Miranda Lambert ~ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Album

There's no sophomore slump for Miranda Lambert, who follows her chart-topping debut, Kerosene, with a knockout punch. Both the title cut and the album-opening "Gunpowder & Lead" ("what little girls are made of") show that Lambert hasn't lost her edge or her appetite for revenge. Yet the quieter "Desperation," the more tuneful and tender "Love Letters," the wistful "More Like Her," and the primally intense "Down" show her emotional range and maturity.


Miranda Lambert ~ Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Album buy from Amazon:

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend MP3 Album [$5.00]
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Audio CD [$8.99]

Various Artists ~ The 99 Darkest Pieces Of Classical Music

This is another collection of great music at a low, low price brought to you by the X5 group, this time on a "darkness" theme released on Halloween 2010. This should be a must buy for anyone new to these "99 most whatever" sets. At the bargain "Daily Deal" price of $1.99 for over 11 hours of music coming in at 1.07 GB, it's not even worth thinking twice if you're new to classical music or to these collections. Just get it. 


Various Artists ~ The 99 Darkest Pieces Of Classical Music buy from Amazon:

The 99 Darkest Pieces Of Classical Music MP3 Album [$4.99]

Ryan Adams ~ Ashes & Fire Album

Ryan Adams will release his new album Ashes & Fire October 11 on PAX-AM/Capitol in the U.S.. Adams' first solo album to be released via a new U.S. arrangement with his own PAX-AM label and EMI's Capitol in the U.S. and Canada, the album was recorded at Sunset Sound Factory in Hollywood and produced by Glyn Johns, renowned for his work with the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Clash, The Who and The Rolling Stones--and whose son Ethan produced previous Ryan Adams albums Heartbreaker, Gold and 29.


Ryan Adams ~ Ashes & Fire Album buy from Amazon:

Ashes & Fire MP3 Album [$7.99]
Ashes & Fire Audio CD [$10.00]
Ashes & Fire Vinyl [$20.36]

Arctic Monkeys ~ Suck It And See Album

The Arctic Monkeys rose to prominence with a style of music that was fairly upbeat, lively and more rock orientated and with each new album they move further away from their early template, shedding fans with each new release along the way. 

With the band's previous album, Humbug, the music became more difficult and experimental, with production duties being handled in part by legendary QOTSA/Kyuss musician Josh Homme. 


Arctic Monkeys ~ Suck It And See Album buy from Amazon:

Suck It And See MP3 Album [$5.00]
Suck It and See Audio CD [$11.70]

Lalah Hathaway ~ Where It All Begins Album

Lalah Hathaway is one of the few artists whose music I can confidently buy without having heard a single song and know that I'll be pleased. `Where It All Begins' is no exception. She returns with those sultry vocals over a nice mix of soulful tunes. (Good Lord, I love this woman!) 


Lalah Hathaway ~ Where It All Begins Album buy from Amazon:

Where It All Begins MP3 Album [$4.99]
Where It All Begins Audio CD [$11.88]

Ben Folds ~ Rockin' The Suburbs Album

In the 70's, I and many a peer were captivated by the music and genius of Todd Rundgren- a kid who exploded onto the scene as part of the group Nazz with searing, psychedelic phased guitar riffs that paid tribute to British Invasion groups like the Who and Cream. Todd went on to rule the studio, playing every instrument, singing all vocals, and putting his musical ideas and idioms to vinyl with an indelible personal stamp. Much to his credit on Rockin' The Suburbs, Ben Folds proves himself to be a modern-day Todd, sprouting beautiful melodies, edgy accomplished instrumentation, and vignettes that paint musical landscapes of everyday life and the people who flow in and out of it.


Ben Folds ~ Rockin' The Suburbs Album buy from Amazon:

Rockin' The Suburbs MP3 Album [$5.00]
Rockin the Suburbs Audio CD (Import) [$45.56]

Various ~ Nightmare Before Christmas

Then there are the demos. These are fantastic, if for no other reason, then because Elfman does all the vocals himself. There is a note in the liner notes saying "All vocals by Danny Elfman" in regards to the demos. He does some amazing work, probably fooling with many synths and vocal layering. This is Halloween and Kidnap the Sandy Claws really show this. Of particular interest though are the cuts that were done to Making Christmas. It's fun to hear a version that was clearly a work in progress. Despite these being demos and Elfman probably only needing to provide a guiding vocal, he really has fun with these.


Various ~ Nightmare Before Christmas Album buy from Amazon:

Nightmare Before Christmas Special Edition [$5.00]
The Nightmare Before Christmas Audio CD [$11.99]

Radiohead ~ OK Computer Album

That being said, OK Computer is one of my favorite albums. Each track on the album has the ability of conjering up different emotions, and by the end, the emotional wirlwind leaves me dizzy. The album's central theme of encountering genuin beauty in our world of technology, yet being unable to shake a certain feeling of unease, comes across perfectly. It's funny that the people who are angered by this album may be the people it was really geared towards. It attempts to send the message that you don't have to be compliant all the time: treasure your individuality, don't let anyone take it away from you.


