Last week I mentioned that Amazon posted their top 100 world music albums and that they also have about 27 world music samplers. I have given a number a listen, so I thought this week I would recommend a few, so here goes:
Six Degrees Free - As collection of Indian music, it would be easy to say that this is just riding the momentum of Slumdog Millionaire, but the songs on the sampler show a greater range of Indian music. Journey by Bombay Dub Orchestra would be my recommendation if you only want to listen to one song.
Luaka Bop - World artists from all over here, so there is a decent chance you will find something you like. As a bonus, there is a remix of Wherever You Are by Geggy Tah. My one song on this one is Valentin by Susana Baca.
Rotana - With music from the Middle East, I realize this might be a stretch for some, but I really enjoyed it. My pick on this one is Kalamak Ya Habibi by George Wassouf
Let me know if you checked out any others and if you have anything you would recommend as well.
PS: It is things like this that make the Amazon MP3 store better than iTunes at this point.
Watina was an album pick over a year ago when I tried doing it along with the pick of the week, and didn't quite keep up. After Amazon released their 100 Greatest World Albums yesterday, I thought it appropriate to bring this album back to the front. This really is an amazing album. The music transcends language, allowing you to really feel these songs. If you havn't checked out an album from a world artist, you could do a lot worse for a first listen.
I realize I might get some flack for this pick, but this is one of the forgotten grunge albums that really stands up after many years. There were a number of hits off this album, with Hey Jealousy being the Gin Blossoms most popular. Listening to the entire album now, it is a little more tame than a lot of grunge albums, but has surprising quality in both the lyrics and music. If you havn't listened to this album in awhile, give it another check now and decide for yourself how it holds up.
The side project by Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello is one of the best selling and well known Sub Pop albums of all time, and with good reason. Created by sending tapes across the country through the USPS (clever name huh?), this album fuses Gibbard's vocals with Tamborello's electronic music skills amazingly well.