cd for mom - help appreciated
 

im gonna be making her a little stocking stuffer...help me pick the music
here are the requirements
it should be relatively new, not something old...she needs new stuff not flashbacks
no screaming, controlled or uncontrolled, no screaming
not too hard, she doesnt like too heavy guitar or drums, even if i think they are beautiful...but maybe some smooth piano or violin would be good (but still todays popular music, not classical)
most importantly, a good, beautiful, crisp voice. I say crisp because there are alot of people who have beautiful voices that sound raspy, like johnny cash, or beautiful voices that are purposely not crisp for artistic effect, like glassjaw's secret song...she likes crisp though

thanks

Josh Groban

Asta!!

norah jones or maybe some manu chao.

Norah Jones <----definately
Vanessa Carlton
Michelle Branch
Alicia Keyes
John Mayer

Jazz: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Pat Metheny, Jaco Pastorios (i know i spelled that wrong), Thelonious Monk, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Sinatra maybe

but definately go with jazz stuff.

^ The jazz may be out. Said she wants new stuff.

Asta!!

Going thru my playlists:

Eva Cassidy
Teresa James And The Rhythm Tramps
A Girl Called Eddy
Keane
Tift Merritt
Little Feat

My mom loves Keane. No guitar in the band so ya don't really have to worry bout that. Some of the songs do have areas that get a bit loud like the keyboard break on "Bedshaped" was a little overwhelming at first..now I love it though. My mom also is very fond of Jason Mraz and Gavin Degraw...I don't know if those guys might sound too loud in the drums & guitar area though. I really like Damien Rice and from what I've heard of him...Ben Jelen.

Asta!!

modern jazz :D

try maroon 5 too

Some of the Shins' music might work. Particularly some stuff off Oh, Inverted World.

Brian Vander Ark and the Verve Pipe (try "Mileage" and "Gotta Move On", respectively)

Belle & Sebastian - tons that might work here. ("Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" or "Sleep the Clock Around" for starters)

Sondre Lerche - Modern Nature, Two Way Monologue

Mason Jennings - Ballad of Paul and Sheila, Darkness Between the Fireflies, Dewey Dell

For what it's worth, in particular my mom really likes the Belle & Sebastian music I've played for her.

how about the ballads or soft songs of new rock bands...she seems to be pretty keen on those if you could help me name some....examples include "rain" by breaking benjamin, "simple man" by shinedown, "the drugs don't work" by the verve, etc

If you want some unique stuff-- On www.garageband.com -- there's some really good stuff there (I'm probably close to your mom's age, so if I like it - -she might)

Find the stuff my Dust Radio (february Day is excellent) or Anne Heaton (these are indie bands that haven't been signed to a label yet -- but dammit, should be) Mom could be the first on her block to know of these bands.. :D

Definitely stuff by Brian Vander Ark and the Verve Pipe, particularly Brian Vander Ark.

BVA: Mileage, 1229 Sheffield, And Then You Went Away
Verve Pipe: Gotta Move On, Miles Away, Underneath

thanks fool, those were good

edit: and the freshmen was a good ballad by them, but you probably didnt mention it because it was so popular...dont worry about that, anything well known is not in her vocabulary

I didn't mention it because I had a brain fart. :) I definitely should have; I still consider it one of their very best songs, in spite of any overplay.

Try some Alice in Chains- they put out some great acoustic stuff.

Sap and Jar of Flies are good.. my mom likes 'em.

The stuff from the MTV unplugged show is outstanding -- it's some of their best work

yup, those alice in chains suggestions were gold, thanks

How can you mention Verve Pipe and not mention She Has Faces, Half A Mind, and Colorful?? I would have mentioned them myself but he said "crisp" voice not raspy and Vanderark is very raspy though being a great singer. If yer gonna throw Verve Pipe in then definitely throw in David Gray. And again I gotta mention Damien Rice. Listen to The Blowers Daughter and Amie.

Asta!!

