This week I'm bring you my suggestions for great gift items for yourself or your loved ones. You can check out myprevious choices of Books & DVDs.
For me this year was all about the return of Funk/Soul and it's current queen has to be Amy Winehouse. I know Amy gets much more attention for her personal life than her music, but Back to Black is one of my favorite albums this year. This album is incredibly well put together with great production, biting lyrics and Amy turning in a great vocal performance. It's definitely worth looking past the antics and sitting down to listen.
A lot of the credit for Back to Black belongs to producer Mark Ronson. Ronson released his own cd Version this year. Version features artists like Winehouse, Lily Allen & Daniel Merriweather covering mostly familiar songs with a Ronson twist. He does a great job of recreating songs like Britney Spear's "Toxic" and Radiohead's "Just".
The Dap-Kings have been the supporting band for both Ronson & Winehouse and their album with Sharon Jones, 100 Days, 100 Nights is another one of my favorites. This album sounds like a lost classic that someone just unearthed. Sharon was a prison guard before she hooked up with the Kings and her vocals are just amazing. This is a must have for anyone who loves the classic sound of Funk/Soul.
Comments (2)
amy's a great artist i feel she has channeled shirley bassey in her music and janis joplin in her life
matell
eastern trees has been compared to amy winehouse on lastfm.com / matell check it out
Posted by matell | January 21, 2008 7:40 AM
Posted on January 21, 2008 07:40
forget all the tabloid rubbish, amy is the most talented jazz singer / songwriter to come along in ages. also pick up her first cd 'frank' .. and while you're at it, collect all the sharon jones cds too !! wow ! people are making real music again.
Posted by el polacko | December 13, 2007 5:26 PM
Posted on December 13, 2007 17:26