CD-Charts Position 101
Average Rating:

Lapalco

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Brendan Benson

Release Date February 26, 2002
This is perhaps the best album I ever took a blind chance on. It immediately sounds like Ben Kweller's "Sha Sha" except with more varied songs, even catchier hooks and much better lyrics. For comparison's sake, I'd give "Sha Sha" a four. But this one tops it. I love all music, but can't stand most mainstream pop. Brendan Benson's "Lapalco" is the magic pop gem that gets it right, yet doesn't get annoying and manages to blow every Maroon Five, Jack Johnson and dare I say, maybe even Ben Folds out of the water. A must buy.

CD-Charts Position 102
Average Rating:

Live at L'Olympia

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Jeff Buckley

Release Date August 14, 2001
It may be coincidental that my favourite Jeff Buckley songs were written by others...'Lilac Wine' and 'Hallelujah'. But in the usual banter we have when comparing him to his father, it's Tim trumping the prodigal with his lyric skills, which is by no means an attempt to diminish Jeff's gifts. 'Grace' is unquestionably a more listenable, intimate and coherent album than any of his fathers'. And if you wanted added proof of his virtuosity then this concert, held in July 1995,is a fabulous testament. The warmth of his voice is astonishing. But my prompt to get the album is the incomparable, final track, with my idol, Alim Qasimov, not from the concert at L'Olympia. It's tacked on, fairly seamlessly, from a concert of Sacred Music, held two weeks later, in ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 103
Average Rating:

ELLIOTT SMITH

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: ELLIOTT SMITH

Release Date January 20, 2004
Emerging from the shadow of Kurt Cobain in the late 90's, Elliott Smith was perhaps the greatest singer songwriter of his generation. Smith's genius was his unabashedly honest, naked, poetic lyricism that was so beautifully complemented by his unpretentiousness acoustic guitar. Like none that came before him, Smith delivers note after note of haunted, sparkling melancholy. Far from gloomy, his songs radiate with incredible emotional intensity. Combining an unbridled punk rage within the guise of an acoustic folk song, his songs speak for themselves. Reflective and introspective, each song unfolds like a delicately wrapped package, revealing itself slowly. Smith's songs present themselves like late night thoughts that just won't go away. Concerning ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 104
Average Rating:

Our Shadows Will Remain

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Joseph Arthur

Release Date October 12, 2004
"Our Shadows Will Remain" is up to the same excellent standards Joseph Arthur has set with "Come to Where I'm From"(my favorite) and Redemption's Son".

You can't go wrong with any of these three and if you like Joseph Arthur -you should go ahead and get them all. "Nuclear Daydream" and "Big City ..." are fine for a fan (which I am), but start with one of the three I suggest here if you are just being introduced to him.

CD-Charts Position 105
Average Rating:

Comfort of Strangers

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Beth Orton

Release Date February 07, 2006
Comfort of Strangers sits next to all my other Beth Orton albums in my iTunes playlist (Trailer Park, Central Reservation, Daybreaker), and it never gets listened to unless I do a listen-through of Central Reservation and then forget to switch to something else once Comfort of Strangers follows. Despite multiple listens, these songs are just not growing on me in the way that all of Orton's other albums that I own did. Even Daybreaker, which I found originally to not be as captivating as Central Reservation, is well-loved by this point.

CD-Charts Position 106
Average Rating:

Awake Is the New Sleep

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Ben Lee

Release Date February 22, 2005
I've been hearing the song "We're All in This Together" at my job for a few months now. For some reason, they feel like playing it all the time, and it is like torture.

Anyone with the lyrical skills of a three-year-old could come up with this song. It's so irritatingly bad, with him singing "we're all in this together" after every other line, I find it hard to believe that people like it. This guy is just one more in the long line of horrible artists that have destroyed music today. Just awful, and hearing that song would make me not only refuse to listen to this album, but refuse to listen to anything else by this guy.

CD-Charts Position 107
Average Rating:

My Aim Is True (With Bonus Disc)

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Elvis Costello

Release Date August 21, 2001
The debut album of my so nerdy he's cool man. Not surprisingly, this is the place to start with when going back to the early genius that was Mr. Costello. "Allison", "Watching The Detectives", "Red Shoes", "Welcome To The Work Week" - all the cool tunes are here in their two minute punky new wave glory. Plus it's the remastered version complete with a ton of liner notes and a whole separate disc of rarities. Now if they would only stop re-issuing it every two years I'd be happy.

CD-Charts Position 108
Average Rating:

Ghost of a Dog

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Edie Brickell & New Bohemians

Release Date October 19, 1990
I still remember when I purchased my original cassette tape at Rasputin's music store in Berkeley, Ca. I absolutely LOVE this album so much that I'm breaking down & downloading my faves. Being a rhythm & blues kinda person, Ghost of a Dog was one of my initial introductions to "folk music."

I didn't think anyone could get near K.D. Lang's tone & lyrics, but Edie certainly strikes a similar chord with me. When my son was a toddler, we used to dance to Carmelito, which just ROCKS with a Cajun tone. As exciting as Carmelito is, Times Like This will make you WISH for rain and a nice warm blanket, just so you can listen to this dreamy tune. Now that my son is a raging teenager, I'm sure he may finally be able to relate to "He Said." (he can easily ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 109
Average Rating:

To the Teeth

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Ani DiFranco

Release Date November 16, 1999
"To The Teeth" is another brilliant Ani album. "I Know This Bar" has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever! The album has a pretty dark and dreary tone to it for the most part, which works really well with some of the subject matters. There are also some heavier jazz influences that were hinted on "Up Up Up Up Up Up". The lyrics are top quality as usual. Amazing back up band! Amazing Woman!

CD-Charts Position 110
Average Rating:

Suzanne Vega

CD-Charts > Music > Singer-Songwriters
by: Suzanne Vega

Release Date February 23, 1993
An impressive and unique debut for one of the most introspective, and sparse acoustic players.
Often detached in her storytelling, she still manages superbly to convey a sense of intimacy & urgency.
A MUST HAVE!!!