What’s New in the Music Collection?

 

How to Solve Our Human ProblemsROCK / POPULAR MUSIC

How to Solve Our Human Problems by  Belle and Sebastian

Diamond Diana: The Legacy Collection by Diana Ross

See You Around by I’m With Her

Camila by  Camila Cabello

By the Way, I Forgive You by Brandi Carlile

 

SOUNDTRACKS

Black Panther The Album: Music From and Inspired By

Fifty Shades Freed : The Final Chapter

Lady Bird : Soundtrack From The Motion Picture

The Shape of Water: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

56th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees

The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards will air this Sunday, January 26th, 2014. Take a look at the entire list of nominees in all categories on the GRAMMY Awards’ website. Click the links below to find the nominees for Record of the Year and Album of the Year in your library catalog, where you can place a request.

RECORD OF THE YEAR

‘Get Lucky’ by Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams & Nile Rodgers (from the album Random Access Memories)

 

 

 

‘Radioactive’ by Imagine Dragons (from the album Night Visions)

 

 

 

‘Royals’ by Lorde (from the album Pure Heroine)

 

 

 

‘Locked Out of Heaven’ by Bruno Mars (from the album Unorthodox Jukebox)

 

 

 

‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. & Pharrell (from the album Blurred Lines)

 

 

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

The Blessed Unrest by Sara Bareilles

 

 

 

Random Access Memories by Daft Punk

 

 

 

Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City by Kendrick Lamar

 

 

 

The Heist by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

 

 

 

Red by Taylor Swift

 

 

 

Check the catalog by searching Title or Author for more of the nominees. Or, ask your reference librarians at Sewickley Public Library for help finding the music you want to hear.

Fall for the New Music at SPL

Sewickley Public Library has just added a handful of popular titles to its adult music collection:

Night Visions – Imagine Dragons: The first full-length album from the indie rock band behind hit single “It’s Time” is full of similarly up-tempo, drum-heavy tracks.

Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection – Katy Perry: The expanded edition of the original hit album adds seven tracks, including recent hit singles “Part of Me” and “Wide Awake.”

North – Matchbox Twenty: The rock band returns with its first album in ten years, featuring their familiar poppy sound and hit single “She’s So Mean.”

Babel (Deluxe Edition) – Mumford & Sons: The folk rock band returns with a second album that builds on the sound introduced on 2009 debut Sigh No More, increasing the exuberance of their intrumentation and vocals and the grandness of their lyrics.

Shrines – Purity Ring: The first full-length album from the indie electronic duo is a haunting set of tracks built largely out of synths, beats, and processed vocals.

In addition to these titles, SPL also has the latest releases from Aimee Mann, Band of Horses, Ben Folds Five, Bob Dylan, Cat Power, deadmau5, Diana Krall, Divine Fits, Green Day, Matt & Kim, The Mountain Goats, Mumford & Sons, Muse, No Doubt, P!nk, and The xx. Find any of these items–or search for any adult music titles–by searching the library catalog.

Music of the 1980s!

Throw on those leg-warmers because it’s time to cut footloose with tunes from the rockin’ 80s!  This week I promise to bring you music that will have you ‘vogueing’ and pining for a Brat Pack movie on T.V. because if there’s one thing Iove, it’s the 1980s!

Thriller / Michael Jackson – ‘The Walking Dead’ has nothing on the iconic Thriller music video, which has inspired flash-mobs across the globe.  This album was a defining moment for the decade, and my personal favorite off the album has to be ‘Wanna be Startin’ Somethin”!

Now that’s what I call the 80s – If you’re looking for a sort of ‘time capsule’ for this decade, this album is one to check out!  It has everything from Billy Joel to Cindy Lauper!  I’m partial to ‘Jessie’s Girl’ myself!  Check out this album and you’ll find yourself soon rocking out in your car on the way home, having the time of your life.

The immaculate collection  / Madonna This is the part where I tell you that this happens to be my favorite album of ALL TIME!  For as long as I can remember, I’ve been listening to Madonna!  I’ve learned that Madonna has the power to get me through the most difficult day! A little splash of ‘Holiday’ just makes everything better, or if I need a big pick-me-up I listen to ‘Express Yourself’!

The best of Blondie / Blondie – Debbie Harry led this rockin band with hits like ‘Tide is High’ but my favorite will always be ‘Rip Her to Shreds’!

Greatest hits / Run-DMC – Easily one of the most influential hip-hop groups to ever exist, Run-DMC delivered huge hits in the 1980s!  In fact, they were the first hip-hop group to earn a gold record!  So crank up ‘King of Rock’ and get ready to bop your head along with these jams!

