Modern renditions of traditional American songs. — Fear3000

A capella gospel, Harlem style.  ARC stands for "Addicts Rehabilitation Center", and these people can sing.  They have a powerful message of how they've been saved, and the chops to let us hear it. — Jonathan B

28 Feb 2007

Classic, beautiful guitar playing, well recorded. Listen to one of the all-time greats. — nobody

Traditional country songs performed in a style similar to Patsy Cline's. — Fear3000

Songs by Woody Guthrie. 2LP's. — Fear3000

Great intimate acoustic recording of this baritone folk singer. — gst510

Follows the same path as the two previous American Recordings albums. A chilling cover of Nick Cave's "Mercy Seat" is the stand-out cut on the record. — Fear3000

*American, C 69691, LP, 2000, USA

Great songs, great sound and the great Johhny Cash. Who could ask for more? — dickc

Johnny sings some covers; In My Life (Beatles), Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Simon&Garfunkle),Big Iron (Marty Robbins) He also does a couple of his own songs. At 70 yrs. old he still has it. Well done — dickc

A live acoustic recording. — Fear3000

The newest release by Clapton is a blues tribute LP to Robert Johnson. All Johnson's hits. Excellent sound and IMO, Eric Claptons best solo album. — dickc

Slow and dreamy with a twang. — Fear3000

This is a difficult album to classify. But any disc that has good night irene and he'll have to go belongs here. Nice combination of instruments and interesting songs. Pretty good stuff — dickc

Very English folk/pop. Poems from Gloucestershire put to music. Johnny Coppin has a wonderful voice and the songs vary from moody and brooding to jolly tales of country life or sad ones of dying. — Hergest Ridge

More poems set to music, this time a touch darker but still with the odd lighthearted jig. A top notch recording. I believe the 2 lps are available on 1 CD. www.johnnycoppin.co.uk — Hergest Ridge

23 Mar 2006

Traditional country music. — Fear3000

Straight ahead old fashioned country music. Well recorded. — dickc

Bluesy New Orleans style rock-funk. excellent tunes and performance. — dickc

Great folk/pop rock record. 8 of 10 songs standout as excellent. Great variety of styles from the soft/tuneful Hockey Skates to rocker 12 Belleve to haunting The Lone Wolf to jangly Westby. Awesome — Don T

A collaboration with flamenco guitarist Teye. The record's mostly acoustic. — Fear3000

This great sounding CD is an explosion of bluegrass done Fleck style. Which means great musicians jamming and having a great time. I call this album "happy music". His last album on the Rounder label. — Land Shark

15 Dec 2005

Great introduction to Bluegrass music for those who don't have any. Superior playing and sound. This is an HDCD recording. — dickc

23 Mar 2006

Modern blues with an old school touch. Available in HDCD. — gst510

Smooth silky vocals out of a black background. This is one of the finest recordings of a female voice I have ever heard. The songs are also terrific. — dickc

Acoustic blues doesn't get any better than this. “Hard Time Killing Floor Blues” is one of the best blues songs of all time. James' haunting voice will leave you in a trance. This LP is OOP. — gst510

*Vanguard, vrs-9219-!, LP, 1966, US

A minimalistic blues take - honest and heartfelt. — Don T

This is a 2 record set. Country/Pop/Folk. Outstanding LP. Wonderful harmonies, that at times remind me of the Everly brothers. — dickc

My favorite Jayhawks album--a perfect blend of their 'alt-country' and Big Star-style pop. A recent Universal reissue saves this 1997 DefAmerican release from obscurity. Nice sound quality, too. 4/5 — Mike T

This is a live recording. It is just Rickie Lee on stage with mostly just a guitar and a piano. Her little girl voice was very well recorded. The performance is excellent. — Dickc

14 Jan 2007

An acoustic set with Mike Godon, the bass player from Phish. — Fear3000

Highly personal, sweetly sung country pop. This is her solo album (without Union Station) wonderful lush vocals — dickc

*A Greatest Hits collection. — Fear3000

*A collection of some of her favorites. Excellent pop songs with a bluegrass feel. — Don T

Superior live recording, excellent sound and performance — dickc

Contemporary bluegrass and country tunes. Alison Krauss has a haunting lilt to her voice also an excellent fiddle player. great songs and sound — dickc

Outstanding re-issue by MFSL. Bluegrass/Country Pop.Outstanding sound and performance. This two record set is CD quiet on heavy vinyl. MOFI is back in the LP business and better than ever. — dickc

Sensible and tasteful modern folk-pop music. The songs and their subtleness stike me as the albums strengths. Poignant and introspective, and at times the songs come along like nursery rhymes. — Don T

