Israel Kamakawiwo'ole - Somewhere Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World

Song: Somewhere Over The Rainbow / What A Wondeful World
Artist: Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Album: Facing Future
Genre: Folk
Year: 1990

Today is a very special day: the end of a hole year approaches and a new one starts soon, full of hopes, wishes and things that mar your mind. So for such a special occasion I had to post a special song, a really special one. That's why I've chosen Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (1959-1997). This popular hawaian singer made magic with this medley just playind the songs with his ukelele. You'll realize what I'm talking about when you'll listen to it. It's a pitty that he died due to weighted-related respiratory illness (he weighted once 350 kg, which is quite much). If you want to know more abour The Gentle Giant (that's how native hawaian people and his admirers called him; also Iz) chech this wiki.

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Najwa - Go Cain

Song: Go Cain
Artist: Najwa
Album: Mayday
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2003

Najwa Nimri. Strange name for a girl, isn't it? Would you believe me if I tell you that she's spanish? And that she's not just a singer but a composer and actress too (she has done a lot of movies, in spanish, english or french)? I Think that she's the perfect expample of an ATW (All Terrain Woman) able to do such a captative song. I'll be expecting her brand new album, which will be published on January.

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Joni Mitchell - Blue

Song: Blue
Artist: Joni Mitchell
Album: Blue
Genre: Folk
Year: 1971

A woman with a talented voice and such a creative composing skill that had no frontiers. I think that this phrase describes her quite well, what do you think? Or is that you didn't knew her (this was my situation last year)? Then... you should.

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Organic Audio - Your day

Song: Your Day
Artist: Organic Audio
Album: Lovelight
Genre: Ambient
Year: 2003

You are driving your convertible car near the beach, the smell of the sea surrounds you and you are very happy. The day worths it. So, I bet you that this is the song that you'll be hearing.

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Hooverphonic - Mad About You

Song: Mad About You
Artist: Hooverphonic
Album: The Magnificent Tree
Genre: Electronic, Alternative Rock
Year: 2000

Although sometimes you'll think that this song is, in some way, quite repetitive (due to it's lyric) you can't deny that it has some special touch.

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Laura Veirs - Magnetized

Song: Magnetized
Artist: Laura Veirs
Album: Year Of Meteors
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2005

I obtained this album a couple of months ago but I didn't pay attention enough to it. Now, some weeks ago I decided to listen it again carefully and I got impressed. That's why it's time to recommend it to other people, as I am doing right now.

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Neil Finn - Sinner

Song: Sinner
Artist: Neil Finn
Album: Try Whistling This
Genre: Rock
Year: 1998

There is life after Crowded House. Did you know it? The leader of this band continued his musical carreer succesfully. And this track is a clear example.

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Smash Mouth - Who's There

Song: Who's There
Artist: Smash Mouth
Album: Astro Lounge
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 1999

I could have posted other songs of Smash Mouth that you should know (as Why can't we be friends?, All Star or Walking On The Sun) but... I'm sorry. I'm fond of this song since the first time I heard it on the radio station six years ago.

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Neil Young - Cortez The Killer

Song: Cortez The Killer
Artist: Neil Young
Album: Decade
Genre: Rock
Year: 1990

Have you ever wondered how could be the perfect song? How could it sound like? What fealings will embrace you? What you'll think when you close your eyes and let your mind go? Maybe this is not that song for you... but I'm surely it will be quite approach to it.

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Michel Camilo & Tomatito - Too Much / Love Theme

Song: Too Much / Love Theme
Artist: Michel Camilo & Tomatito
Album: Spain
Genre: Instrumental
Year: 2000

Again a Diego's recomendation (he has given me some good albums on the last weeks) and as I always say: "if you play something, do it from your heart". After listening this song, I think that they agree with that.

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Triana - En el lago

Song: En el lago
Artist: Triana
Album: Una Historia
Genre: Rock, Spanish
Year: 1995

I was twelve years old when I gave my father this album for his birthday (with my mother's help). At that time, I was too young to realize what was good music and what was not (I hated this album), but I was starting to listen music as an hobby while enyoing it too much. Nowadays, ten years later, I've grown (at musical terms) and it's time to admit that he was right when he said that Triana (1976 - 1983) was one of the best bands that he had ever heard and it has become on of those albums that will always be at my iPod, no matter what happens. I guess that I've matured enough to understand this band.

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Vacazul - Tu

Song: Tu
Artist: Vacazul
Album: Viene Tiempos
Genre: Alternative Rock, Spanish
Year: 2004

I don't know much about this band except this album, but it's really good. A friend of mine recommended it to me and I'm happy for that. One thing: doesn't the album cover reminds you somehow to Dick Tracy comics?

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Kansas - Dust In The Wind

Song: Dust In The Wind
Artist: Kansas
Album: The Best Of Kansas
Genre: Rock
Year: 1984

While driving home the other day I heard this song at the radio station, but this time was different because it made me think about so many things that had happened on my life... and I became really sad. But that's another story.

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H.I.M. - Beautiful

Song: Beautiful
Artist: H.I.M.
Album: Deep Shadows And Brilliand Highlights
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2004

If you heard this song and then someone tells you that it's from a finnish alternative-gothic-rock band called His Infernal Majesty, would you believe it? If you don't, then listen to this album and Razorblade Romance album's too (the ones that I think that are the best of them). If you do, listen them too.

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Rebecca Cole - Big Cums

Song: Big Cums
Artist: Rebecca Cole
Album: Bloom
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2004

If you don't know this girl, you should. It's, somehow, pure rock. It reminds me to those singers that just wanted to play in front of it's public, no matter what they had to do to get this aim.

