Robin's Favourite Albums and Artists

Lots of people have influenced the way I play and the type of songs I write. If you like what I do, there’s a good chance that you’ll also like the people listed below as I think they’re brill!!!

This list isn’t meant to be any kind of formal CD review. It’s not comprehensive, it’s just CDs that I really like and tracks that I really like. I apologise to the artists if they have CDs even better than the ones I’ve listed, but it’s either that I haven’t heard them (yet!) or just that I prefer the ones below!! These are just my personal opinions, nothing more……..

Loreena McKennitt
I’d define Loreena as ‘Celtic Mysterious’. This is music to chill out to. She has a fabulous voice, and the arrangements are rich and wonderful.
Albums:
The Mask And The Mirror
Artists Website:
www.quinlanroad.com


Karine Polwart
Karine’s background is Scottish, folky, but her solo CDs are a bit harder to define. Contemporary subject-matter, acoustic. Great voice - lovely Scottish edge to it - nice arrangements - thoughtful songwriting
Albums:
1. Faultlines 2. Scribbled In Chalk
Artists Website:
www.karinepolwart.com


Mary Gauthier
It’s pronounced go-shay…….. Mary’s one of a breed of American singers that doesn’t quite fit into Folk or Country or Rock (although she gets pigeon-holed into ‘Country’ in CD shops as they don’t know where else to put her!). She’s a very fine singer-songwriter if you like songs from the darker side of the tracks - right up my street!! I really recommend testing out one of her excellent albums
Albums:
1. Filth & Fire 2. Drag Queens & Limousines 3. Mercy Now
Artists Website:
www.marygauthier.com/site.php


Dave Swarbrick & Martin Carty
Just one absolutely classic album to advertise here - it's an oldie (produced in '67!) but for sure a goldie!! Rags, Reels & Airs - can't really pin down one or two special tracks on this one. It's a really great album of just the two of them playing some trad tunes with that fabulous Swarbrick 'lilt'. When I first heard this, I just wanted to be Dave Swarbrick... I've never been the same since!
Albums:
Rags, Reels & Airs
Artists Website:
N/A


Laura Cantrell
The genre for Laura Cantrell isn't in doubt - it's Country Music. Now I know a lot of people are immediately prejudiced against anything labelled Country, but she has a gorgeous voice and sings edgier songs than you'll find from the big name country artists - who are usually unbearably syrupy and sentimental. A big fan was the late but much lamented John Peel
Albums:
Not The Tremblin' Kind
Artists Website:
www.lauracantrell.com


Kirsty McGee
Acoustic singer-songwriter from Manchester. I think she's close to genius. Fabulous singer (at least in my opinion!) and a lovely writer of songs tinged with darkness and sorrow and lots of emotions. She was really a major inspiration for me to start writing, as she writes stuff I can identify with. So it's her fault really... There are three albums. If you only want to invest in one, it's a tough call, but get Two Birds - just shades the others, for me.
Albums:
1. Honeysuckle 2. Frost 3. Two Birds
Artists Website:
www.kirstymcgee.com/home.html


Eliza Gilkyson
Another American that doesn't fit neatly in a category. If you like love songs seen from the good or the bad side, Eliza writes them. There's a lovely intimacy in Eliza's work that really draws me into the worlds she sings about.
Albums:
1. Land Of Milk & Honey 2. Hard Times In Babylon 3. Lost & Found
Artists Website:
www.elizagilkyson.com


Bob Dylan
Now I wouldn't claim to be Bob's No 1 fan... but he's a hell of a poet. I prefer his more modern stuff which seems to divide his fan base as people either love or loathe it. I prefer the rockier/bluesier feel from later albums. My favourite is
Albums:
Time Out Of Mind
Artists Website:
www.bobdylan.com/index.html


Cara Dillon
Just simply has a voice to die for... What an amazing interpretation of traditional music. Black Is The Colour is quite simply awesome. Was it ever done better? Not that I've heard...
Albums:
Cara Dillon
Artists Website:
www.caradillon.co.uk


Lucinda Williams
The Queen of rocky Country Blues. Not so keen on her very latest stuff - seems to have got a bit commercial. But some of her older albums have tracks that are just fabulous. She's so raunchy...
Albums:
1. Essence 2. Car Wheels On A Gravel Road 3. World Without Tears
Artists Website:
www.lucindawilliams.com


Lhasa
Now I'm not really a big fan of World Music in general, but I make an exception for Lhasa. She's so sultry - has a voice that will make you her your slave forever...speaking for myself, anyway. Listen to her and try not to succumb...
Albums:
The Living Road
Artists Website:
N/A