22 Feb 2006

Eclectic mix of country, jazz and blues. Well performed, well recorded. Everything from an acoustic duet with Emmylou Harris to a big band number. — nobody

 Lovett sings a very nice mix of genre's, all with a country twinge. Very good sound and performance — dickc

19 Aug 2006

Blues flavored country. This is one of the few albums recently that doesn't have a single dud on it. Every song is a gem. Delbert is a great singer. This is one of my desert island discs. — dickc

A great album by a great singer/songwriter. This is probably her best work. The LP is OOP — dickc

Some of Christys best songs are on this lp. A beautiful recording with his voice smooth and deep. — Hergest Ridge

Sad love songs centered around intricate, banjo-driven arrangements. — Fear3000

The Notting Hillbillies consist of; Mark Knopfler, Steve Phillips, Guy Fletcher and Brendan Croker. Excellent songs, performance and sound. Very deep bass response — dickc

2LP's. Very limited vinyl pressing. — Fear3000

For fans of solo acoustic steel-string guitar:Fiddle tunes,rags,blues,hymns&classics arranged for solo guitar and beautifully performed and recorded.This guy can really make a guitar SING! — helge

See my description of Reid’s “Solo Guitar Sketchbook” — helge

Contemporary folk along the lines of Nicholas Dunger. — gst510

If you'd ever wondered what Ray Charles' songs would have sounded like performed by a bluegrass band, this record is the answer. — Fear3000

Dark, bluesy country music. — Fear3000

Dark country-rock. — Fear3000

*Very similar to the recording made famous by the Sons of the Pioneers. — Fear3000

*Absolutely wonderful harmonies of western swing trail tunes. the sound is as wonderful as the performance. — dickc

Bluegrass legend produced by T-Bone Burnett. Mostly acoustic. — Fear3000

A deathly quiet album from one of the worlds best female vocalists. The Scarecrow is a spare and distant 5 minutes of beauty. — Hergest Ridge

Very soulful songs extremely well sung. The highlight is “The Banks of The Clyde”. If this song doesn't bring tears, the you are a hard hearted individual. Very highly recommended — dickc

Real get down, Texas blues. Virtuoso guitar playing by Vaughn. Remarkable!! The LP is OOP — dickc

2LP's. — Fear3000

This is Williams' Grammy winning album. Excellent songs, wonderfully sung. Outstanding sound. This is a great album — dickc

*The musicians are great the songs are introspective and personal and honest but the main reason to get this is her voice.....breathtaking. — sjb

*I've enjoyed this CD as much as any record ever. A blast of soulful Americana. — Don T

Beautiful and heartfelt songs. Excellent sound. The song "American Dream", is one of the best songs I've heard in a couple of years. Highly recommended. — dickc

A mostly acoustic set (voices, guitars, banjo, lute, bass, percussion) though leader Art Halperin did plug in his electric guitar for a few tunes. Available on CD, CD-R & 24/96 DVD-R.— bdiament

27 Jan 2007

Bad movie, but a surprisingly good soundtrack. Slow, weighty, with a few surprises that can startle. OOP. — Jack G

The soundtrack to the third film of the 'qatsi' trilogy. Ma's cello adds a nice dimension to Glass' moods. — sjb

Latest remastered reissue includes 25+ minutes of extra music. — Fear3000

With the Kronos Quartet. — Fear3000

Score evokes 1930's L.A. without resorting to “period” style ('tho ST includes 3 non-JG period pieces). Open soundstage, natural tonal balance--and a haunting film-noirish trumpet solo. — Jim Treanor

ABC Records, ABDP-848, LP, 1974, USA

Ethereal and haunting film score, evokes the 1930's. Excellent sound. Art Deco for the ears. — dickc

Themes & suites from Goodwin scores, inc. 633 Squadron, Battle of Britain, Where Eagles Dare, Frenzy, Operation Crossbow, Monte Carlo or Bust. Lush 24/96 recording, cinematic-scale soundstage. — Jim Treanor

01 Jan 2005

This is a MFSL compilation of Herrmann's Sci-Fi film soundtracks. The sound of this LP is astounding. When I heard the music from The Day the Earth Stood still, I expected Gort to step in the room. OOP — dickc

Herrmann's score for the 1960 Ray Harryhausen film intermixes 18th-century charm with the broodingly grotesque. Spacious yet detailed recording.—Jim Treanor

02 Feb 2006

Music by; The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, The Kinks, Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, The Beta Band, Smog, Stereolab, Stevie Wonder, etc. An eclectic mix of songs. Well done from one of my fav. movies — dickc

