MISSING THE POINT?

I'm constantly on the lookout for new artists and finding a new artist (rather than just new releases) is what I find most exciting about this hobby. This year I've "discovered" Diana Krall, Shirley Horn, Mai're Brennan, and Dave Hole. Dave Hole is a high NRG blues/rock slide guitar player from Australia. He plays the most wicked slide guitar I've ever heard-- with his left hand and steel slide over the top of the guitar-- great blues/rock. He made his way to Chicago and records on the Alligator label-- not for everyone, but if you like slide guitar, this is some of the best. He has 5 CDs out, and the recordings are good. I seldom buy "audiophile approved" music. Good "new releases": Emmylou Harris "Cimmaron", Cowboy Junkies "Waltz Across America" (available only at www.cowboyjunkies.com). Craig

carl_eber: napster, eh? now your penchant for krell and mit is fully explicated. no need to say more.

Ok there is a bit of diversity amongst us however I do see indications of what I feared.....Most new releases are well-recorded my top 5 albums of this year all have good productions...it's not true to say artist/record companies don't care about how the records sound...... Also to bracket Santana,Sting,Knopfler as new ..well I have records by all these guys and I like them but there is so much new (and old) stuff to be found....I am no musical snob..people like what they like but I'm sure many of you could find "new" music in a style that you like from the mainstream beauty of Eva Cassidy to the more eclectic beauty of Jeff Buckley's Grace....the punk/metal hybrid of At The Drive In(from Texas) Relationships Of Command...to the pop/ambient/blues/hip-hop/ style of Moby's Play.... And I'm not even into the obscure stuff....and also answer me this-why does the above post try to start the usual petty arguments that are starting to make this forum unbearable?? Ben

Ben, I too am finding this site almost unbearable due to inane posts. I am almost apologetic to state that my musical tastes are what you would probably call boring. I try and try to explore different genres, but I can't get past my distractions in music that is disorderly, (i.e. I love Miles' "Kind of Blue" but can't stand his stuff after he got into the nose candy.) I fully appreciate and admire those of you who can really enjoy music that, for me, is really "out there." Best to you. Charlie

I am constantly checking out new releases/new music/new composers. As an audiophile, there's nothing better than finding a disk that's been recorded well and that gives me the sensations of being in the presence of live music. As a working composer, there's nothing that I enjoy more than finding a new, exciting, living composer. I've recently fallen completely in love with the music of Thomas Ades. It's remarkable how well recorded the four available disks of his music are. One thing that I really enjoy about looking for new music is the availability of clips on Amazon. If I hear of a new composer that interests me, I can go to Amazon and immediately hear one-minute clips of various movements of his/her pieces. There's certainly nothing wrong with listening to the same old albums over and over and over and over, but I personally just love to hear new stuff.