Norah Jones - Not Too Late
Back in 2002, I tuned into an alternative radio station and heard this pristine voice singing "Don't Know Why". I waited to find out the name of this artist and promptly bought Norah's first album before she hit the mainstream. I even considered going to her Australian Tour before she became big. Kinda wishing I had now! Either way, her second album didn't impress me as much (although still very good) and so I held out hopes that maybe on her 3rd outing she'd bring back some of her jazz covers and woo me once more. Unfortunately she's gone down the folky road and so it's a ncie album, but not the Norah I fell in love with so many years ago.
Human Nature - Reachout:Best of Motown
Although I am prone to boy band pop, Human nature don't usually do much for me until I heard their covers of my mother's era of musicology. It's nice to hear old classics with a crisp CD quality recording and a new arrangement. Ended up singing along with a mate to these babies on the way up to Mt Tomah the other day. "I got sun-shine.... on a clou---dy day!"
Regurgitator - Jingles
Blast from the past with a band who had some really good snappy hits. I never owned any of their music as a teenager (I think my mum wouldn't have allowed me to) but it's nice to pull out those classic high school hits like "Polyester Girl", "! (The Song formerly known as)", "Happiness" and "Fat Cop". The antiestablishmentarianism* of their songs is sublime, kinda venting my repressed teenage desires to rebel (which was in stark contrast to my bland tame reality).
Robbie Williams - Swing When You're Winning
Not to be confused with a similarly titled pop album by the same artist, SWING is very different from SING. I was amazed a few years ago when I heard Robbie crooning some lovely jazz numbers (a few of which became popularised ie Nicole Kidman and he on "Sumthin' stupid" and his Finding Nemo End Credit "Beyond the Sea") My flatmates all owned the album but when they left I was devoid of these classics and so managed to score it at a bargain $9 price!
The Cat Empire - Self Titled
2 years ago on Australia Day, my flatmate and I went into Darling Harbour and stodd overlooking the AquaShell as thousands of crazed fans moshed/partied/raved themselves silly to these ska/reggae/jazz ditties. Words can't really describe how good one feels after listening to their funky tunes... but it ended up with about 10 crazed fans throwing themselves into Darling Harbour and moshing in the water whilst trying to avoid the water police's tin boat. Ah.. memories!
Music is such a vital part of life. It provides the soundtrack for remembering the past and adds the colour between the lines of events.
"Our weapons were our instruments, made from timber and steel
We never yielded to conformity but stood like kings
In a chariot that's riding on a record wheel"
* I just HAD to use the longest word in the English dictionary at SOME point didnt I?
