New Music Tuesday

Tuesday is typically the day of the week that new music releases come out, and there are lots of them this week! Some are being featured in the Grass Roots Reader, but there is so much more out there. Here's what you might miss:

Pop/Folk

Carrie Elkin, Call it My Garden  ~  $17.95
Contemporary folk and americana singer-songwriter's third release demonstrates a laid-back spirit as Elkin gathers with a group of industry friends and collaborators in the kitchen of a friend's house.  The albums is produced by Colin Brooks (Band of Heathens) and fellow singer-songwriter Danny Schmidt. 

Lori McKenna, Lorraine  ~  $16.95
McKenna began her career with a piece on NPR focusing on her identity as a homemaker and mother of three children who lived a working class life and was a songwriter on the side.  Since, her songs have been performed by several mainstream country artists, and her solo CDs have garnered critical praise.  McKenna's new release is inspired by stories of her own mother's life. 

 James Vincent McMorrow, Early in the Morning  ~  $11.95
From Ireland, folk pop with mostly acoustic guitars, occasional drums and vocals, buoyed  by banjo and electric piano. McMorrow's album was considered one of the best of the year by Irish critics. 

Lynn Miles, Fall For Beauty   ~  $16.95
Canadian folk-americana artist has a beautiful catch in her voice and a way with a story.  Miles' new CD features a more polished production, as well as a fuller band sound behind her melodic tunes. 

Redbird, Live at the Cafe Carpe  ~  $16.95
Redbird is both the name of the album and the loose affiliation of three acclaimed American songwriters- Kris Delmhorst, Jeffrey Foucault and Peter Mulvey.  This live recording features tunes originally recorded by artists as diverse as Rickie Lee Jones, Neil Young, Merle Haggard and more. 

John Renbourn, Palermo Snow  ~  $18.95
Drawing on his recent excursions to Italy and its rich musical heritage Renbourn delivers another classic album of gentle, but engaging, guitar music. Seduced by the romantic grip of the area and its people he delivers a beautiful album that can only be described as timeless.


Classical
 
Helene Grimaud, Resonances  ~  $18.95


Stop by and have a listen...ask us what we like!

You big teaser!

A few days ago, I ached for Spring.

It was sunny and about 50 degrees, which is downright BALMY. At least if felt balmy, but I think the lack of gloom may be starting to affect my perception of the world in winter.

I felt inspired to walk along the river front from the parking lot to the store. The river is clearly swollen and murky-smelling, but there were other people out there. Adn there were buds on the trees and shrubs. That is always a good sign! People were in and out of the store all day, and the streets were practically teeming with walkers. Okay, that may be exaggerating. It's nice to see people out and about instead of holed up in their houses, though. When I walk on the street to and from my car, I notice the bulbs poking up from the planters. It makes me so jealous, and it makes me want to get my hands dirty. Time to find some good gardening books, I suspect.

Today, however...sigh, today... It is gray gloom again and I can see people's breath when they're walking by our windows. It reminds me that it is still time to curl up in a chair at home with a nice cup of tea and a good book.

On my nightstand right now?
An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin
Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson
Winona's Pony Cart by Maud Hart Lovelace
The Four Seasons Book of Cocktails: Tips, Techniques, and More Than 1,000 Recipes from New York's Landmark Restaurant by Greg Connolly, Charles Corpion, John Varriano, and Fred DuBose
The Dirty Life: On Farming, Food, and Love by Kristin Kimball

Clearly, I'm going to be busy for a while...

 

What are you reading right now? Is it varied, or do you stick to one book and/or topic at a time? How many more days until Spring???

 

I'll be waiting it out behind the counter. See you at the bookstore!

 

Pamela.

What's a teenager to read?

In the great scheme of things, I'm not old. I'm in my mid-30s. I like to call it "Bookstore Middle-aged" because the last few years my ages has planted me pretty squarely among college students and twenty-somethings, and others older than me. It's just me...hangin' out here...in the middle...

One of my favorite books. My recommendation.

From this perspective, I remember the books I loved as a child. I remember the books I escaped with on my breaks home from college. I remember most of the books I've read in the 13 years I've been working in bookstores. But there's this gap in my reading memory...what the heck did I read while I was in high school? I have always been a voracious reader, and it surprises me that beyond what was required of me in school, I don't remember reading.

I guess it's possible I didn't read for pleasure much in those years. (Well, except maybe Sweet Valley High books... Don't judge me.) During those years I didn't live in the library district, and I certainly didn't have expendable income at that time.

One of this year's winners.

Maybe this gap in my reading memory is why I have such a hard time recommending books to readers in the14-19 age group. There are so many variables involved, not the least of which is the maturity level of the reader in question. Even for grade schoolers, I always ask myself, "What was I reading at that age?". I can't do this with teenagers, though, so I have to review the books of my adult reading life to gauge their appropriateness for this age group. Fortunately, the Alex Awards make this easier when my own reading interests diverge from that of the other reader.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

My most-anticipated read of 2011.

Okay, I see how it is. Are you sitting in front of your computer right now going, "Uh...you know it's already a week into it, right?" Well, now I do. Things were pretty wonderfully busy in the store over the holidays and we are settling back into our habits of bringing you great books--and news and entertaining tidbits from the world of books.

January is the time for our buyers to pour through catalogs to scout out the next great thing. From the world of literary gossip, I can already tell you that new books are expected from Chuck Palahniuk, Jean Auel, Sarah Vowell and David Foster Wallace's final novel.
Looking for more? Here's what The Guardian, The Millions, and The Daily Beast all have to say.

That should help you to at least get a start on your list of books to read this year. We'll be here to tell you more about them and get them in for you!

See you at the bookstore!

Pamela.