I got my mom Alice in Chains unplugged for her birthday a few months ago. She tells me that she loves it.

i think she actually has a cd by david gray, so youre on the right track. ppl that sound like him?

Popping over to amazon-- selecting a david gray cd -- other names that come up as what other people bought are

Coldplay
Jack Johnson
Damien Rice

Listen to the Damien Rice man. The only David Gray cd I own is White Ladder but I hear some of his earlier CD's are great too. My mom really loves Jason Mraz and Gavin Degraw like I said before you may wanna check them out too. I've been wanting to get ahold of some Richard Ashcroft (he's the singer for the verve) his solo albums are pretty good you may wanna check him out..he sings a little like Gray actually.

Asta!!

Also, a couple individual song recs for 'David Gray'-type music. Kinda.

Elbow - Snooks (Progress Report)
Super Furry Animals - Demons
Kings of Convenience - Sorry or Please
Pernice Brothers - Water Ban
Scott Weiland - But Not Tonight

I think she would like Matt Nathanson

I recommend these songs by him: Suspended, I Saw, Bent, Sad Songs

Also a few other songs she may like:

• Nick Drake - One of These Things First
  David Gray - Babylon, Please Forgive Me
  Frou Frou - Let Go
  Remy Zero - Fair

Good luck, and remember, track integrity (song order) really can take a CD from being just good to great.

yea i did listen to the damien rice, definitely gonna put amie on there. not only do i think shell love it, i fell in love with it too. something so unique about it in this day and age. trying to find the others stuff too

oh, and i just came across a song from the mid 90's, eve 6 - promise. i think im gonna put it on, hope its not too hard, but try to dig this song from out of the depths of your harddrive, its actually surprisingly good and well composed

Yes Amie is one of my favorite songs on the album. I love pretty much the whole album though. Amie was the stand out track for me though when I heard the album for the first time. I kept thinking I wanted to get it so I could hear Amie all the way through. Umm heres a shot in the dark but maybe try Michael Lord he has a bit of a tom petty meets Silverchair or goo goo dolls kinda thing goin on. I like his music. That CD is <i>The String Sessions...</i> but if you go to the search feature and put his name there you can also listen to the actual debut album which is <i>Sway</i> which I also find to be really good. I like what he did with The String Sessions too...especially the string arrangements on "What Have You Got To Lose?" ya know? Check him out though lemme know what you think.

Asta!!

Josh Groban is really talented. My mom loves him so I'd give him a try.

The Doves, although they are a british band, have a really wonderful and soft sound.
The Smiths are another really good band
I really like Nine Days, the sonds If I am and So Far Away are favorites.
Incubus has some pretty mellow songs like Here in my Room, 11 am, Mexico.
Our Lady Peace has some pretty good music as well.

Stephen Lynch - Mother's Day

One ticket to Hell please...thank you

Josh Groban, Dianna Krall, Alison Krauss, Sade, and Norah Jones are all well regarded by adult types

Might want to also check the O' Brother Where Art Though Soundtrack or
Buena Vista Social Club

im surprised nobody has mentioned

Keane- Hopes and Fears

amazing album in my opinion.

^ I like Bedshaped...but Maleficient mentioned Keane already and I seconed it.

Asta!!

try the eric mcfadden records. solo or with trio. theres about a million of them.
http://www.ericmcfadden.com/

NiN::Something I Can Never Have.
I'm not sure if it's quite what you're looking for, but it's beautiful.

the new Sondre Lerche cd, heard it's good, his stuff is usually mellow enough for moms

hey guys great suggestions. really appreciated it alot

Its funny that you bring this up, this year for christmas I decided to try and update my dads cs colletion. He has mostly classic rock and likes classical music and the like. The cd's ive picked out are:

Train - Train

Kenny Wayne Sheppard - Trouble is

Jack Johnson - Brushfire Fairytales

David Gray - White Ladder

Blind Melon - Blind Melon

hope that gives you an idea or two! :thumbsup:

I love the Train - Train album. Blind is my favorite song on it.

Asta!!