I am typically pretty picky when it comes to music. It’s very rare for me to buy music unless I have already been exposed to a band in concert or through a friend, so I was pleasantly surprised with two albums I purchased a few weeks ago. Each are nominated for Grammy’s (not exactly a badge of honor considering the crap that wins most years) but in this case I can say that these are two of the best albums of the year….at least in my house.
The first is the debut release ‘Sigh No More’ from Mumford & Sons, an English folk band who draw from Shakespeare and Steinbeck for some of their lyrics. On the first listen, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. But after I listened to the album a second and third time, I was hooked! The lyrics and the music are stellar and they have a certain energy that comes through in the recording that only a good live band can produce.
Here is the video for ‘Winter Winds’ from this album:
The second album is from Ray LaMontagne & The Pariah Dogs. This release, titled ‘God Willin’ and the Creak Don’t Rise’ is full of great songs that offer a mix of LaMontagne’s trademark voice and acoustic guitar along more diverse and complex sound due to his addition of a backing band.
Listen to ‘Beg Steal Borrow; here:
