// So many posts in two days, they won't all fit on one digest!

// So this one, dated for Dec 9, is just "top ten" lists. 

// The one dayed for Dec 8 is the "regular" post digest. OK?

// Enjoy...[BP]





_________________________________________________________________



Subject: NN: Top Ten

   From: bpage@scctel.com



Don't have 10 favorites, but in no particular order:



Kate Campbell -- Visions of Plenty (okay, it's number 1)

Susan Werner -- Time Between Trains (okay, 2)

Lyle Lovett -- Step inside This House

The Kate Wolf Tribute

Leva and Jones (I didn't buy it, but someone let me listen...)

Nanci -- OVToo



_________________________________________________________________



Subject: NN: Top Ten, just under the wire

   From: "Tina Shackleford" (tshack@sprynet.com>



What a great year for music!  One of the reasons I've waited so long to do

my list is that the selections keep shuffling.  My lists in the past have

been mostly female artists; it's a surprise to see this year split between

the girls and the boys (yeah, yeah, diminutive terms).  In approximate

order:



1)  Car Wheels on a Gravel Road -- Lucinda Williams.  Lucinda's been a cult

favorite for so long it's somewhat odd to see her in the media spotlight. 

But it's good to be reminded that occasionally there's justice in the

world.  I'm seeing Lucinda live this weekend; anyone know who her opening

act is these days?



2)  Celtschmerz -- Richard Thompson.  The latest of the "official

bootlegs," this is all acoustic, and gorgeously produced.  Mostly just

Richard and his amazing guitar, although son Teddy joins him for a few

numbers, including "Wall of Death."  Order information can be found at

www.thebeesknees.com (a great source for folk music in general).



3)  Up -- REM.  When I first bought this I didn't know what to make of it. 

After a hundred or so listenings, I still don't, except that it's brilliant

and touching.  Michael Stipe writes unabashed love songs -- who knew?



4)  Spyboy -- Emmylou Harris.  Obviously I'm not burned out on the

Emmy-fication of so much music this year.  A wonderful live album.



5)  Visions of Plenty -- Kate Campbell.  This was the year I finally

"discovered" Kate Campbell, after much prodding from the NN.  After buying

her three albums and seeing her twice in concert, I'd follow her anywhere.



6)  Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello -- Painted From Memory.  Perfect Pop

for Grownups.  This is my most-played CD these days.  A reminder of the

simple power songwriting can have.



7)  Step Inside This House -- Lyle Lovett.  I'm a big fan of Lyle's songs,

so I must admit initial disappoinment when I heard this one was covers. 

Boy, was I wrong!  Wrong, wrong, wrong.  For my penance I'll listen to the

album a few more times.  



8)  Try Whistling This -- Neil Finn.  Perfect Pop for Grownups, Part II. 

Beautiful singing and songwriting, reminiscent of Neil's former band

Crowded House.  The title song alone is worth the purchase.



9)   Hell Among the Yearlings -- Gillian Welch.  Revival is one of my

favorite albums of the past few years, and it's great to see more of the

same.  Murder ballads for everyone!



10)  whitechocolatespaceegg -- Liz Phair.  This one sneaked onto my list

when I wasn't paying attention.  Undeniably great songs, showing Phair's

real growth as an artist.



Reissues:  Bob Dylan's 1966 The "Royal Albert Hall" Concert, and of course,

Lucinda Williams' 1988 self-titled album.



Honorable Mentions:  Bonnie Raitt, Barenaked Ladies, OV2, Lou Reed, Cowboy

Junkies, the Horse Whisperer soundtrack (how many, like me, love the CD but

have no plans to see the movie?)



Haven't bought (yet):  CryCryCry, Son Volt, Kristin Hersh, and whatever

else I "discover" from other people's lists.



Must send before the list changes again...



Tina



_________________________________________________________________



Subject: NN: TOP TEN 1998

   From: bateman@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca

 

OK. I can't put it off any longer. Here, in no particular order (except

for the first 2), is my top 10 list from 1998:



Eric Andersen. Memory of the Future (my vote for best folk CD of the year)



Various Artists. Songs of Pete Seeger (best folk compilation/tribute album 

                                       of the year)

  

Judy Collins. Both Sides Now



Nanci Griffith. Other Voices, Too



John Gorka. After Yesterday



Cry Cry Cry. Cry Cry Cry



Shawn Colvin. Holiday Songs and Lullabies



Various Artists. Treasures Left Behind: Remembering Kate Wolf



Various Artists. Songs of Phil Ochs



Ramblin' Jack Elliott. Friends of Mine





Most eagerly anticipated CDs of 1999:



Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound: Tom Paxton: the Electra Years

(Rhino)



Tom Rush Compilation Album (Columbia Legacy)



Wish list for 1999:



New albums from: Nanci Griffith, Judy Collins, Lucy Kaplansky, Richard

Shindell, many others.



A note about my first 2 choices for top ten. Eric Andersen's Memory of the

Future is a beautiful piece of work, easily his best album since Blue

River in the early 70s. Songs of Pete Seeger is by far the best

compilation/tribute album in recent years. Putting it together must have

been a labour of love. Both CDs are from Appleseed Recordings, a

(relatively) new label to watch.



Rob Bateman



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Subject: NN: Top Ten

   From: GV (gvallest@online.no>



I haven't bought more than 6 CDs released this year,

so it will only be a top 5 (no particulary order)



Nanci Griffith - Other Voices, Too

I like this one, it grows on you. Wall Of Death, Who Knows 

Where The Time Goes and Wasn't that A Mighty Storm, If I Had A

Hammer and Darcy Farrow stood out from the beginning. The rest 

of the CD grows (except for 2-3 songs).



Emmylou Harris - Spyboy

Finally a live album from Emmylou with a wonderful mix of old

and newer songs. With the beautiful Boulder To Birmingham.



The Rolling Stones - No Security

Another great live album from the band that never will retire.



Bill Wyman /Rhytm Kings - Struttin' Our Stuff and Anyway The Wind Blows

Nice selection of blues, boogie, rockabilly etc. with great musicians.

Personally, I think Anyway The Wind Blows is the better of this two.

I saw this band on stage in Oslo during October, and Gary Brooker 

played and sang A Whiter Shade Of Pale.



Bob Dylan - Live 1966

Finally this famous concert is available as an official release.



That's it.



Regards,

Georg Vallestad



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: Top Ten

   From: "Bradsher" (brad43@bellsouth.net>



Once again the best of  the year:



(1)  REM - "Up" - Possibly the best album of the 90's.  Stipe finally bears his

heart?soul for all to hear. If it gets any better than this, I really don't want

to hear it.



(2)  Jules Shear - "Between Us" - Any other year and this is the best.

Singer/songwriter does duets with some terrific people. Came out early in the

year and has stayed in my CD player all year.



(3)  Lucinda Williams - "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" - Have been listening to

this lady for quite a few years and she keeps getting better. You know she has

been there when you hear her sing.



(4)  Emmylou Harris - "Spyboy" - Though I have these songs on other albums; this

live album finally does justice for the outlaw lady of country music. Hearing

her sing on this is absolutely amazing.



(5)  Elvis Costello w/Burt Bacharach - "Painted from Memory" - Wonderful

collection of torch songs from a former alternative punk rocker. Some wine, dim

lights and it doesn't get any better than this.



(6) Kurt Elling - "This Time it's Love" - The Sinatra of our times. He will be

heard from for years to come, and these are romantic love songs at their best.



I know that is only 6, but I met a wonderful lady on this list a couple of 

years ago, because she listed only 5. I sure do miss her.



brad





Why does God provide these dreams

If he won't provide the wings?



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: top ten list

   From: LDay67@aol.com



Hi list-friends,



Here 'tis.  What an excellent year for music, concerts, and friends, both old

and new.



1.  Kate Campbell - Visions of Plenty

2.  Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels on a Gravel Road 

3.  Dar Williams, Lucy Kaplansky, and Richard Shindell - Cry Cry Cry 

4.  Carol Elizabeth Jones and James Leva - Journey Home

5.  Valerie Smith - Patchwork Heart

6.  The Horse Whisperer soundtrack 

7.  Gillian Welch - Hell Among the Yearlings  

8.  Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver - Gospel Radio Gems  

9.  Lynn Miles - Night in a Strange Town 

10.  Cowboy Junkies - Miles From Our Home



Listfully,

Lisa



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: Top 10 list

   From: Susan Krauss (skrauss@hooked.net>



My list, in no particular order....



Various artists, "Where Have All the Flowers Gone: The Songs of Pete Seeger."



Emmylou Harris, "Spyboy."



Lucinda Williams, "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road."



Nanci Griffith, "Other Voices, Too - A Trip Back to Bountiful"



Bruce Springsteen, "Tracks"



Judy Collins, "Both Sides Now"



Dar Williams, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky, "Cry Cry Cry"



Various Artists, "Treasures Left Behind"



Susan Werner, "Time Between Trains"



Kate & Anna McGarrigle, "The McGarrigle Hour"





CD's that would probably be on the list if I'd purchased them...

Lyle Lovett, "Step Into This House"

Gillian Welch, "Hell Among The Yearlings"

Randy Newman box set

Kate Campbell, "Visions of Plenty"



CD's I just bought but haven't listened to yet (and might be on the list if

I had):

Eric Anderson, "Memory of the Future"

various Artists, "Tribute to Tradition"



CD's  that will be on my 1999 list:

Cheryl Wheeler, "Sylvia Hotel"

Lucy Kaplansky, "Ten Year Night"





_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: Getting around to that Top Ten (finally!)

   From: Bill Karnoscak (BKarnoscak@rushu.rush.edu>



The procrastinator in me emerges in full force; no matter that it's a joy to

review the music that moved me in all directions over the calendar year. I agree

with those who feel 1998 was an embarrassment of riches with regard to the kind

of music Nanci's admirers are drawn to.  Listed in order of longevity of play

(in the car/office/home) and thus affinity:  Apologies in advance for the length

of annotations.  I thank others for including them though, because they've led

me to so many wonderful artists I would have never even thought to try out (much

less know about in the first place). Peaceful and grace-filled holidays to

all...



10] K's Choice:  "Cocoon Crash." Perhaps this is a tad afield for the list,

which is exactly why I include it here.  From Belgium, Sarah and Gert Bettens

are a sister-brother team who sound at once like the Indigo Girls crossed with

the Cranberries.  Great harmonies and smart arrangements here do not drown out

the vocals. They're also amazing to see live -- so look for them!

        

9] Jennifer Kimball: "Veering from the Wave."   Formerly of "the Story" Kimball

has an amazing voice and can be found lending her vocal expertise to the likes

of Patty Larkin, Carrie Newcomer, Lucy Kaplansky, Ellis Paul, et al.  Her cover

of Crowded House's (Neil Finn) "Fall at your Feet" is brilliant, as are her own

compositions. She's got a quirky sense of harmony, but it generally works to her

advantage.       



8] Nanci Griffith et al.: "Other Voices, Too..."  All the griping aside (not

enough solo or lead vocal Nanci, pronunciation variants), to me, this is a

wonderful collection of music and discoveries for many of us. It's made me go

back to re-hear the originals, or to seek them out for the first time, which is

one reason (among many) that Nanci made these albums in the first place.  Her

generosity of spirit to keep the folk fires alive (perhaps to her own detriment

if this list were the only source of information) is so amazing, and contributes

largely to why I have admired her for so many years.



7] Cry Cry Cry (Lucy Kaplansky, Richard Shindell, Dar Williams).  In many ways,

this release sheds light, in the way the OVOR projects did, on current folk

(ahh, there I said it again!) songwriters who might otherwise not be discovered

(save for Michael Stipe, of course!).  



