you listen to all the way thru, not just cuts.

In Your Dreams - Stevie Nicks - Rock - This album has been panned by many critics, however for me, it is the sound of Fleetwood Mac and the songs are good and one or two are great. Sorry but I like this album.

Move Like This - The Cars - Rock - Another album that the critics all hate, sorry these guys have a unique sound and they are fun. A new album of Car songs, what could be bad about that?

Ramble at the Ryman - Levon Helm - R&B/Country/Rock - What a fun album, Levon surrounds himself with a great band and cuts his version of some great R&B hits. Little Blues, little country - just fun.

Natural History - J.D. Souther - Rock - Souther re-records his greatest songs as a writer in a purely acoustic album. Really good.

Good Thang - Soul of John Black - R&B/Soul - One of my favorite new soul bands releases an new album full of great songs in John Blacks unique funky style. If you like this genre, check it out - way fun.

Paper Airplane - Alison Krauss & Union Station - Bluegrass - she sings like an angel and they are a very good band, another good album from this very consistent group.

Brahms - Awadagin Pratt & Zuill Bailey - Classical - Beautiful album of Brahms duets of piano (Pratt) and cello (Bailey) - just beautiful music.

Live at Antones - Ruthie Foster - Blues - Nice live outing from Ruthie, if you like her songs, you will like this. If you do not know her, this is a good place to start.

Tony Furtado - Golden - Rock - a singer/songwriter with a pop feel, good songs, very well produced. You turn this on and just listen, very nice.

Lisa Lauren - Loves the Beatles - female vocals/jazz - Lauren has a really nice voice and the arrangements on our favorite beatle songs are just different enough to bring new light to songs we all know by heart. She treats the songs as songs, not trying to mimic the Beatles but performing them in a new way, could be performed in a small jazz club. ((This album was released in 2006, however just crossed my radar.)

James Blunt - Some Kind of Trouble - Rock/Pop - great little album, full of catchy songs (this would have been played on the radio lots in the 70's). He doubles up his vocals on some songs and you will think the BeeGees have returned.

Greg Allman - Low Country Blues - Blues - The Allmans were the epitomy of blues rock bands. It is only fitting that Greg does an album of old blues standards. Produced by T Bone Burnett and featuring Dr. John on piano. If you like the blues, Greg, or both - this is a must have.

Etta James - Live Pack - Blues - An EP of Etta live - she still has it, and is backed up by a great band. All songs familiar, and they show off Etta at her gritty best.

Amos Lee - Mission Bell - singer/songwriter - Blue Note was looking to strike gold again after Norah Jones when they signed Amos Lee. I have all of Amos Lee's albums, however I have not loved one as much as I like this newest release. His songs are stronger and they seemed to find the right backup for him. Great album, he could be this generation's James Taylor if he keeps this up.

Lori McKenna - Loraine - singer/songwriter/country - Lori has a great voice, she hooks you and just will not let go. However, what makes this album so special are the songs and wonderful lyrics. She tells stories and paints pictures. Not just for country fans, this is a great listening for music fans.

John Legend & the Roots - Itunes Live - R&B - great live album, Legend and the Roots sound like old school R&B, they get a groove on and just do not let up.

Teddy Thompson - Bella - Rock/Pop - I like this guy, love his voice, however I have been disappointed with the last couple of albums. I am happy to say, that the Teddy that I like is back. Good songs, good production - another 70's Top 40 hit album.

Joanne Shaw Taylor - Diamonds in the Dirt - Blues/Rock - Shaw has a smoky voice, however it is her guitar playing that makes for a really nice album. The songs seep into your soul, you find that you keep listening and discovering something different every time. She plays more chords that picks, however the playing is right where it should be.

Bruno Mars - Doo Wops & Hooligans - Rock - I actually bought this album in 2010 and liked it for a few tracks. However, after seeing Bruno live on the Grammy's, I have put this back into heavy rotation. Really good songs, however I wish the productions was not so formula pop. If Bruno could cut an album like his performance at the Grammy's - watch out!

Sara Barielles - Kaleidoscope Heart - rock - Great album, love this woman's voice, however the songs are just so good, hooky with just the right amount of production. Not over produced nor under produced. Can I call this another 70's Top 40 hit.

