CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

Raising Sand

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
from: Rounder

Release Date October 23, 2007
Allison Krause is the sweetest, loviest person on the globe. Good for Plant for lending his rock god name to a project that is her essence as a late life bid for irony. Good show Bobbie!

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

From the Reach

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
by: Sonny Landreth

Release Date May 20, 2008
With all the 5 star reviews I thought this was going to be exceptional, yet.... I find I'm left feeling an exceptional guitarist has packaged a neat and slick product filled with heart and soul, but no magic and mystery... (the Mississippi vs the bayou perhaps)

This CD is flawlessly produced, made up of neat and tightly knit songs (plus 2 cookin' instrumentals) from this Louisiana slide master, accompanied by a whole barge of notable guests (including guitarists Eric Clapton, Robben Ford, Eric Johnson, Mark Knopfler). Yet the result, while pleasant, leaves me wondering who's playing what? The guitar work is consistantly beautiful (whoever's doing it), but the lyrics at times are a bit hoaky ("cheezy" my 13 yr old daughter said), ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Keep It Simple

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
by: Van Morrison

Release Date April 01, 2008
Van Morrison has certainly evolved musically in the 41 years since "Brown Eyed Girl" first hit the charts. The "Simple" premise of Morrison's latest offering is quite ironic. Van Morrison composed and sang all eleven tracks, as well as instrumentally performing the saxophone, harmonica and ukulele. His trademark horn section is noticeably missing from the album, but the extra space is filled with a strong set of backup singers.

As Van Morrison's first album in three years, Keep It Simple was a very pleasant surprise. Morrison has held strong to his authentic American Folk, Blues and Jazz influences even at this stage of his career. His vocal performance is still very strong, as are his lyrics and compositions.

When the ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Orange Blossoms

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
from: Alligator Records

Release Date August 26, 2008
I don't think I've ever thought that a record was produced too well, but this might be it. I actually enjoyed the grizzly feel to older mofro albums. JJ's voice sounds great on this record, but the songs are too bland. They seem to have gone from swamp rock to mainstream blues. Finally, while their overall type of music seems to have taken a fairly large change, almost every record on this album sounds the same as the next.

Highlights are On Fire and Everything Bad is Good.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Trouble

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
by: Ray LaMontagne

Release Date September 14, 2004
That voice! It makes me think of some of the best, most soulful singers ever. Otis redding. Bobby Womack. Van Morrison. Stephen Stills. Not because Ray sounds like any of them, but because his voice just has that very special, warm sound that touches your soul. And he's a damn fine songwriter, too. Trouble, Shelter, All The Wild Horses, and my favorite - Jolene - are wonderful. This wasn't just a promising debut album, when it was released, it was a very convincing one: Ray got it right the first time around.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Complete Clapton

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
by: Eric Clapton

Release Date October 09, 2007
The music was divine such a wonderful story teller, however, the last 3 tracks skipped so I couldn't listen to them.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Legends of Jazz: Showcase [Blu-ray]

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
starring: Various Artists

Release Date October 24, 2006
This is a must to have for your Jazz collection. Selection of performers, sound and video quality is GREAT. Highly recommend this concert. If you like jazz you can not go wrong with this disk.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
by: Lauryn Hill

Release Date August 25, 1998
This is what American music is...carved from her island style and fused with her street savvy, this album shines with everything Lauryn Hill was and is, and what she represents is an undying, unyielding spirit which recognizes the best and the worst of society and turns it into something to which everyone can relate. With funky beats and sweet, sweet melodies!

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

10 Days Out (Blues from the Backroads)/ (CD/DVD)

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
by: Kenny Wayne Shepherd

Release Date January 23, 2007
The DVD includes some wonderful dialog and impromptu tune playing that gave me bumps ans chills. These are blues pioneers with awesome experiences and talents to share with the world. Amazingly, four of these musicians died shortly after the recordings were completed. Got to watch this DVD if the blues mean anything to you. The audio disk is also a recording of quality and remembrance. Enjoy.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Something Else

CD-Charts > Music > Contemporary Blues
by: Robin Thicke

Release Date September 30, 2008
The DVD includes some wonderful dialog and impromptu tune playing that gave me bumps ans chills. These are blues pioneers with awesome experiences and talents to share with the world. Amazingly, four of these musicians died shortly after the recordings were completed. Got to watch this DVD if the blues mean anything to you. The audio disk is also a recording of quality and remembrance. Enjoy.