#758 - Rock Spectacle, Barenaked Ladies

"Fans of the band surely covet this 1996 live performance recorded in Chicago. Finding the band at their peak performance-wise, and the audience at their most rapt, the Barenaked Ladies run through a veritable greatest hits package, effectively emoting the whole way." (real music guide)


#757 - Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, The Sundays

"The Sundays gave jangle pop a new lease on life with this seminal release from 1990. The album is full of shiny pop gems propelled by shuffling rhythms, chiming guitars and Harriet Wheeler's languid, lilting vocals. "Here's Where the Story Ends" and "My Finest Hour" are highlights." (real music guide) (Blogger's note: You ain't kiddin'. "Here's Where the Story Ends" is one of the best songs ever.)

#756 - Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, Ray Charles

"Modern Sounds in Country and Western fit right in with Ray Charles' expansive musical ways while on the Atlantic label in the '50s. In need of even more room to explore, Charles signed with ABC-Paramount and eventually took full advantage of his contract's "full artistic freedom clause" with this collection of revamped country classics." (allmusic guide)

#755 - Flyer, Nanci Griffith

"After getting increased exposure with her exquisite cover album Other Voices, Other Rooms, Nanci Griffith emerged with an album of originals that demonstrated to her new fans that she was more than just an interpreter of songs. She has always been a gifted and versatile songwriter with a knack for stepping inside her characters in story songs, but she writes from a more personal perspective on this album." (allmusic guide)

#754 - Amos Lee, Amos Lee

"This young troubadour was influenced by Bill Withers' acoustic soul and the grizzled integrity of John Prine. Lee takes a dollop from those artists, but fans of performers like Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Ray Lamontagne will also feel right at home. Laidback, lo-fi and confident, Lee has already opened for Bob Dylan and Norah Jones." (real music guide)

#753 - Lost And Gone Forever, Guster

"Lost & Gone Forever is not only Guster's best-sounding record, it's among their most consistent, filled with some of their strongest, catchiest tunes. In other words, it's exactly what their major-label debut should have been." (allmusic guide)