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R.E.M. - Losing My Religion

Song: Losing My Religion
Artist: R.E.M.
Album: Out Of Time
Genre: Rock
Year: 1992

One of those mythicals bands that it's hard to choose just one song. But the guys of Rapid Eye Movement made one of the bests compositions ever with this track. Each part of it is as perfect as the way they fit toghether. Just so perfect, just so lovely.

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Los Rodriguez - Por no olvidar

Song: Por no olvidar
Artist: Los Rodriguez
Album:Hasta Luego
Genre: Rock, Spanish
Year: 2001

Suddenly, thanks to the new live album from Andres Calamaro, I've remembered this great song. It's a really pitty that they got disolved.

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Sting - Shape Of My Heart

Song: Shape Of My Heart
Artist: Sting
Album: Ten Summoner's Tales
Genre: Rock
Year: 1993

The soul of The Police is, nowadays, one of the most respected and admired figures of music. At this album, you realize about the joy they feal while playing and, as a consequence, the unique touch that Sting is able to impreg in all his compositions.

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David Holmes - $160 Million Chinese Man

Song: $160 Million Chinese Man
Artist: David Holmes
Album: Ocean's Eleven Soundtrack
Genre: Soundtrack, Electronic, Jazz
Year: 2001

A very good burglary film with an incredible eclectic soundtrack. It fits perfectly on every shot and scene of the film and gives an extra energy to the related subject. And the best of all is that, if you listen to any track of the soundtrack, you'll remember the exact moment where it sounds at the film. Isn't it great pleasure?

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Feature Cast - Channel Surfing

Song: Channel Surfing
Artist: Feature Cast
Album: Straight Out The Cat (Scoop Three)
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2003

If you know how to dance the break dance, beat-boying or those kind of genres, you'll love this song. If you don't (like most humans) just enjoy the rhythm.

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Morcheeba - World Lookin In

Song: World Lookin In
Artist: Morcheeba
Album: Fragments Of Freedom
Genre: Alternative Rock, Trip-Hop
Year: 2000

I have a lot of albums of this band, but I just like this one. The others... maybe the trash is a good place to store them. I guess that there is people that loves them a lot, but I don't. For me this album is the exception, with a few incredible tracks (not all songs that appear at the album... just few of them).

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Mike Oldfield - Family Man

Song: Family Man
Artist: Mike Oldfield
Album: The Complete
Genre: Rock
Year: 1998

A classic track that you've heard many many times. If you don't realize about it, ask your father or mother...

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Vangelis - Love Theme

Song: Love Theme
Artist: Vangelis
Album: Blade Runner Soundtrack
Genre: Soundtrack, Electronic, Orchestral
Year: 1982

I'm very fond of Vangelis. He is one of the first soundtrack composers I ever knew and his tracks are usually at the most played list. I also have to admit that this is my favourite movie, so... I think I was forced to post this entry.

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Evanescence - My Inmortal

Song: My Inmortal
Artist: Evanescence
Album: Fallen
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2003

A mellodical track hidden inside a gothic-hard-rock album. If you think about it, it's not that strange. Everybody has good and bad moments. And if you are a music compositor, the way to express your feelings is writting lyrics and playing sounds from your heart. So, if your are really really sad, the result can be something like this.

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Jamiroqai - Spend A Lifetime

Song: Spend A Lifetime
Artist: Jamiroquai
Album: Travelling Withouth Moving
Genre: R&B, Funky
Year: 1997

You have moved your feet on dance floor with Jamiro, but now it's time to be melancholic. Didn't you know? Yes, he also knows how to make sweet and lovely songs.

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Thirteen Senses - Into The Fire

Song: Into The Fire
Artist: Thireteen Senses
Album: The Invitation
Genre: Pop - Rock
Year: 2005

This sound could be quite familiar to you. Maybe Keane would be the reference shining on your mind. And it's true: they are similar... but no so much. I mean, there is a new hole wave and producers are releasing new bands each week (as their job, they must do it). Now it's your turn to decide which are the best ones and which ones are just fakes. In my case, I'll give a chance to this guys.

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Ringside - Struggle

Song: Struggle
Artist: Ringside
Album: Ringside
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2005

When you'll check the reviews of this album you'll realize that the most common word used to descrive it is "addictive". And it's true because once you listen it, you just want to listen it again and again.

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Rectangle - Teotihuacan

Song:Teotihuacán
Artist: Rectantle
Album: Bunker
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2000

I've been a long time trying to discover who the hell was the band that composed that track. And I've been really blind because it was on Amazon all this time!

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Snow Patrol - Run

Song: Run
Artist: Snow Patrol
Album: Final Straw
Genre: Alternative Rock
Year: 2004

This could had been one of the best albums of last year... if they have had as much publicity as other bands have. A very complete mellodical band and an incredible work composed on this album.

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Devendra Banhart - Korean Dogwood

Song:Korean Dogwood
Artist: Devendra Banhart
Album: Cripple Crow
Genre: Indie, Rock
Year: 2005

The hippie rock-hater that is causing a new movement on independent music. You can like this south-american singer or you can hate him, but it won't me indiferent to your ears.

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Raul Midon - State Of Mind

Song: State Of Mind
Artist: Raul Midon
Album: State Of Mind
Genre: Soul, R&B
Year: 2005

Trying to find some Letterman videos on the net, I found a live performance of this blind man (completely unknown to me). Nedless to say that I was stunned by his interpretation, so I needed to take a closer look to his album. The truth is that I was expecting too much after watching him singing that way and I was a little bit dissapointed after listening the album. I don't know if it's my fault for expecting so much or because the album misses some touch that makes it special.

Here you have the link to the live performance of Raul Midon at Letterman's Late Show. Enjoy!.

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