6] Kate Campbell:  "Visions of Plenty." As Nanci does so well, Kate Campbell

also writes of a particular place in time in many of her songs (growing up in

the South in the 60s).  The peak of this effort is contained in a song called

"Crazy in Alabama," which speaks to the civil rights struggle in her home town

when she was younger.  I heard Kate perform this song in a very small local

venue, and it was a couple of years before it was included on this album.  Kate

also has a great sense of humor and a well developed streak of irony which comes

out in her writing. 



5] Ellis Paul: "Translucent Soul."  Perhaps personal angst does fire up the

creative spirit.  Written post-divorce, Ellis Paul has strung together a

wonderful batch of songs which are played and sung with urgency and earnestness

(without becoming cloying).  Dar Williams sings grace notes on one particular

cut ("Angel in Manhattan").  Earlier Ellis discs have displayed glimmers of

brilliance (and also great backing/harmony vocals by Patty Griffin and Jennifer

Kimball), but this one pulls it all together. 



4] Patty Griffin: "Flaming Red."  As has been mentioned by a few on this list,

Griffin's sophomore release was quite a shocker compared to "Living with

Ghosts."  But it's a testament to an artist who can enact a complete makeover

with just two releases.  Yeah -- it's bound to leave a few folks cold (and it's

human nature to want more of what we already know and like -- the source of many

a well-regarded posts about Nanci here, about wanting less of this and more of

that regarding Nanci), but if you allow yourself to get past the blast of

"Flaming Red," the opening cut, this has proved to be a very rewarding disc from

beginning to end. 



3] Lucinda Williams: "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road."  What is it about the South

that is so evocative to many of the artists which get mentioned on the

NanciNet?  Not many artists could have withstood the anticipation and

expectations pent up after a six-year wait.  Hopefully, it won't be another long

span until the next release from Lucinda.          



2] Susan Werner: "Time Between Trains." Inspired by seeing a Nanci Griffith

concert, Susan Werner ditched a operatic voice training to take up a guitar and

write songs.  This disc is much more sparsely produced that earlier efforts, and

some say Werner's voicing isn't as strong as has been evidenced on other

releases, but the material more than makes up for those nits. Stand out cut for

me is "Like Bonsai."  Werner crosses many genres without looking back:  folk,

jazz, blues, r & b, and straight-ahead pop music.  



1] EmmyLou Harris: "Spyboy." After 1995's "Wrecking Ball," I was pretty much

braced for anything EmmyLou might toss our way.  I'm usually not a big fan of

concert recordings; somehow the experience is just not captured.  But somehow,

Buddy Miller and Harris overcame that huge shortcoming and this record is a

scintillating example of how EmmyLou makes herself over with such grace and

ease.  Of course, now without a management company OR record contract, she seems

busy as ever championing and vocally supporting the likes of Patty Griffin, Kate

Campbell, Nanci Griffith, Lucinda Williams, Willie Nelson, etc. in addition to

appearing on a ton of tribute collections (Kate Wolf, Tammy Wynette and

others).  Again, sparse arrangements give new life to old chestnuts ("Tulsa

Queen," "Boulder to Birmingham," "Love Hurts"), and even the cuts from Wrecking

Ball have a vibrancy that generally is present in live settings.  There is also

a video coming out from this project.  I can't wait.         

+++++++++++++++++

Honorable mentions:

Allison Moorer: Alabama Songs (bought solely on the cut included on "The Horse

Whisperer.")  A little too "country" (whatever that is these days) for me, but

still a great find.

 

Lyle Lovett: Step Inside This House



Soundtrack: Horse Whisperer; A great collection of tunes.  This also includes a

much less bluesy, but no less affecting version of Lucinda Williams' "Still I

Long for Your Kiss."  Also includes fine cuts from EmmyLou Harris, Steve Earle,

Iris Dement and Gillian Welch.  

