My recording project has the momentum of a spongeball. According to my initial plan I was finished a month ago. With 10% of one song "completed" I have finished approximatly 1% of my intended goal.
Since I cannot present to you a CD I release "Mike's Alphabetical influential Jukebox" 26 discs you should treat your ears too if you haven't already. If you try one out each week it aught to give me 26 weeks to finish.
A - "August and Everything After" (by Counting Crows) - Arguably my favority album all time. The marraige between the music and lyrics is epic. No cheese, nothing there that shouldn't be.
B- Barenaked Ladies, "Gordan" -- I have been into this CD since Grade 7. Call it joke rock if you must but few things encourage me to sing in the car more than this album.
C- “Coil” from Toad the Wet Sprocket – Solid from front to back. Never really made it as big as “Delucinea” (also great) because the band retired to spend more time with their families.
D - Damien Rice's "O" -- Saw him on David Letterman. Acoustic guitar, Cello and beautiful female vocal(i)s(t) make this a classic songwriter’s album. **Warning so good it is depressing**
E- “Essentials of Aretha Franklin” Some one said I had a the musical palette of a washed up 50 year-old record jockey for buying this album but, man this lady has pipes and soul.
F- Fredrick Handles’ “Water Music” My dad would play it every summer when we were vacationing at Shushwap lake. It is sheer nostalgia when I put this on.
G – Greig “Op7, Op36 w/ intermezzo” My mom gave me this CD when I asked for a sampling of good piano stuff. It is presently my favorite classical album. Piano and a Piano/Cello concerto brilliantly played.
H- “Heavier things” by John Mayer, Many didn’t like John’s second release and the radio only helped ruin the popular “Daughter’s” single. However, despite all this bad press I believe it is the better of his two releases. Guitar lines are careful crafted amidst his contemplative vocals.
I - “If I left the Zoo” by Jars of Clay. A lot of people tend to sluff this album off. However, the depth and connection of these lyrics make it another all time favorite. The instrumentation is unique giving it a distinctive flavor not unlike a modern St. Pepper.
J- “Joyfull Rebellion” K-os’– Catchy, Catchy, Canadian, Hip hop. Refreshing from your traditional hip-hop/rap album
K- K, Relient “MMHMM” amazing catchy pop punk with some lyrical depth (but not too much).
L- Lauryn Hill’s “Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” This album won a Grammy for good reason. There is a lot to be enjoyed if you can get past the constant Yeh… uh-huh…yeh, yeh. Ex-factor, Zion and Doo Wop get solid votes
M - Matthew Good “Avalanche” – Tracks “7-13” I would pay full price for just these tracks.
N - "Nest" by the Odds -- best pop rock album, witty lyrics, catchy hooks, priceless BGVs, great arrangements and a dualling guitar solo on track three that I can never get enough of.
O – Our Lady Peace “Naveed” Aggressive driving Rock before Nickelback and Raine before he started that woohoo vocal effect. Brilliant.
P - Peterson, Oscar "Night trian" Swing and Simplicity. Three legendary Jazz musician's on the same CD (Ray brown- Bass, Ed Thigpen - drums) Notable favorite tracks Hymn to Freedom and Volare.
R - Ryan Adam's "Gold" - Note this is not under the "Bryan Adams” Big difference. Another songwriter’s special but with more of a southern rock feel. Album is emotionally addictive may take few listens before it grows.
S- Satellite “POD” being this album went double platinum it is not really a rarity however most people don’t get much past “Boom” the hit single. There is far greater depth to be found. It is no surprise I average an extra 10km an hour when driving with this stuff on.
T- Tourist “St Germain” Granted not everyone likes Jazz trance but this is the best I’ve found. Great for background, driving or general grooving.
U – Trying not to go with U2 (athough their stuff it solid) I picked Dave Matthew’s Under the Table and Dreaming. I can remember the first time I heard the band on an American radio station 92.9 Independent Rock. I sat in the car for 15 mins after I arrived at my destination to hear who the band was. Ants Marching…one of my favorite tunes.
V – Van Morrison’s Back on Top – He wrote more than Brown Eyed girl ad this is a good modern album of such stuff. His best of album also gets a solid endorsement as it introduced me to ‘Jackie Wilson’, killar track.
W – White Ladder also not the rarest of albums’ but I couldn’t help putting it on as there are people who still haven’t heard this album. Lazy Sunday music at its best.
X – “X&Y” was the only album I have. In my humble opinion this is a weak effort from the band depending heavily on over production and Chris Martin’s falsetto. That said I do pop it in every once in a while. My real vote is for Parachutes.
Y – “You were here” was my introduction to Sarah Harmer I heard is in the background at a friend’s place. Went out and bought it the next day. Refreshing arrangements, lyrics and vocals.
Z – Zoo Station is the only thing it my library which starts with ‘Z’ making “Achtung Baby” my final section. A fine album if you have for some reason never given it a listen. But if you have I’ll use a wildcard and throw out Ben Folds’ Five’s “Whatever and Ever Amen” this piano driven album is crud at times but unlike anything else I’ve ever found.
Enjoy. Let me know what you thing if you try something new. I’m interest to hear what you think.