This is a 2 CD set of 2 complete Korngold soundtracks. Superior playing and sound. No compression that I could hear. Brass has bite but isn't etched, extended treble (violins) but sweet. Wall to wall soundstage. Best redbook CD I've heard. — Dick

31 Oct 2007

Selected cuts from Once Upon a Time in America, The Mission, etc. The LP's OOP. — Fear3000

Original motion picture soundtrack. — Fear3000

The long-buried score commissioned for but never heard in Kubrick's film. North used the “Space Station Docking” sequence later in “Dragonslayer.” Fascinating might-have-been in excellent sonics. — Jim Treanor

01 Jan 2005

Grammy winning recording. Previn conducts the scores from some of Erich Wolfgang Korngolds movie music. Lush romantic and dramatic. After listening to this, you'll be buckling every swash in the house — dickc

150mph nicely crafted techno. — Fear3000

The LP is OOP. — Fear3000

Futuristic and eerie electronic music from Vangelis. It's a perfect match for this dark and atmospheric film. Beautifuly done, with incredible sound — dickc

14 classic tracks by Bunny Wailer, Burning Spear, Junior Marvin and others. The LP's OOP. — Fear3000

Eclectic mix of artists-R.E.M., Radiohead, Paul McCartney, Peter Gabriel, The Monkees, Red House Painters, Sigur Ros, Todd Rundgren, Bob Dylan and others. Great mix of songs, well recorded 2 LP set — dickc

Beautifully engineered & performed, spacious-soundstage CD of 70+ minutes of what's probably Waxman's finest film score. A must-listen for those who consider "movie music" a "lower" art form. — Jim Treanor

13 Dec 2005

Complete score for the 1957 film in a spacious 20-bit-mastered recording. Neo-Romantic in style, but not cloying or oversentimental. Excellent sonics. — Jim Treanor

01 Jan 2005

23 Mar 2006

Rosemary Clooney at her best warm vocals, as only she can sing them. Superior sound. This LP is OOP — dickc

A newly re-issued 2 LP set on 180 gram vinyl. Smooth warm dreamy sound and the great 'King' Cole. One of the best re-issues I have ever heard. You MUST buy this one.— dickc

15 Feb 2007

*A collection of ballads backed by an orchestra conducted by Gordon Jenkins. — Fear3000

*DCC has done a great mastering job. Cole's voice has a warmth and naturalness that's hard to beat. — dickc

The absolute best singer of popular music and Jazz on the planet. Her timing and phrasing are impeccable. Her voice is bell like. On this album she's at her best. 2 LP set — dickc

14 Jan 2007

This is a compilation of live cuts mixed with studio cuts. Whatever it is, it works. Excellent sound and a great performance by the Transfer. This LP is OOP — dickc

This is a great album. Ronstadt sings these standards flawlessly. Arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle. This record has it all in terms of performance and sound — dickc

A bossa nova album recorded in collaboration with Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. — Fear3000

Sinatra at his best. Orchestra conducted and arranged by Nelson Riddle. This is the album to play when you're feeling blue. When Frank sings “One For MY Baby”, he's in the room with you. — dickc

06 Mar 2006

*Steve Hoffman-remastered SACD hybrid of an analog-recorded 1977 performance of songs by everything from Mercer to Joel to Sondheim. The “Velvet Fog's” nuanced vocals captured with natural warmth. — Jim Treanor

Snappy, clean-miked vocal readings of Bernstein show tunes from his New York-setting musicals (On the Town, West Side Story, Wonderful Town), and instrumentals from Fancy Free and On the Waterfront — Jim Treanor

Sarah Vaughan sings Gershwin standards, accompanied by MTT and the L.A. Philharmonic, in a live performance at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Analog master. — Jim Treanor

A beautiful disc with Oud, Nay, Frame Drums & a Darabukka played by world class musicians to create authentic, spare and sweet Arabic music that has the feel, depth and rhythm necessary to induce a trance like state. A great recording with a palpable sense of presence and space. — sjb

A blend of African and Celtic sounds with brilliant vocal cameos by Peter Gabriel and Robert Plant amongst others. Huge African drumming, massive bass extension and flat out fiddling. Real World product — Hergest Ridge

An all star Cuban band directed by Jesus Alemany. Traditional Cuban rhythms plus a couple of newsongs. IMO this is a much better recording than the more famous, B V Social Club. This'll make you dance — dickc

A collection of medieval songs/poems. Azam Ali has an amazing and emotionally authentic voice. The music is kind of world beat/medieval (maybe a little like Loreena Mckennitt). — sjb

M.Boine is a native laplander,singing in her native language(english translation in the booklet)Musically and sonically terrific,it may not be for the fainthearted.Live recording. — helge

Clever Celtic folk-rock from this vastly underrated Scottish band. HUGE natural drums and beautiful vocals make this a perrenial reference CD. — Joe II-V

Slow, sultry, sexy, French pop. A stunning recording. — Fear3000

An exploration of “time forms” through percussion (and on a few tracks) voice. Great grooves and soaring vocals by Azam Ali. — sjb

Very sad and beautiful at the same time. — Fear3000

With Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. Brazilian pop music. The LP is OOP. — Fear3000

A solo acoustic performance. Mastered by Bob Ludwig. The LP is OOP. — Fear3000

05 Dec 2006

Heavy, repetitive grooves with a bit of a trip-hop/electronica flavor. — Ken J.