Treasures Left Behind: Remembering Kate Wolf



_________________________________________________________________





Subject:  NN: top albums

   From: Val Graber (n9649904@cc.wwu.edu>



Hi all!

Just thought I'd de-lurk and drop in my .02 worth for top ten albums.  I

didn't buy many 1998 albums this year, so I have a Top Five list

instead, plus some of my favorite new old stuff.



(not in any order)

1) Nanci: OV2  -  Really liked this album.  When I listed the very first

time, I wasn't so sure, but it grew on me quickly and now it's one of my

favorites to play in my computer while I'm typing away!



2) Gaelic Storm: Gaelic Storm - A friend turned me on to this one

recently.  This is the band whose music you hear in "Titanic" in the

"steerage" section.  This is their first release and it contains mainly

traditional Irish songs like "Tell Me Ma", "The Leaving of Liverpool",

etc.  Gets my toes tapping



3) Marc Cohn: Burning the Daze - Wasn't sure about this one at first

either, but now I really like it.  "Healing Hands" and "Olana" are

especially good.



4) Ani Difranco: Little Plastic Castles - This was #1 in our CD player

(and my car tape deck) for a few weeks when it first came out.  Her

lyrics are amazing.



5) Gillian Welch: Hell Among the Yearlings - Just bought this album a

couple of weeks ago.  It was hard for anything to live up to Revival,

but I love this album.  No sign of it leaving our player in the near

future!



Haven't yet bought several of the albums discussed on the list (Car

Wheels, Step Inside This House, Cry Cry Cry, Visions of Plenty, Spyboy)

but they are all on my Christmas wish list!



We've bought a lot of older albums this year.  Some of my favorites:

Standing in My Shoes (Leo Kottke);   Road to Ensenada (Lyle Lovett);  

Book of Secrets (Loreena McKennitt):   Keepers (Guy Clark) (Thanks to

the people who wrote and suggested some Guy Clark albums a while

back!);  Casey Neill (Casey Neill);   Live and Obsure, High Low and

InBetween (Townes Van Zandt);   Will the Circle Be Unbroken Vol.2 (Nitty

Gritty Dirt Band);   Portraits (Emmylou Harris - wow- 60+ Emmy songs -

I'm in heaven!)  



On another topic: we're going to be in New Zealand during the month of

January.  If there are any NZ Nancinetters out there reading this, could

you drop me an email and let me know of any bars/clubs with good folk

music, or bands we should try to catch?  We'll mainly be in the Nelson

area, but will be spending at least a few days in Auckland on the way in

and out of the country.  

Thanks!



- Val "we'll have this globe by its tail" Graber



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: Top Ten and Many Thanks

   From: "David W. Gibson" (David_W_Gibson@msn.com>



Delurking to throw in some favorites of 1998.  In no special order:

1. Nanci: Other Voices, Too.

2. Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.

3. Sheryl Crow: The Globe Sessions.

4. Emmylou Harris: Spyboy.

5. Treasures Left Behind, Remembering Kate Wolf.

6. Jewel: Spirit.



And my heartfelt thanks to many on this list who introduced me to (among

others) Cory Sipper, Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, and Kate Campbell.

The light is much brighter beyond my woods...

And, since I'm feeling brave at the moment, thanks to you also Christina for

sharing many special moments and feelings I know many of us in lurkdom share

and wish we could sing out.



"At least I'm housebroken" - The Dude.



Dave "back to my woods" Gibson





_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: 1998 Top Ten

   From: Josh Van Buskirk (jvb@zool.unizh.ch>



Just slipping these in under the wire, 

in a very approximate order....



 (1) Lucinda Williams: CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD

 (2) Lyle Lovett: STEP INTO THIS HOUSE

 (3) Pierce Pettis: EVERYTHING MATTERS

 (4) John Gorka: AFTER YESTERDAY

 (5) Mark O'Connor: MIDNIGHT ON THE WATER

 (6) Nanci Griffith: OTHER VOICES, TOO

 (6) Dar Williams et al.: CRY CRY CRY

 (8) Liz Phair: WHITECHOCOLATESPACEEGG

 (9) Jerry Garcia and David Grisman: SO WHAT

(10) Jerry Douglas: RESTLESS ON THE FARM



Very honorable mentions go to Cowboy Junkies, Kate Campbell,

REM, Gillian Welch, Sam Bush, Doc and Merle Watson, and some

Grateful Dead releases.





