Good Music - May 2008

Idol Heroes

If you are secretly (or not so secretly) a fan of American Idol, I’m here to tell you it’s okay. Here is why I am not ashamed - I don’t watch because I love the contestants. I think America hardly ever gets it right. I watch to see the ‘mentors!’: Huge stars from eras past: Neil Diamond, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dolly Parton, and Mariah Carey (who is still producing mega-hits, so maybe shouldn’t be categorized as from a past era…) 

Instead of crying when your favorite gets the boot, take some time to add some oldies to your playlist. They will be around a lot longer than whatever terrible song they choose for the winner to sing at the finale:

* Neil Diamond - The Movie Album

* Andrew Lloyd Webber - Evita

* Dolly Parton - Treasures

* Mariah Carey - #1s

Good Music - April 2008

A Finetune

We just subscribed to a new music service called Finetune…and everyone at the library LOVES it! You create your own unique playlists, and as long as  you don’t select more than 3 songs by the same artist, it is considered Internet radio (and therefore, free.)

You can’t download the songs - it is more like a custom radio station playing only the songs you want to hear! You can also go to their site and listen to Artist Radio - playlists created or inspired by an incredible number of musicians and bands. It’s a great way to find new music. On our Finetune player, we have songs from the teen music collection - some of which might surprise you.

Make your own Finetune playlist, and send us the code - we’ll post it on our page for everyone to hear. And as always, if there is music you need that we don’t have, just tell us - we’ll get it for you.

Good Music - March 2008

She’s So Original…

…is just one of the things being said about award-winning soul singer/rehabbing train wreck Amy Winehouse. But wouldn’t you know, the band producer Mark Ronson chose to back Ms. Winehouse on her groundbreaking Back to Black album are The Dap-Kings, who, with lead singer Sharon Jones, have been reviving the funk/soul/blues sound of the ’60s for over ten years now!

We have their newest album, 100 Days, 100 Nights in our collection. So if you can’t get enough of the Winehouse sound, we suggest you check out Ms. Jones. You will not be disappointed.

Good Music - February 2008

Hot Soundtracks

Maybe it has something to do with being librarians: We love collecting things, and we love collections - short stories, anthologies and…soundtracks!

Sometimes your new favorite song is something you heard not on the radio, but in a movie or on a TV show. What is great about soundtracks is that you find both new artists and songs you’ve never heard by artists you already love all rolled together.

 Some soundtracks to check out:

* Juno featuring the Moldy Peaches

* Once by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

* Grey’s Anatomy featuring Tegan and Sara

* Into the Wild by Eddie Vedder

* Across the Universe featuring The Secret Machines

 

 

Good Music - January 2008

List Season

The end of the year means (in addition to awards) the presenting of ‘Best of’ and ‘Worst of’ Lists for just about everything, and our go-to source for pop culture, Entertainment Weekly magazine, is no exception. What do you think of their choices?

EW’s choices for best songs of the year:

Umbrella by Rihanna (feat. Jay-Z)

You Know I’m No Good by Amy Winehouse

No One by Alicia Keys

And their picks for worst album of 2007?:

Curtis by 50 Cent

Dreaming Out Loudby OneRepublic

Souljaboytellem.com by Soulja Boy