Picspam: 50 Records That Will Make Your Life Better
Challenge: picspammy | Fifty
Subject: 50 Records That Will Make Your Life Better
Notes: Lemme tell you I forgot how much work those things are. Fail. Will drop dead now. 50 Records listed alphabetically. Enjoy. Tell me what you think about it.
4:99 - Die Fantastischen Vier
I'm a child of the 90s. I'm German. German rap or hip hop or whatever was pretty popular for long time. I might still be but it's not as much on the radio anymore. I don't even like rap but I dig this album. Those guys are ace. I haven't listened to it in years and then I picked it up again and now it means something completely different to me.
A Friend of a Friend - Dave Rawlings Machine
I'm a big fan of Gillian Welch but somehow this record just proofs to me that I might like it more when David is singing lead. By the way if you like Ryan Adams they do have a version of To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High) on this.
Acoustic Live in London - Kane
I do have a thing for live records and you will find a couple on this list. This one in particular is awesome because it's so simple. Acoustic music is great. I love that this one gives you some more information on how the songs were written or what they are about.
Asking For Flowers - Kathleen Edwards
Asking For Flowers is Kathleen Edwards latest release and in my opinion her best every record she put out was so much better than the last one. I only recently learned that she plays the violin too not just the guitar which made me love her even more.
Avalanche - Thea Gilmore
I consider Avalanche and Rules For Jokes the most essential Thea Gilmore albums those are things that I can always listen to and they make me feel better.
Bandits: Original Soundtrack
Back in 1997 Katja von Garnier filmed a movie called Bandits about a band who forms in prison and then breaks out during a gig they were playing for some police event. This is one of the most brilliant German movies ever made and the music is ace too.
Common Reaction - Uh Huh Her
I'm so not into Electronica except I do like Uh Huh Her, Everything But The Girl and some Moloko for some reason that album strikes a cord with me.
Dear Catastrophe Waitress - Belle & Sebastian
This is one of these records that I picked up in the library because I though they looked interesting and fell in love with. I think one of the songs from this album was on the Juno soundtrack...
Demolition - Ryan Adams
There's so many things I could say about Ryan Adams... but here's just one Desire. Listen to that song.
Drastic Fantastic - KT Tunstall
It's one of those records that I play when I don't want think about anything. When I bought it I played it so often I got sick of it but it's growing on me again.
Enjoy The Ride - Sugarland
Okay, okay... I know they're totally overexposed in America but I love this record because it makes me happy. I think it's the best one yet. I like it so much more thatn Love On The Inside or the debut release. It has everything a good country records needs for me. It's happy, it's sad and at times just silly. *coughs*Mean Girls*coughs* It's something I like to sing along to.
EP - Larkin Poe
Is my favorite new band. They play folk-rock, americana music? I don't even know. They are my favorite new band. You can listen to this on their website. I will pimp those girls whenever I get the chance. They recently opened for Brandi Carlile and the Indigo Girls...
Fat City - Shawn Colvin
When somebody mentions Shawn Colvin you probably know Sunny Came Home from A Few Small Repairs which is an okay record but the one that I do love the most is Fat City because so many of my favorite songs are on it like Polaroids or Set The Prairie on Fire which is so haunting and beautiful. I only hate one song with passion which is the last one the album: I Don't Know Why. Blah it's even worse than the Alison Krauss and Union Station cover which I wasn't that impressed by either.
Frank - Amy Winehouse
Okay this woman is a mess but that doesn't mean she made some awesome music. I love this record and I love Back To Black. Haters to the left.
Furnace Room Lullaby - Neko Case and Her
Boyfriends
I own physical copies of two Neko Case records. This one and her last album. I couldn't tell you what I like about it to save my life. I just know I can't stop listening to it.
Happiness & Disaster - Stabilo
Is what I call emo rock. Something that I've got from pixilove66. She makes me listen to all kinds of different music that usually I wouldn't touch so that's awesome.
Hideaway - The Weepies
I think she introduced me to The Weepies too but I'm not entirely sure. How can you NOT like The Weepies? That's just wrong.
Home - Dixie Chicks
So the Dixie Chicks... I used to hate them because I liked them and so did everybody else and then Germany forgot about them which is cool. I rediscovered them last a couple of months ago. They give me that warm fuzziness like Sugarland. Home is a bluegrass influenced record so bonus points because it's a genre I've got really into during the last year. *Blames Raising Sand winning so many Grammys*
Hotel New York - Anouk
Perfect music if you have to work... at least for me.
Identity Crisis - Shelby Lynne
This is the turning point in Shelby Lynne records for me. I hate everything she's done before this. I tried to listen to it I just couldn't make it through it but this... I don't even know what to say. It's just that good.
If It Ain't Broke - Matt Wertz
I mentioned live records this is another one. I got it for free from his website. I just discovered him after the Haiti Benefit last month. I practically know nothing about him. But I think if you like Jason Mraz this could be something for you.
Language Sex Violence Other? - Stereophonics
Ask pixilove66.
Leaving On A Mayday - Anna Ternheim
Her best studio record yet. It was so weird to hear it on Dollhouse and really it pales in comparison to hearing her play live in a small club. If you ever have the chance to see her. Do it you won't regret it.