_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: Our top ten

   From: Linda Oliver (loliver@flash.net>



My husband Tom put together this list, but when I saw it I totally

agreed with it! 



in basic 1st to last order:



1)      Gillian Welch (and David Rawlings even IF he

        is not listed on the cd cover!)

        Hell Among the Yearlings

        Almo Sounds

        (This never seems to leave our CD player!)



2)      Kate Campbell

        Visions of Plenty

        Compass Records



3)      Lucinda Williams

        Car Wheels on a Gravel Road

        Mercury Records

        (twangtrust indeed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! this girl ROCKS!)

        (I just managed to snag a signed Xmas ornament at the Sweet     

         Relief Auction!)



4)      Victoria Williams

        Musings of a Creekdipper

        Atlantic



5)      Nanci Griffith  

        Other Voices, Too (A Trip Back to Bountiful)

        Elektra

        (...hell w/ the naysayers, i don't CARE if it IS a 

        campfire record.  worth it for thompson's WALL OF DEATH

        alone!)



6)      Golden Smog

        Weird Tales

        Rykodisc



7)      Emmylou Harris

        Spyboy

        Eminent Records

        (...watch out, buddy miller could KILL you w/ that guitar!)



8)      Greg Trooper

        Popular Demons

        Koch Records

        (...taken a bit, but grown on me. fine songwriting, and

        evident Buddy Miller production)



9)      Victoria Williams 

        The Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers

        Pacific Coast Rambler

        self produced (vic courtesy of Atlantic)

        (We're going to see her next week at a benefit in San           

	Francisco with J.C. Hopkins!)

     

10)     Cry Cry Cry

        (Dar Williams, Richard Shindell, Lucy Kaplansky)

        Cry Cry Cry

        Razor & Tie

        (very sweet. nice julie miller tune. nice sexsmith tune.

        introduced ME to a lot of new songwriters.  WE GO TO SEE

        THEM TONIGHT!! ya-hoo! the CD grows on me w/ each listen)



Tom and I went pretty crazy buying CDs this year (I, for one, discovered

buying online!). I was just overwhelmed with the choices.



Linda



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: Re: NN: 1998 Top Ten

   From: MAUDEENW@aol.com



I hope I've made the deadline!



Mine are in no particular order: 



Car Wheels on a Gravel Road - Lucinda Williams

Hell Among the Yearlings - Gillian Welch

Horse Whisperer - various

Pete Seeger Tribute

Step Inside this House - Lyle Lovett

Over Voices Other Rooms - Nanci

Spyboy - Emmylou Harris

Treasures Left Behind - Remembering Kate Wolfe

Wide Open Spaces - Dixie Chicks

Some Things I Know - Lee Ann womack



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: Yet Another Top 10

   From: ferg@world.std.com (Mark E Ferguson)



Hey Dudes and Chicks,



I managed finally to come up with a top 10.  In order:



1. Lucinda Williams       Car Wheels on a Gravel Road  (Mercury)

No denying it.  A flawless album.



2. Richard Buckner        Since  (MCA)

Haunting and rocking at the same time.



3. Robbie Fulks           Let's Kill Saturday Night  (Geffen)

Robbie rocks out, retains wit (and duets with Lucinda).



4. Dwight Yoakam          A Long Way Home  (Reprise)

Classic country for now people.



5. Beaver Nelson          The Last Hurrah  (Freedom)

Obscure Texan puts out some of the best songs of the year.



6. Son Volt               Wide Swing Tremolo  (Warner Bros.)

Richly layered alt.country.



7. Lyle Lovett            Step Inside This House  (Curb/MCA)

Tribute to Texas songwriters approaches perfection.



