 | Life Grows Back by Sloan Wainwright
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $11.06 "Something That Comes Close" became my favorite song of the year followed closely by "Between the Lines." Sloan's strong alto creates intelligent adult music that is as attractive as it is literate. "When I Walk Away," "These Are the Days" & "Meet the Sun" are jewels. A super set!
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 | Mr. Lemons by Glen Phillips
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $5.63 A great outing from this super musician. "Thank You," "Waiting" & "The Next Day" are favorites in this folk-flavored CD.
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 | Taking the Long Way by Dixie Chicks
Buy new: $9.97 / Used from: $3.14 Grammy winning album of the year also jammed my changer. "Lullaby," "Not Ready to Make Nice" & the title track are all standouts. Irregardless of the political buzz, it's the music that makes the set memorable. Bravo!
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 | There You Are Again by Livingston Taylor
Buy new: $18.98 / Used from: $68.82 Livingston Taylor offers one of the best sets of his career. "Yes," "Tuesday's Lullaby," "Step By Step" & "My Perfect Christmas Day" are all delights. While his voice bears family resemblance to brother James and nephew Ben, Livingston has a heart of gold that offers a cheerful word and makes you feel good. Excellent CD!
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 | A Thousand Different Ways by Clay Aiken
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $1.86 Clay Aiken turns in his best work, expressive powerful vocals that make emotional sense. The Nilsson/Badfinger cover of "Without You," the title track & "Here You Come Again" are standouts. A covers album that is extremely well sung!
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 | Suitcase by Keb' Mo'
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $5.50 Keb' Mo' turns in a very strong set with "The Itch," "Whole 'Nutha Thang," & "Remain Silent" being standouts. His musical hybrid of blues and pop puts a smile on my face & jammed my changer in 2006.
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 | Heart of Mine: Love Songs of Bob Dylan by Maria Muldaur
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $7.00 Maria Muldaur focuses on the love songs of Bob Dylan and creates a superb set of covers including my favorites "Moonlight," "Buckets of Rain" & "Wedding Song." She doesn't always take the most obvious tunes from Dylan's catalog which makes this an interpretive artistic achievement. Go girl! :)
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 | Animal Years by Josh Ritter
Buy used from: $8.49 A great set from Idaho's folk hero that includes "Wolves," "Lillian, Eqypt" & "Thin Blue Flame." Ritter writes melodies that catch you like honey with lyrics that put a smile on your face or stretch the mind.
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 | Enough Rope by Chris Knight
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $7.69 Chris Knight offers one of the best alternative country sets this year. "Up from the Hill," "Jack Blue" & "Cry Lonely" are all standouts. Rocks explosively then slows you down. Excellent variation and song craft.
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 | Roots, Blues & Jazz by Bonnie Bramlett
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $9.50 Bonnie is still smoking after years with Eric Clapton and other greats. "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," "Gotcha" & Stephen Stills' "Love the One You're With" are all standouts. Great interpretations.
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 | The True False Identity by T Bone Burnett
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $4.87 Great new set by this powerful singer songwriter. "Seven Times Hotter Than Fire," "Baby Don't You Say You Love Me" & "Zombieland" are all standouts.
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 | Long Night Moon by Catie Curtis
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.18 A cheerful set from Boston's great songwriter. "Rope Swings & Avalances," "People Look Around," & "Strange" are all standouts on a strong set.
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 | Surprise by Paul Simon
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $3.93 "Father & Daughter" & "How Can You Live in the Northeast" spent time in my changer on this very strong set by one of America's classic songwriters.
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 | Cool Yule by Bette Midler
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $4.55 Bette offers a super Christmas set. "I'll Be Home for Christmas," the title track & "White Christmas" are excellent. This set played a lot at our house this season, a crowd pleaser.
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 | James Taylor at Christmas by James Taylor
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $5.53 It's not often a Christmas song becomes one of my favorite songs of the year, but "Who Comes This Night" was at the top of my own personal top ten for a number of weeks, a stunning new Christmas song. "Winter Wonderland" & "Have Yourself A Merry Christmas" are also standouts. Celebrate!
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 | Imaginary Kingdom by Tim Finn
Buy new: $34.49 / Used from: $5.69 This set from Australia's super songwriter offers so many great tracks that it's a very strong set. "Couldn't Be Done," "Salt to the Sea," "Horizon" & "So Precious" are excellent.
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 | Adieu False Heart by Linda Ronstadt
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $6.23 This set is quiet but excellent. "Walk Away Renee," "Go Away from My Window" & the title track are all standouts.
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 | Leave the Light On by Chris Smither
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $10.98 "Origin of the Species" & Bob Dylan's "Visions of Johanna" are standouts on this charming set by one of our great veteran folk rockers.
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 | Dreams Don't Count by Jules Shear
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $6.78 This is an emotionally moving set from a veteran. "Do What They Want," "Accustomed to the Clearness," & "An Important Part" are all strong tracks. It's a musical paradox that sometimes an artist's strongest work doesn't get the attention it deserves.
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 | Time Without Consequence by Alexi Murdoch
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $9.05 From Scotland, this gentle singer's voice evokes Nick Drake or early John Martyn. "Orange Sky," "Blue Mind," & "Dream About Flying" are all standouts. This is soft soothing music.
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 | Change in the Weather by Eric Lindell
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $8.25 This artist's music is a new discovery for me this year. This is an energetic soul-blues hybrid that puts a smile on your face and a spring in your step. "Give It Time," "Feel Like I Do" & "Sunny Daze" all strike a chord with me.
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 | Folk Is the New Black by Janis Ian
Buy new: $17.98 / Used from: $3.49 Janis Ian continues to turn out excellent music. The humorous "The Crocodile Song" & emotionally powerful "All Those Promises" are standouts on a consistently strong set.
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 | The Believer by Rhett Miller
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $2.21 Rhett Miller's CD is a whole lot of fun! "Help Me, Suzanne," "I Believe She's Lying," & "Singular Girl" repeat in my changer.
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 | Separate Ways by Teddy Thompson
Buy new: $10.97 / Used from: $7.41 Son of Richard & Linda Thompson, the thing that most impresses me about Teddy's sophomore set is his exquisite voice. "Altered States," "Think Again" & "Everybody Move It" with Rufus & Martha Wainwright on vocals are all standouts.
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 | An Other Cup by Yusuf
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $2.99 Cat Stevens' new Islamic name Yusuf is on the cover, with "Another Cup" being a reference to Steven's famous 70s set "Tea for the Tillerman." "Heaven/Where True Love Goes," "Whispers from a Spiritual Garden" & his string version of the Animals' "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" are standouts.
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