Radiohead ~ OK Computer Album buy from Amazon:

OK Computer MP3 Album [$5.00]
Radiohead -- Ok Computer: Guitar/Tablature/Vocal (Guitar Tab Edition) [$15.24]
OK Computer Audio CD [$8.70]
OK Computer [2 LP] [Limited Edition] [Vinyl] [$28.20]

Ellie Goulding ~ Lights Album

Having already conquered her native Britain with the biggest and fastest selling debut album of 2010, Lights-- premiering at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart, four hit singles she co-wrote, and a BRIT award -- singer-songwriter Ellie Goulding is ready to make a similar splash in America with her sparkling electro-folk-pop sound. Lights is, as the New York Times put it, "a happy car crash of signifiers: part electro-pop, part soul, part blues, part indie rock, part folk" that mixes heartfelt emotion with other-worldly atmospherics. Anchoring her songs with acoustic guitar, Goulding and her producer, Starsmith, spin cool electronica into dreamy warmth on "Starry Eyed," "Guns and Horses," "The Writer," and "Under the Sheets."


Ellie Goulding ~ Lights Album buy from Amazon:

Lights (Amazon MP3 Exclusive Version) [+Digital Booklet] [$5.00]
Lights Audio CD [$9.88]

Jacey ~ The Moves I Make Album

Not to take anything away from his last album, I like this album because it is more upbeat and I do prefer up tempo music. Jacey has incorporated his smooth r&b style with dance and it has blended perfectly.


Jacey ~ The Moves I Make Album buy from Amazon:


The Moves I Make MP3 Album [$7.49]

Jacey ~ Rocknroll Album

These songs all seem to have something about them that keeps me listening. Some tell a story, some make you feel to dance. I highly recommend this album. The first album was great and I was wondering how it could be topped, this second album has done it and was worth the wait for sure!


Jacey ~ Rocknroll Album buy from Amazon:

Rocknroll MP3 Album [$5.34]

The Hit Crew ~ Ultimate Halloween Party Hits

There are several very good pieces on here that set a Halloween mood.Thought I would pick up this title and wow, I'm sure glad I did... a killer deal! The classical music featured really sets the Halloween mood. It's not just for Halloween... I'll be playing this all year around.


The Hit Crew ~ Ultimate Halloween Party Hits Album buy from Amazon:

Ultimate Halloween Party Hits MP3 Album [$7.99]

Halloween All-Stars - 99 Must-Have Halloween Classics

There are several very good pieces on here that set a Halloween mood. It would be nice if they would at least list the composer unlike the other 99 great albums. There were several pieces on here that I have not heard previously that I really liked. I will extract parts of this to play on the outdoor speakers for Halloween 

 Halloween All-Stars - 99 Must-Have Halloween Classics Album buy from Amazon:

99 Must-Have Halloween Classics Album [$5.99]

David Bowie ~ The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust

If "Ziggy" were Bowie's only release, his place in Rock's pantheon would still be assured. This album pretty much established Bowie as major artist in the U.S. Just a couple of observations; this album is unusually "Beatle-esque". Note the layered/textured harmonies, the insistent lead guitar (Mick Ronson's guitar style lends itself beautifully to this material), the almost omni-present acoustic rhythm guitar, and last but not least, the uncanny resemblance of "Five years" to John Lennon's "The dream is over" (Lennon and Bowie apparently were close friends - John is featured on "Fame"). 


David Bowie ~ The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust Album buy from Amazon:

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars [$5.00]
Ziggy Stardust Audio CD [$12.19]

Halloween Party - 16 Scary Songs Album

Though a classic film score buff most of the time, I really enjoy a good Halloween or Christmas novelty song. And I think you have to love any album whose cover features a pumpkin-headed guy playing a rusty sax as well as a skeletal witch flying astride an electric guitar. Makes great background noise for a tame Halloween party, and it's almost completely kid-friendly.


Halloween Party - 16 Scary Songs Album buy from Amazon:

Halloween Party - 16 Scary Songs MP3 Album [$5.99]

Zee Avi ~ Ghostbird Album

Her musical range in these songs fit her voice & personality so well. "Madness" is definitely my favorite tune on this one, for the amazing bass & horns with that 20's sort of feel. Love the reggae feel of "Roll your head in the sun" and then the gorgeous soft song "Siboh Kitak Nangis". 

This is the only exposure to Zee Avi I have, and I can't wait to hear her earlier stuff.


Zee Avi 'Ghostbird' Album buy from Amazon:

Ghostbird MP 3 Album [$3.99]
Ghostbird [+Digital Booklet] [$3.99]
Ghostbird Audio CD [$11.68]
Ghostbird Vinyl [$17.98]

Jimmy Buffett ~ Songs You Know By Heart Album

Buffett has the knack for making you imagine yourself sucking down daiquiris and pina coladas on a beach somewhere, much like Gary P. Nunn makes you long for living in Texas. He's a master at this and he has proven it time and again. His sound has been copied by Garth Brooks("Two Pina Coladas"), and out-and-out stolen by Kenny Chesney(most of his recent work sounds like it was ripped directly from this album). He's worked with some great current artists(most notably Alan Jackson) and he has a following, Parrottheads, comparable to that of the Grateful Dead's Deadheads. 


Jimmy Buffett 'Songs You Know By Heart' Album buy from Amazon:

Songs You Know By Heart MP3 Album [$5.00]
Songs You Know by Heart Audio CD [$10.98]