Upon Terry Teachout's recommendation, I bought Relaxin' with the Miles Davis Quintet off Amazon's MP3 service. And what valuable lesson have we learned from this? That we should follow more of Terry Teachout's recommendations.
Meanwhile, I am once again taking eMusic nominations. If you've made the same nomination more than twice, though keep in mind that either I bought it, I didn't like it, or (most likely) it isn't carried on eMusic. You'd be surprised at how much isn't, even indie music . . . though of course, enough is that I keep going back to the well.
Dillinger Escape Plan - Ire Works.
I hear Naomi Wolf's new book is on audiobook.
oh, dear... my advice is to poll your friends for a true audiophile, go to their place, and listen to Miles in an uncompressed format, or even!vinyl... and henceforth, buy music to listen to which can THEN be ripped down to MP3 for portability.
Because it's a cryin' shame to miss out on all the nuance of these cats playing, by compressing it and whacking some of the frequencies.
Really.
I know I'm beating a dead horse, but I'd bet if you have such a friend they would help you see the light on this...
I mean you buy a really good mixer, you cook with Julia, but an MP3 is like a hostess twinkie. It's good, and it stirs many memories, but haute cuisine it ain't...
The Weakerthans- Reconstruction Site (2003); Reunion Tour (2007)
Plant & Krauss - but surely you have this already
Levon Helm - Dirt Farmer
Jim is half-wrong: The Weakerthans- Left and Leaving (2000). Sadly, not on eMusic.
on eMusic: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings- Dap-Dippin' With
Otis Redding: Good to Me
The Last Town Chorus: Wire Waltz
The Mountain Goats: everything, ever
Beirut- The Flying Club Cup
Damien Jurado- And Now That I'm In Your Shadow
The Twilight Sad- Fourteen Autumns, Fifteen Winters
Centro-matic and South San Gabriel- lots to choose from.
Broken Social Scene Presents: Kevin Drew- Spirit If...
I couldn't agree with SwissArmyD more. The music is great and it still sounds good when you mangle it to an MP3 but it is not the real thing and the music really is different depending on how you play it.
Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl!!! And maybe a sweet tube amp and some good responsive speakers without all that extra bass and "ambiance".
This by no means has to break the bank and yes, they do still release music on vinyl.
Either way, glad you liked the Miles.
I included Relaxin' on my list of art works from 1950 on that are likely to be regarded as major works. More comment on the from Steve Sailer and readers here. My list has more jazz suggestions there from Davis and Coltrane that you should enjoy.
I'll second the Plant and Krauss if you don't have it already
Cowboy Junkies - Trinity Revisited. Rerecording of their classic CD with some guests, noticably Natalie Merchant
Goin' Home - A Tribute to Fats Domino, with about a billion people contributing. Including B.B. King, Taj Mahal, Art Neville, Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, Dr. John, Elton John, Tom Petty, Robert Plant, Joss Stone, Corrine Bailey Ray, Neil Young, Marc Broussard, John Lennon
Sara Bareilles - Little Voice, particularly the single Love Song
A Fine Frenzy - One Cell In the Sea
An Oscar Peterson Christmas - the best Christmas album around, hands down. I got it off eMusic (back in the day), so I'm pretty sure it's still available.
This may prove controversial, but if you are in a Miles kick, I regard Kind of Blue as the best recording of the 20th century (others do to, incidently ... wikipedia it). Absolutely amazing. And yes, Relaxin' is quite good as well.
I'll second the South San Gabriel recommendation - Welcome, Convalescence is just plain awesome.
Cracker's The Golden Age is a phenomenal rock album.
And Mogwai's Happy Songs for Happy People is great also.
I'll keep it simple, Megan. Download the Staple Sisters album, "This is Gospel: Vol. 11." Killer gospel with tastefully delicious surf/electric guitar stylings in the background throughout.
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Staple-Singers-This-Is-Gospel-Volume-11-The-Staple-Singers-Pra-MP3-Download/10970775.html
Minus the Bear!!!
if you have a choice, start with Highly Refined Pirates