Big ones / AerosmithSure, you can see Steven Tyler on American Idol, but lets flash back to the 1980s during Aerosmith’s revival!  Get ready to rock out to some of Aerosmith’s  greatest hits!  Though, my favorite will always remain to be ‘Dude (Looks Like a Lady)’!

Next week–the 1990s!

Music of the 1970s

This week we visit the 1970s on our journey through history.  You’re in for a groovy time this week while I bring you the disco and rock music that made the decade!

ABBA gold : greatest hits – This is the part where I admit that I shamefully listen to ABBA way too frequently.  Yes.  While I stomp through my college campus, on my way to class, and on the outside I may seem sullen, but inside I’m silently rocking out to Dancing Queen.  ABBA is great for getting the party started because practically every one of their songs are upbeat!  My personal favorite happens to be ‘Waterloo’!

The essential Simon & Garfunkel – Their music is timeless really.  I listen to Simon and Garfunkel whenever life just seems to be moving too fast.  Check out their ‘Best Of’ album to beat the stress.  My favorite is ‘Cecilia’!

Back in Black –  AC/DC: For those times that those daily stresses get to be too much and Simon and Garfunkle aren’t cutting it.  I reccomend a dose of AC/DC, cranked to the highest level possible!  My track of choice ‘Shoot to Thrill’.

Jackson 5 – These legendary Jackson family began their careers as part of the iconic Jackson 5!  This album will have you taping your toes and bopping your head to their incredibly harmonies!  I love the song ‘ABC’ and I play it on my radio show every chance I get!

Born to Run – Bruce Springsteen : Nothing gets me more pumped up than the title track from the 1975 sucess ‘Born to Run’.  I don’t know what it is, but this album gets me ready to take on the world.  Check out this album for the classic rock album that’s stuck around for over three decades!

Next week: The 1980s!

Music of the 1960s

Two images of life in the 1960s come to mind when I think about this decade.  The first of which is the tailored and slick lines of New York life as depicted by the critically acclaimed series, Mad Men.  The other image I have is of teenagers first discovering the rebellious genre of Rock and Roll.

And thus I present you with my choice albums inspired by the 1960s!

Their satanic majesties request / The Rolling Stones – This album includes my favorite song from this band (‘She’s a Rainbow’) that’s stood the test of time for fifty years!

If you can believe your eyes & ears/ The Mama’s and the Papa’s – For some reason I formed an attachment to this band at a very young age.  Some of my fondest memories of kicking back in the summer are accompanied by The Mama’s and the Papa’s.  Check out ‘California Dreaming’ for the perfect song to cruise through town with the windows down this summer!

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / Beatles – This is obviously a no-brainer.  What band changed the face of music more than The Beatles in the 1960s.  My personal favorite on this album is ‘A Day in the Life’.

Love / the Beatles – For an even more unexpected look at the iconic works of The Beatles, check out this album.  Cirque du Soleil created a show in partner with The Beatles, based on their music.  The show’s title is ‘Love’ and it includes remixed music from the bands entire career.  My personal favorite has to be ‘Eleanor Rigby’!

The greatest hits. Volume 1 / the Beach Boys – Even though we might live in a land-locked state far from the coast, the music of The Beach Boys brings instant memories of the beach!

Pirate radio : motion picture soundtrack – This movie chronicles the adventures of a group of radio DJs broadcasting illegally from a boat off the coast of Great Britain in the 1960s.  If you haven’t seen the movie, it’s full of hits from the 1960’s!  I suggest you give it a chance!

16 biggest hits / Johnny Cash – “The Man in Black” was a country music icon, and a large part of the music scene in the 1960s!  Check out this album for a taste of his hits!

Next week: The 1970s!

Music of the 1950s!

Let’s get this over with right now.  This is the part where I admit that I have a total soft spot for 1950s and 1960s.  If I capable of commanding that I’d been alive during these decades, I would do so in a heartbeat. But that kind of technology doesn’t exist yet.  And so I settle for mooning over the vintage fashion from the time, the clean lines of the cars, and the bold colors of the 1950s.

I’ve sampled some choice tunes this week that will have you back in time at the soda shop within minutes!

50s jukebox hits : 100% original recordings and artists – This album really has it all, from Jerry Lee Lewis, to Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley!  You’ll want to pull up a stool at a classic diner and tap your toes away to this one!

20 all time greatest hits! / James Brown – I personally don’t believe I could capture the music of the 1950s without including James Brown in this post.  For a brief collection of hits from the master of music improv, look no farther!

