another batch

[jfb]

Pretty soon I'm going to have to stop evaluating CDs and start packing them. But meanwhile:

Pet Shop Boys, "Paninaro '95". 3-song single.
Semisonic, Feeling Strangely Fine. With "Closing Time" and several less-overplayed songs.
Todd Snider, Happy to Be Here. Alt-country, often funny.
John Scofield, A Go Go. Groove jazz, with Medeski, Martin & Wood.
Her Space Holiday, Manic Expressive. Space pop.
Frank Sinatra, In the Wee Small Hours. Ballads.
Jane Siberry, Maria. Kate-Bush-like singer, with jazz combo.
Richard Shindell, Somewhere Near Paterson. Singer-songwriter, also in Cry Cry Cry. "Transit" is a great song.
Matthew Shipp Quartet, Pastoral Composure. Interesting piano-based jazz group.
Sparkle, s/t. R&B, produced by R. Kelly.
Duncan Sheik, Phantom Moon. His Nick Drake record; so introspective he had to move to Nonesuch. Lyrics by Steven Sater, guest appearance by Bill Frisell, lots of acoustic guitar and strings.
Omar Sosa, Inside. Solo improvisations by Cuban piano genius.
World Party, Goodbye Jumbo. Often Beatlesque, but with more Prince than usual.
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, s/t. Banjo jazz.
Shirim Klezmer Orchestra, Naftule's Dream. Innovative arrangements blend klezmer, jazz, classical, etc.
Joni Mitchell, Hejira. Blends jazz, pop, and folk; just before the wild experimentation of Don Juan's Reckless Daughter and the jazz-centered Mingus.
Sun Ra Arkestra, Reflections in Blue. Standards, gone crazy. Sun Ra's vocal on "I Dream Too Much" is wonderful.
Stereolab, Mars Audiac Quintet. Well, what can one say?
Sting, Brand New Day. A nice pop album.
Sade, The Best of Sade. So influential they named a radio format after her. Pre-Lovers Rock.

I'm going to the post office today, so if you answer fast I can slip some of these in with previous requests.

Comments

only tangentially related

[emmacrew.livejournal.com]

Pip sings along to parts of Brand New Day. I guess I listened to it a lot in the year we drove back and forth to his pre-preschool place.

[marm0t.livejournal.com]

Would I like Her Space Holiday?

[pobig.livejournal.com]

I'm interested in World Party, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Joni Mitchell, Sun Ra Arkestra, Stereolab, and Sade. I guess I'm most interested in Sun Ra Arkestra, if grabbing all of those doesn't seem right.

[greyaenigma.livejournal.com]

These posts make me feel kind of bad that I don't know music better.

Also that I'm too slow to get the things I want, but I cleaned up on books and DVDs, so I can't feel too bad.

Oh, sure, how about the Semisonic.

Sting

[stragglyr-chris.livejournal.com]

If no one's claimed the Sting Brand New Day CD, I'll take it. I should be at one of the upcoming Tin Cat shows (but not Saturday) if you want to hand it to me.