Music of My Heart

Today is one of those days. I wish instead of getting up I could just crawl further under the pillow and stay there. I'm in the newspaper today, picture and all. It's for the play we're doing this weekend. Usually something I'm happy about, but today I just don't have the energy to care. So, I'll just blabber about something not so "deep" today...

I always find it hard to answer people when they ask what kind of music I like. I really don't have one particular answer. I don't like just one type of music. I'm a lyric-oriented person. I like artist's who say things in songs I can relate to, or I can feel. The soul of the artist is also another very important feature. They have to have that power in their voice. So, I decided to include some of the more recent albums I have found enjoyable.

• Mary Chapin Carpenter, Between Here and Gone (2004)
• Reba McEntire, Room to Breathe (2003)
• Aretha Franklin, So Damn Happy (2003)
• Annie Lennox, Bare (2003)
• Emmylou Harris, Stumble Into Grace (2003)
• Patty Loveless, On Your Way Home (2003)
• Bonnie Bramlett, I'm Still the Same (2002)
• Melissa Etheridge, Skin (2001)
• Emmylou Harris, Red Dirt Girl (2000)

I highly recommend Emmylou Harris to everyone. I cannot imagine a more beautiful voice. Her most recent albums (listed above) contain songs all written by her, and they are excellent. After listening to Stumble Into Grace I wanted to go out and buy copies for everyone I know (one of the few albums that has done that to me).

I realize the majority of the albums above are "Country," but that's not the only type of music I listen to. People seem to want to classify people as "Rock Lovers," "Country Lovers," "Rap Lovers," etc. I guess the way to explain the Country influence on my music tastes is where I grew up. I lived in Floyd County which is the birthplace of Dwight Yoakam (I'm not a fan of him, incidentally). Connected to Floyd County are Johnson County and Pike County. Pike County being the birthplace of Patty Loveless. Johnson County being the birthplace of Loretta Lynn and Crystal Gayle. Speaking of Loretta Lynn, I recommend her 2004 release Van Lear Rose (note: I was raised about 10 miles from Lynn's birthplace).

Alrighty then, I suppose that's it. You don't have to take my recommendation for the albums above because what do I know? Anyway, they're there for your review.