Well first of all this year is already given me better music than all of last year. This is just a small take on two artists, one in his mid 50s and one in her late 20's. One is on his 21st CD and the other is on her 3rd solo, but both continue to grow.



"Freedoms Road"- John Mellencamp

Well once again Mellencamp shows why to me he is one of the best poet/singers of this generation, and in some respects he passes those greats and is all alone in the game.

From track one you know that a guy 56 year old can rock better than anyone, its not about the age is about heart and SOUL. The title track shows Mellencamps take on how the GOVT talks about giving Freedom but uses murder and lieing to do it. Some people way think that this is a "folk" record by looking at it, but its just rock from the inside and out. The oddest track has to be "Rural Route" with its slide guitar and lyrics that create some of the worst images, you almost feel you are there, which is what a GOOD songwriter does. Obviously the known track is "Our Country" due to its commercial, but as Mellencamp has said recently he thinks selling a song to commercial is wrong, its really the only way a guy his age can get played and HEARD nowadays. He says " its easy to be Noble and prolific when u are getting played on mtv and radio 24/7"


Not too Late-Norah Jones

First of all invest in the DVD/CD package of Norahs latest just for the 3 videos and interviews and performances its well worth the extra few bucks. And if you cant hear growth in Norah as a writer(she wrote all tracks) singer (her vocals shine and shows the best range yet) then you dont know what Music is.

The immediate tracks to hit me where, "Sinkin Soon" which is Norah and the band at their finest, and the video for it is the best since "take on me"-aHA and "Rockit"- Herbie Hancock, at least in terms of being creative with the art of video. next would be "Not my Friend" a sweet sounding song with the most hurtful lyrics and a distant ELECTRIC guitar solo by Adam Levy shows the pain in the song. "Thinking about You" is the POP track as they say, and lyrcially beautiful and the video too shows creative art in video. "My dear Country" is about Al Gore or John Kerry and their losing elections and how we lost too. "Rosies Lullaby" a beautiful story about a friend of Norah and the band. "Little Room" which is about Norahs first apartment in NYC and the song is actually recorded in one take in a little room, all echoes and noises left in.

All in all both records have given me faith in artists once again, after a really poor year for music with some bright spots, this year is already looking good with these 2, and a new Harry Connick out too, (dont sleep on this one).

Another point would be these records are Produced by the artists themselves, we need more of that. Norahs is produced by Lee Alexander which is her band member and best friend since she came to NYC. And Norahs record is full of guest appearacnes from NYC finest "Unheard" musicians, cause after all as she said she is still the "Club singer" and performer.


[Edited 1/29/07 20:36pm]

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So far, i like Untill The End from Norah's LP.