2nd to none / Elvis – The unmistakable voice and swagger of Elvis Presley captivated the nation from his first television appearance.  His hits have all been catalogued on this album! From ‘Hound Dog’ to ‘Blue Suede Shoes’, let this CD liven up your drive home from work!

The definitive collection / Chuck Berry – My introduction to Chuck Berry came the first time I saw “Back to the Future” as a child, and the song “Johnny B. Goode” has been one of my favorites ever since.  This CD is sure to get you moving and grooving to the iconic work of Chuck Berry!

Rock, rhythm, and doo wop : the greatest songs from early rock ‘n’ roll – This 3 CD set is like capturing the exciting time of the 1950s in a bottle for all fans of Rock ‘N’ Roll music as it is today.  We really owe all of our favorites to the music that started it all in the 1950s!

The Jerry Lee Lewis collection – Who can forget the unbelievable style that Jerry Lee Lewis brought to playing the piano?  It’s astounding to watch his performances, but here for your listening pleasure, I bring you the CD set which includes his most popular tracks!  Don’t miss it!

Next Week: The 1960s!

Music of the 1940s

Even though America and the world found themselves facing an immensly trying time due to World War II, the music of the 1940s proved an outlet through which everyone could escape.  But if anything, this decade opened a door musically which has never quite closed.  Popular of ‘Pop’ music as it’s now known really kicked off in the 1940’s.  The first Teen Heart-Throb was the classic crooner, Frank Sinatra himself, and the big band sound of swing was more popular than ever.   This week I have a sweet selection ranging from blues, to swing, and everything in between.

The very best of the Rat Pack – To kick off, this CD features the most memorable tunes from the iconic Rat Pack.  It’s the perfect album kick back and relax as you imagine the glamour and the bright lights of Vegas which this CD evokes!

The Reprise collection / Frank Sinatra – This four CD collection offers a great range of songs from Frank Sinarta!  From “Fly me to the moon” to “My kind of town” this collection is the perfect addition to your playlists.  Maybe pick up a mystery featuring a Femme Fatale and a Private Eye to accompany this great set!

Twelve nights in Hollywood / Ella Fitzgerald – In this collection, the classic and classy Ella Fitxgerald sings to an album which ewokes the feeling of old Hollywood glamour, before the days of TMZ and ‘Reality Stars’.

#1 hits of the 1940’s / original artists – To capture the 1940’s on one album, look no farther than this one!  From the big band sound of swing to jazz classics, this album would be a great addition to anyones music collection!

The only big band CD you’ll ever need – I think the title of this one speaks for itself.  If you’re having a backyard get together and want to kick the party up a notch, throw on this album and watch as your friends break off in to pairs to dance the night away!

Next week: The 1950s comes alive!

Music of the 1930s!

Though times were tough financially in the 1930s, the music of the decade had the power to lift the spirits of a nation in the midst of The Great Depression.  This week, it is my honor to bring you a list of music from the 1930s which will transport you to a an era very much different and yet that same as our own! I concentrated on country music as well as the music of Broadway!

75 years of the WSM Grand Ole Opry – The Opry has been a destination for fans of country music for decades, since it opened in the 1930’s.  In this collection of music, the classic hits of the early 1900’s are coupled with those of iconic modern artists!  This CD is one to pick up if you’re up for a taste of classic country music!

Anything Goes – When I think about the classic Broadway shows of the 1930’s, the work of legendary Cole Porter springs to mind.  Anything Goes in particular is a fun and surprisingly contemporary musical!  Kick back and tap your toes to this tale of highjinks on the high seas!

Cole Porter’s Can-Can – In Paris, a group of dancers fight for the right to express themselves in a world where the namesake of this musical is not only forbidden but illegal.  This is the soundtrack to the musical, “Can-Can”  Take it from me, these songs are catchy!

Ella Fitzgerald sings the Cole Porter songbook. – I can’t think of anything more nostalgic than the timeless voice of Ella Fitzgerald belting out the classic songs of Cole Porter.  Treat yourself to this album!

The Essential George Gershwin –  The amazingly talented George Gershwin has contributed so many iconic works to the 1930’s.  Kick back on a summer evening and stay a while.

Our Love is Here to Stay : Ella & Louis sing Gershwin. – This duo cannot be beat.  Can you think of anything better than these two performing together? Well yes, because this could only be beat by seeing the impossible–the Ella and Louis performing live together.  Since that just cannot be done, this is a close second!

Next week, the 1940’s!