Fitz & the Tantrums - Picking Up the PIeces - Rock - just February and I am not sure anyone will be better as a new artist as this band. They remind me of Fine Young Cannibals - same r&B based electronic based music. LOVE EM!

Edie Brickell - Sefl Titled - Rock - Singer/Songwriter - welcome back Edie, one of her best albums, songs are her usual great lyrics, just a superb outing from this artist.

Adele - 21 - Rock - Singer/Songwriter - maybe one of the best albums of 2011, pop hit songs and wonderful ballads, this woman can sing and she can write as well - an absolute delight.

Tower of Power - 40th Anniversary Live - Rock - hard to believe that this band has been around 40 years, all the hits delivered in one of their absolute live albums.

Michael Grimm - Leave Your Hat On - Rock/R&B - Grimm covers some R&B hits from the 60's and 70's - great horns, great band, they do these songs straight up, however I cannot get enough.

Ryan Bingham - LIve SXSW - Rock - rock n' roll boogie band - guitar based - not great, however it grows on you.

Joe Bonamassa -Dust Bowl - Rock - Maybe Joe's best album, his guitar playing is always superlative, however on this album, he has written better songs than normal. First rate production - this is a really good album.

Matt Wertz - Weights and Wings - Rock - Do you like songs with great hooks? This guy would have been huge in the 70's, album is full of hit songs.

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears - Scandalous - R&B/Rock - Funky band with great songs, lead singer has that raspy voice, they remind me a little of Sly Stone.

Jim Byrnes - Everywhere West - Singer/Songwriter - Bluesy acoustic with some great lyrics, another raspy voice singer who has something to say, Nice band!

Chamberlin - Bitter Blood - Rock - a little heavily produced with the intro's, however once you get into the song, these guys are good.

Blessed Union of Souls - Mission Field - Rock - one of my favorite albums of 2011, great lead vocalist, good songs, this is a really good rock band.

Big Head Blues Club - 100 Years of Robert Johnson - Blues - Big Head Todd turns in a very good acoustic blues album, re-doing RJ, you may have
heard this before, however nice treatment.

Lucinda Williams - Blessed - Rock/Country - Love Lucinda, love this band, however disappointed in the album. Too many slow dreary sound alike songs,
she can do much better. Does have some highlights, however not her best album, but maybe her best band.

Jazz Albums

Pat Martino Quartet - Live at Blues Alley - Jazz - an outstanding live jazz album is our album of the month. Martino's rapid guitar playing coupled with organ, sax, and drums is one of the most exciting jazz albums of the year. If you like jazz, do yourself a favor and turn this on, you will not turn it off.

Dawn of Goodbye - Dominick Farinacci - Jazz - This is just a beautiful album, Farinacci, only 28 plays like he is much older. His command of the trumpet
is just so right. He plays a muted trumpet and the sound is sweet with excellent backing musicians. The entire album is a standout, hard to take it out of play,
it is just so good. Like a delicious piece of chocolate, you just cannot get enough. Highly recommended.

James Farm - Self Titled - Jazz - Joshua Redman's new band, outstanding, great songs, great playing.

Songs of Mirth and Melancholy - Branford Marsalis & Joey Calderazzo - Jazz - Marsalis with his new pianist cut an album of duets, simply beautiful.

Forever - Corea, Clarke and Whiter - Jazz - Funky, electronic jazz like what these guys did with Return to Forever.

Live - Monty Alexander and the Harlem-Kingston Express - Jazz - one of the best jazz albums of the year. Great performances and superb sound quality.

Caribbean Rhapsody (Concertos for Saxophone & Orchestra) - James Carter - Jazz/Classical - In my opinion, James Carter may be the best jazz sax player living, he continues to stretch the boundaries and in this album, his playing just soars - surrounded by the lushness of a full orchestra. You have to hear this as it really cannot be explained - fabulous album.

Joe Lovano - Bird Songs - Jazz - Lovano in a quintet setting re-interprets the music of Charlie Bird. Another Lovano classic, however very be-bop sometimes on the edge - not or everyone.

John Mills - Times Ten - Jazz - I am not a big fan of big band jazz, however this album just blows me away. Very different big band album, seems to have more individual voicing - great songs, great arrangements, great players - highly recommended.

Matija Dedic Trio - MD in NYC - Jazz - Pianist with a light touch, then he just goes off and bewilders you with his finger play - a very good album, highly recommended.

New Music for Boomers -2011

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