What I'm Listening to: Vol. VI

This time around I'd like to take a few minutes to discuss a few of the standouts in this installment of "What I'm Listening To." I, like most people who enjoy various genres of music, enjoy different types of music at different times. There are times when I want something dark, Industrial, yet danceable (i.e. Chemlab). Then there are times when I want something down tempo, smooth and groovy. I used to refer to this music as Ambient, Trance or Electronica, but with the bajillion cross sections/subcategories of music, I have no idea WHAT some of the music I enjoy listening to is considered. It's mind-boggling. I think the confusion began in the mid 90's, when Techno (still a favorite) spun off into Garage, Breakbeat, Tribal, House, Hi-NRG, and the list goes on and on.

If I felt I could trust the people at the CD places that I shop, to put things in the right categories, maybe I'd feel a little more confident about what genre I am listening to. Unfortunately, the categories at most places are strictly limited to Rock, R&B, Dance, Soundtracks, Religious, Jazz and Country. So when I go places like Virgin Records Megastore in Dallas (where, BTW, if I write down the names of stuff that looks interesting, come home and look them up on Half.com, I can get them for WAY less money..even WITH shipping), my mind goes completely blank when I lay witness to their 2,347 genres of music. Okay, I'm exaggerating a little, but still, it's overwhelming.

So, the whole reason I started writing this in the first place, was to make you aware of some REALLY good down tempo CDs that I have bought recently that I really enjoy: Verve Remixed 3 (original Jazz artist's lyrics put to contemporary new beats. I still contend that vol. 1 was THE best. Both vol. 2&3 have their moments, too), Jazz Chillout (a 2 CD set), King Koopa (lyric-less down tempo music with a contemporary, groovy beat, though some tracks are definitely up tempo/dance...EXCELLENT CD!) and Koop and Kaskade (Electronica meets Lounge. GREAT chillout CD. Every song is great. Recommend!). So, if you're looking for something soothing to listen to, with a contemporary edge, you might want to check these out.

Here are my latest CD purchases.
• Verve Remixed 3 Hotel
• David Bowie: Little Wonder [Maxi-single]
• Betty Boo: Where Are You, Baby [Maxi-single]
• The Original 80's Album
• Nat King Cole: The World of Nat King Cole
• Jazz Chillout
• Erasure: ABBAesque
• Chemlab: East Side Militia
• King Kooba: Enter the Throne Room
• Drew's Famous: Fang-Tastic Grooves
• Koop: Waltz for Koop: Alternative Takes
• Kaskade: In the Moment