Relative loudness
- selected discs -



                         The essential collection

 


.........*)

THE BESTEST 10

1- Nora Jones: Come Away with Me
Jones, 23, has a softy and jazzy voice. She dominated the 45th annual Grammys by taking home the golden gramophone statuettes for Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Record of The Year for the single "Don't Know Why", Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Album. Jones' music is a Jazz / Country hybrid that's very moody and soothing. She is the daughter of Indian music master Ravi Shankar.

2 - Bruce Springsteen: The Rising
Bruce Springsteen won three Grammys for his album The Rising influenced by the September 11, 2001 hijacked plane attacks that destroyed the World Trade Centre, killing nearly 2,800 people. Although he's fabulously wealthy, Springsteen, 53, remains an everyman. Many of the tracks on The Rising hold up against the finer songs in the Springsteen canon. That's a bold statement. It's a focused effort with a rich sound, a wall of instrumentation that still lets trademark E Street flourishes like organ and piano seep through.

3 - Coldplay:  A Rush of Blood to the Head

Coldplay won two Grammys - Best Alternative Music Album for A Rush of Blood to the Head and Best Rock Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal for "In My Place". The moody British quartet remindes us of the melancholy frailty which rock can also portray in an eerie Pink Floyd-ish manner.

4 - Dixie Chicks: Home

The three-women country band Dixie Chicks won four Grammys for work on the album, Home ( Best Country Album, Best Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for "Long Time Gone", Best Country Instrumental Performance for "Lil' Jack Slade", and Best Recording Package on Home went to art director Kevin Reagan). Dixie Chicks cover Patty Griffin's "Top of the World" and "Truth #2". Natalie Maines is a talented vocalist who doesn't get enough praise.

 

5 - Foo Fighters: One by One [ENHANCED]

Best Hard Rock Performance Grammy 2003 went to Foo Fighters. Listening to the first song of this album, "All My Life", is like watching the most intense suspense film you can find. The tension builds up in the verses and throws you around like a football at a 49er's game in the chorus. One by One rocks in a smart way from start to finish. Dave Grohl's vocals and lyrics have never been better.

6 - Sheryl Crow: C'mon, C'mon

Best Female Rock Vocal Performance Grammy winner Sheryl Crow sported a guitar strap with the words "No War" written on it and wore a large, silver peace sign on a necklace as she performed on stage during the show broadcast live by CBS. Not a single minute will be wasted on this album. It's rock with a little bit of other flavors of music thrown in. Characterized by excellent songwriting, crisp musicianship, and Crow's fine vocals, C'mon, C'mon is an outstanding CD.

7 - Alan Jackson: Drive Customer review: "I never was a big fan of Alan Jackson, until I heard his hit 'Where Were You (When The World Stopped Turning).' That song was written about September 11th. So it had an emotional effect on me. Why? Because, I was on the top floor of the World Trade Center during a high school field trip to NYC in December of 1999. On September 11th 2002, I heard the big song on the radio. When I got home I went upstairs and cried a lot and called some friends to comfort them. Buy this cd even if only for that one song. You will not be one bit disappointed."
Alan Jackson's emotional "Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning)" won a Grammy in the category of Best Country tune.

8 - Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton [Box Set]
Charlie Patton, Delta Bluesman (1887-1934).
The Blues album called Screamin' and Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton won three Grammys in the pre-telecast show - Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, Best Album Notes and Best Historical Album.
Patton's repertoire was unparalleled; his guitar playing - punctuated by striking syncopated, percussive beats - is always in tune and precise; and his slide playing is full subtle whines and flourishes. A legend!

9 - Sugababes: Angels with Dirty Faces   [EXTRA TRACKS] Every song on this CD is a great song. These gals (Keisha, Mutya, and Heidi) are talented lasses and shall no doubt go from strength to strength. Two No. 1 hits: "Freak Like Me" (with a Gary Numan sample) and "Round Round".