Corb Lund
Is a bit of an acquired taste. He's a Canadian from ranching country in Alberta and sings quirky songs about life on the prairies. Some very fine songs, with some great playing too. Corb's music is just great fun (he's great live too...!)
Albums:
1. Five Dollar Bill 2. Hair In My Eyes Like a Highland Steer
Artists Website:
www.corblund.com


Gretchen Peters
Gretchen has the most gorgeous voice, and writes beautiful songs of love and loss. Some people might find her a bit sentimental, but listen again - the lyrics are finely crafted My favourite album of hers is...
Albums:
Halcyon
Artists Website:
www.gretchenpeters.com


Oi Va Voi
More world music... This is modern Klezmer from a London-based band featuring the excellent singing of KT Tunstall (before she got so famous!). I've always liked Klezmer (mandolin players reading this, check out the Klezmer albums of Andy Statman - mainly he plays clarinet but his mandolin playing is phenomenal - fast but so clean!). This CD is a re-definition of Klezmer with a contemporary twist.
Albums:
Oi Va Voi
Artists Website:
www.oi-va-voi.com


Chuck Prophet
A recent discovery for me. Pretty much rock music but with a twist in it. Edgy playing and some great lyrics.
Albums:
The Hurting Business
Artists Website:
http://henning.unsavoury.net


James McMurtry
Another very recent discovery. This is rock with a country edge, featuring some great songs and some fine playing.
Albums:
Childish Things
Artists Website:
http://jamesmcmurtry.com


Chris Thile & Mike Marshall
This is one for the mandolinists only... Some of the playing here defies gravity, but also the arrangements are fabulous. You really get the sens here of two musicians absolutely on top of their game, but enjoying themselves no end. Only play this CD if you like a challenge, 'cos otherwise you'll want to chuck the mandolin out of the window...
Albums:
Into The Caludron
Artists Website:
N/A


Karan Casey
I'not the biggest fan of British Isles trad, but this (and Cara Dillon) are exceptions. Her voice is knock-out, and the songs on here are just so beautifully done. We're into goose-bumps territory.
Albums:
The Winds Begin To Sing
Artists Website:
www.karancasey.com


Warron Zevon
Anybody that can write a song with the line 'Werewolves of London Aaah-ooooo' is alright in my book. Real mixture of very serious songs - some political, some emotional, and quirky comic stuff like Werewolves of London. He's another one that falls in the gaps between country and rock.
Albums:
The Wind
Artists Website:
www.warrenzevon.com


John Hiatt
Is a master of the Country Blues, in my opinion. John's music is just great fun - you can't help but end a John Hiatt album smiling... He's got loads of albums out, but I especially like
Albums:
1. Master Of Disaster 2. Crossing Muddy Waters
Artists Website:
www.johnhiatt.com


Alison Krauss & Union Station
These guys are just masters of modern bluegrass. Great playing (including the amazing Jerry Douglas on dobro, and Alison on the fiddle). And Alison's singing voice isn't bad either!! There are a lot of CDs out, but my favourite is:
Albums:
New Favourite
Artists Website:
www.alisonkrauss.com/site.php


Erin McKeown
Now I like eccentric, quirky music and Erin McKeown is both of these. The songwriting is a bit surreal, but it's infectious. Don't expect mainstream... And don't listen only once because you'll probably not take to her weird genius on a first hearing.
Albums:
1. Distillation 2. Grand
Artists Website:
www.erinmckeown.com


Suzanne Vega
What a great songwriter (although I'm not so keen on her very latest stuff). The album Nine Objects of Desire is one of my all-time favourites - great arrangement on this one, as well as that lovely voice and the clever lyrics
Albums:
1. Nine Objects Of Desire 2. Suzanne Vega
Artists Website:
www.suzannevega.com


Iris DeMent
Beautifully crafted, old-timey songwriting. But you've got to be into Americana to appreciate Iris.
Albums:
1. My Life 2. Infamous Angel
Artists Website:
www.irisdement.com/biography.html


KT Tunstall
What? I hear you ask? Pop music in Robin's list. What is he coming to? But this is a great album and she has an irresistable voice - in my opinion. These maybe aren't the most finely-honed songs where every word has been sweated over for hours, like you get with Mary Gauthier or Eliza Gilkyson, but it's fun!
Albums:
Eye To The Telescope
Artists Website:
www.kttunstall.com


Bruce Cockburn
Bruce is a recent discovery for me, so I haven't explored him very far. Hard to pin a category onto Bruce. Americana?? (except he's Canadian!!). Good songwriter, smart music, too.
Albums:
Life Short, Call Now
Artists Website:
www.brucecockburn.org