This is a 128x oversampling high res. CD. Authentic Gypsy Flamenco with hand claps and vocals. Re-creates the feeling of a small smoke filled Madrid basement Cafe. Good stuff — dickc

Songs of Queen Lili'uokalani and instrumental duets with his son on ukulele. Seriously mellow; great recording and much better than Prozac. Be prepared to leave stress behind you:-) — Allan

19 Dec 2005

A relatively spare album of West African inspired folk type songs from this singer of Malian origin, which emphasize his stunning and evocative voice. — sjb

2LP's. Nine tracks radically remixed by DJ's from the Asian Underground, all featuring the amazing vocals of Qawwali star Nustat Fateh Ali Khan. — Fear3000

Wow! The precision, nuance, dynamics and storytelling ability of the Kodo drummers are all in full force. Better make sure your system can take the beating — sjb

6 tracks of of some of the worlds finest percussionists playing with and off of each other in remarkable displays of grooving virtuosity. — sjb

Deep and powerful songs that arose from Ms. Mckennitt's exploration of how the Celts influenced other European cultures. Great musicians and, sadly the last studio album from LM before her husband died and she swore off recording/performing — sjb

Very folksy ethnic music. She has a glorious voice. OOP — Jack G

Flamenco-Arabic fusion. This is their first album. Years later, I'm still amazed. — zheeeeeeeem

Traditional Indian instruments mixed with western breaks and beats. From slow grooves to James Bond meets Bollywood soundtracks. Double LP — Hergest Ridge

4 dark, ambient compositions featuring Brooks’ guitar & electronics with Srinivas’ mandolin. Also on this disc: Nana Vasconcelos, Sikkil R. Bhaskaran, Caroline Lavelle, Jane Siberry, & Nigel Kennedy. — Ken J.

Are your dreams devoid of musical passages? “Renaissance of the Celtic Harp” is perfectly suited to be the soundtrack of your dreams. — Quadophile

A must-have recording of Flamenco guitar. This duo can titillate your inner most feelings and provide nourishment for the soul. — Quadophile

Beautifully arranged and recorded African folk music from Gambia. — Fear3000

A live set produced by Bill Laswell spreading over two CD's - East-Indian vocals and percussion. — Fear3000

This is the Bill laswell produced studio album from which many of the songs on “Live From San Francisco” originate. A great complement to that disc (actually 2 discs). — sjb

Compelling folk music from Palestine, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Hawaii, Turkey, etc. — Fear3000

5 compositions by Evan Ziporyn, Nyoman Windha, Michael Tenzer, & Wayne Vitale combine Western orchestral instruments (violin, cello, saxophone, flute, etc.) with Balinese gamelans. — Ken J.

Worldbeat percussion (with hammered dulcimer and occasional cello) and wordless vocal prayers and invocations to the sacred. The group VAS is Azam Ali and Greg Ellis. — sjb

Folk-derived and original mostly 20th-century Brazilian piano works. Nazareth's tangos, waltzes, etc., are "lighter" in mood than the Villa-Lobos & Guarnieri pieces, but all are excellently played.—Erin Kendall

21 Feb 2006

Tanzanian music with Western production. — Fear3000

“This recording will take exactly 38:51 out of your future.” I know this isn't a music recording and some people may argue if it is comedy. MFSL is no more but 'Bozo' has been re-re-released on Sony. — AeWingnut

The Cheeks finally have some competition! A truly terrible recording of some really sick music. http://www.kinseysicks.com/store.htm — jonathan b

14 Dec 2005

The ultimate chilling album-its what I put on when I'm really stressed. Slow, melodic and flowing. — Jack G

An abstract, sparse set of minimalist compositions. — Fear3000

A spoof of music usually found in Indian action movies. — Fear3000

“I lift up the jeweled breast, I lift up the ambered lips, I lift up the shadowed eyes, I lift up the Seventh veil..." Terrific sonics, new-agey, Mid-Eastern flavor. Rated PG-17. — Allan

19 Dec 2005