8. Chris Mills            Every Night Fight for Your Life   (Sugar Free)

Cool mix of rock, folk, country.



9. Billy Bragg and Wilco  Mermaid Avenue  (Elektra)

Neat concept done very well.



10.Gillian Welch          Hell Among the Yearlings  (Almo Sounds)

Appalachian back-porch music.  Nice killin' songs.





Honorable mentions: Eric Taylor, Allison Moorer, Bap Kennedy, David Garza,

Kate Campbell.



Yet to hear: Dave Alvin, Peter Case, Stacey Earle, Tim Easton, Mike Ireland, 

Jones & Leva, Mary Lou Lord, Heather Myles, Pernice Bros, Elliott Smith, 

Valerie Smith, Wagon.



More Top 10 details: http://www.jump.net/~ferg/drivel.html



Mark Ferguson

Austin, Texas

http://www.jump.net/~ferg/



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: Re: NN: top ten list

   From: Petop@aol.com



OK, here is my submissions, but first of all I would like to thank all those

people who could not come up with 10 because I want to list 13 albums that I

thought were the significant albums of the year. They are listed in

alphabetical order by artist:



Barenaked Ladies: Stunt (Breaking up never sounded so quirky.)

Billy Bragg & Wilco: Mermaid Avenue (Proof positive that Garth Brooks has not

   obliterated the roots of country music.)

Sheryl Crow: The Globe Sessions (She just keeps getting better with every

   album.)

Dixie Chicks: Wide Open Spaces (The addition of Natalie Maines has made all

   the difference in the world.)

The Dave Matthews Band: Before These Crowded Streets (They've stuck to their

   guns and made it work.)

Kate & Anna McGarrigle: The McGarrigle Hour (Kinda makes you want to visit

   them at home, doesn't it.)

Joni Mitchell: Taming the Tiger ((I love it when she gets mad.)

Keb Mo: Slow Down (Easy going blues.)

Willie Nelson: Teatro (Willie overcomes the production problems.)

Liz Phair: Whitechocolatespaceegg (The kinder, gentler Liz Phair was

   certainly worth waiting for.)

R.E.M.: Up (Is this band supposed to be this optimistic?)

The Brian Setzer Orchestra: The Dirty Boogie (Will someone show the Cherry

   Popping whatevers and the other pretenders that this is swing music.)

Lucinda Williams: Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (As close to the real thing as

   we're likely to find this year.)



_________________________________________________________________





Subject: NN: Top Ten

   From: "Broyles, Julie A." (JABroyles@lyonlyon.com>



Pugsley (and all),



Hope I haven't gone past your cut-off time.  My list is so similar to most

others so far I wasn't rushing to get it in, but I've gotten caught up in

the last minute "Me, too!"  I haven't bought very many cd's this year, but

I'm definitely enjoying the recommendations made here that I've picked up so

far.  They pretty much make up my list.  Thank you all for your musical

adventurousness and for sharing what you've heard and liked.  Having learned

I can trust the musical tastes of NNers, my list for Santa has grown sooooo

long now, but I've been a good girl (chick, honey, sweetie, dudette, . . .

whatever!)  (Service providers call ladies m'am out here in this part of the

West, even me at 36-but could pass for 26 on a good day in the right light,

and I don't like it!)



Currently enjoying:



1.   OVToo  (she stands alone)

2.   Step Inside This House  (Lyle could make me ache if he sang my water

     bill to me)

3.   Spirit - Jewel

4.   Cry, Cry, Cry  (Robert Shindell singing Memphis gets me every time)

5.   Kate Wolf tribute

6.   Car Wheels

7.   Spyboy

8.   Hell Among The Yearlings

9.   Pete Seeger tribute

10.  Ian & Sylvia anthology



Julie  "I'm NOT a m'am" (stomp foot so as to hang onto youth by acting

childish)

_________________________________________________________________



Questions about NanciNet?  Send e-mail to bpage@scctel.com