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CD(s) of the Month: Volume 1
courtesy of Azrael and Phoebe's Kitty Critics' Corner
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November-December 1998 - special first edition just in time
for Christmas shopping!
Our first recommended cd, has to be Neil Finn's first solo effort,
Try
Whistling This (Sony Work, 1998) .
Since breaking up Crowded House, Neil has begun new explorations, but the
genius of his music that we've come to know and love over the years is still
clearly evident: soaring soulful melodies layered with inspired, intelligent
wordplay. The result is a hypnotic, and richly textured body of music that
slowly but surely works its way under your skin and into your heart and
soul. We were lucky enough to catch Neil twice this year promoting this
album, which was clearly a family project. Neil's youngest son, Elroy provided
some of the artwork for the CD, his elder son Liam played on several tracks
and on tour supported his dad on guitar, drums, keyboards and vocals. His
wife Sharon worked the lights.
If you're unfamiliar with Neil's work, check out the following:
Finn
Brothers
Recurring
Dream: the Very Best of Crowded House
Split
Enz: Spellbound
Sheryl Crow -- new Globe
Sessions, featuring the georgeous
My Favorite Mistake (our favorite track on the cd) is fine collection twangy
accounts of unhappy love affairs
but our favorite is still her self titled second album with its gritty,
witty, forceful and fun music and lyrics -- anthems like Everyday is a Winding
Road (backed by Neil Finn), If it makes you happy, and A Change. Order
Sheryl Crow today!
Squirrel Nut Zippers Hot
- our favorite of the retro rage going on now -- this sextet whose inspiration
is found in the great hot dixie land jazz of the '30s and '40s. The result
of this is wickedly fresh and fun!
City
of Angels (Warner Brothers, 1998) 
We went for the cd for Alanis Morisette's "Univited", but
were pleased with U2's "If God will Send His Angels" and Sarah
McLachlan's "Angel" as well. Also features, Jimi Hendrix, Paula
Cole, Goo Goo Dolls and Peter Gabriel as well as Gabriel Yared's orchestrations.
 The English
Patient Soundtrack -- beautiful mix of genres, moods and
cultures, from Bach, to Benny Goodman, sweeping orchestrations and a Hungarian
lullaby. One of our favorites cds to do work or relax by.
Well, it is Christmas time......
Amy
Grant -- Home for Christmas
(A&M, 1992) - the second of Amy Grant's Christmas albums featuring
traditional Christmas melodies such as, "Have Yourself A Merry Little
Christmas," "O Come All Ye Faithful," and "Winter Wonderland"
as well as her contemporary hit "Grown Up Christmas List" and
the magnificent "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) which alone is worth
the price of the cd.
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