Life For Rent - Dido
When it came out I wasn't sure if I liked it. I thought it was sounded too much like her brother who was involved in Faithless. So I was on the fence about this but it's still so much better than the last CD. I just couldn't get into it.
Little Things - Toby Lightman
Little Things is everything I like about girls with guitars.
Long Island Shores - Mindy Smith
I've known Please Stay for the longest time and I don't even remember where I got that song. The the Alison Krauss obsession kicked in. She co-wrote If I Didn't Know Any Better which she finally recorded herself by the way. Anyway that's how I discovered her. I like her music. That's it.
Mind, Body & Soul - Joss Stone
This is another one for the category: I like the music but the girl is just annoying. I only like this one and Soul Sessions. I had a jazz/soul phase this one of the records that stuck with me though.
Moondance - Van Morrison
I bought it because it was used on The West Wing and because I love 70s music and this is such a classic album. This and Fleetwood Mac is why 70s music rocks.
New Favorite - Alison Krauss & Union Station
So I mentioned Alison Krauss a couple of times already. Time to pick a favorite record. This is it because it just feels right to me. The first record AKUS record that I bought was Lonely Runs Both Ways because I though hey that's a nice cover and I've seen that name before. Sounds good. Well if you know me then you know I'm slightly obsessed with her now but it lead me to discover so much new music that I never knew was out there.
On A Clear Night - Missy Higgins
I loved Missy Higgins since The Sound of White came out. I'm not sure if it ever got released in Germany but hey that's what the internet is for. ON A Clear Night is a record that I listened to much more then should be socially acceptable.
Painted Desert Serenade - Joshua Kadsion
Has he done anything else? I don't know. It's probably one of the most cheesy records I own and yet totally love.
Parking Lots - Mia Dyson
Yet another Aussie. She plays blues music. Has anyone outside of Australia ever heard about her before? Lemme know because people should. Listen to Roll Me Out.
Rock Steady - No Doubt
I grew up in the 90s... mmmkay. That's all I'm gonna say. I actually go this as a birthday present (okay I asked for it but still). This record makes me happy.
Rumours - Fleetwood Mac
My dad loved Fleetwood Mac. We have this record on vinyl. I almost broke it because I would listen to it so much.
Scarlet's Walk - Tori Amos
Is the only Tori Amos record I've ever listened to. I don't know why I ever touched anything else. I love the concept behind this. Wednesday might be one of my all time favorite songs.
Seastories - Minnie Driver
She recently hosted the Rounder Records Anniversary concert and I don't know why people are so surprised that she sings. It's not like she started singing yesterday. I have to admit that I didn't get into her firs record that much but Seastories is something I would put on repeat frequently.
Set Yourself On Fire - Stars
I was introduced to Stars by soundspie. She gave me some of their music to listen too. Calender Girl is on this record which is so damn pretty.
Song Up In Her Head - Sarah Jarosz
I discovered her during the whole OMG I NEED TO GET INTO BLUEGRASS thing. I love that she plays the banjo (among other things). Banjos are LOVE. SLAFHSKDFHKASDJKJ
Soul Journey - Gillian Welch
Whenever somebody asks me about my favorite Gillian Welch record I'll say Soul Journey because Miss Ohio is on it. A song that I've know long before I knew what kind of genre this is. Something somebody on LJ told me listen to.
Tambourine - Tift Merritt
I found out about her by going through the country records section in the store. Seriously why the fuck get she listed under country anyway... but Taylor Swift will be found in the rock/pop section? But that's a bone I have to pick with German record stores cause it's off topic. Tift Merritt. This is her loudest album. So I like it. Americana/Alt Country whatever you might like to call it.
The Girl In The Other Room - Diana Krall
Favorite Jazz record ever. That's all I'm gonna say.
The Outsiders - NEEDTOBREATHE
Oh another of these recent discoveries... There's banjos on it. So hey that sold me. But no kidding it's a nice I'm on the road record. I like to listen to it when I have to go places.
The Story - Brandi Carlile
I HAVE TICKETS TO SEE BRANDI LIVE IN MAY1!! Ahm. Good record. *is VERY excited*
This Side - Nickel Creek
When I got into bluegrass I was told to listen to Nickel Creek. Thanks for the tip. AWESOME. Alison Krauss produced this record by the way.
This Way - Jewel
This is the only Jewel record that I like and the same that I said about Little Things by Toby Lightman applies.
Time To Grow - The Lovell Sisters
Is the former band of the Larkin Poe girls. They played more a bluegrass oriented sound. The oldest sister quit. I'm gonna miss her fiddle playing but this record is great especially the title cut and a song called Paulita Maxwell. It's on youtube I think. Look it up.
Tony Rice Sings Gordon Lightfoot - Tony Rice
Alison Krauss always says how Tony Rice is like one of her biggest heroes so I decided to check it out. It's a shame that he lost his voice and can only play guitar now because quite frankly he had one of the best singing voices ever.
Transmitter Failure - Jenny Owen Youngs
More power to the internet.
Under The Blacklight - Rilo Kiley
If I'm down I'm listen to that record and I feel instantly better. It's one of the most uplifting things I've ever heard in my entire life.
Waiting For My Rocket To Come - Jason Mraz
Now that's a blast from my musical past. I bought it because brighterlater. It's another of these feel good things. I should listen to it more often.