Last night I did something I haven’t done in years – purchased a stack of CDs. Not one song at a time at $.99 each, but actual discs imprisoned by impossible stickers and jewel cases just begging to be cracked. There are certain artists that I will always buy on CD, and paying a few dollars more for the packaging is worth it for the liner notes alone. Inadvertently, my new CDs create a Lilith Fair reunion of sorts: Fiona Apple, Tracy Chapman, Sheryl Crow, and Liz Phair. 

I go through phases when songs stick in my head for months, providing the soundtrack of my life. Current obsessions include:

My CD collection and musical taste ranges (alphabetically of course) from ABBA to ZZ Top, but I am currently obsessed with Green Day. American Idiot is probably the best album of the decade, at least thus far. It is a beautiful rock opera, and you must listen to the entire CD in order.

On the other end of the spectrum, I am also really enjoying Kelly Clarkson’s latest, Breakaway. I only quietly admitted to owning and liking her debut album, but I have discovered other openly proud listeners since, and now feel more comfortable declaring myself an official Kelly Clarkson fan.


Most people prefer early Madonna, but Ray of Light and Music are my favorites. For that reason, her last effort, American Life, was disappointing. I am looking forward to the return of electronica Madonna, as her new CD is scheduled to be released later this year.

Shameless Plug Alert: If you haven’t heard of him, you will. Go to iTunes and give a listen to Matt Nathanson. He is a good friend of mine, and even if he wasn’t, I would own his music. His last album, Beneath These Fireworks, is out on Universal Records and he is recording new material as we speak. He will be releasing a live CD in 2006, but if you get the chance, I highly recommend that you see him perform live. You won’t be disappointed.Peruse his website, www.mattnathanson.com, for tour dates and read his online journal for a good laugh.


One last music note – for something different, funky and cool, listen to the two CDs by Nortec Collective. They refer to their genre as Tijuana Techno, and I would describe it as brass & drum electric funk rock.