HOLIDAYS 2006: MUSIC You can't see around corners, Marshall McLuhan pointed out, but you can hear around them. And so we do. For music, of all the arts, works on our central nervous system and our brain at the same time; it can simultaneously deliver a pounding, animal beat and an exquisite spiritual message. It paints pictures in our heads. It gives us clues to tomorrow. Critics knock the iPod because, they say, it separates us from our common space. Yes, it does. It takes us into another space, where people sing in harmony and every song is a kind of prayer. It gives us inspiration, reminds us of our best selves, makes our walking into dance. If that's living in a bubble, it sounds damn good to me. I give music every chance I get. It's soul medicine. Apply at the first sign of joy --- or heartbreak. Take as often as needed. And share. Yes, share. These CDs are in heavy rotation here. I hope they give pleasure to you and yours. BUTLER'S TOP TEN OF 2006 Amadou & Mariam: Two blind singers from Mali will give you happy feet Rosanne Cash: She starts by mourning her parents, ends in grace Bob Dylan: Give the old guy some rhythm, he can truly rock Emmylou Harris & Mark Knopfler: duets from an angel and a guitar god Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens): Three decades later, a fresh dose of peace 'n love Damian Marley: Bob's son; with crisp melodies and impassioned lyrics, the most exciting new music of the year Tom Petty: “Square one, my slate is clear/Rest your head on me, my dear/It took a world of trouble, it took a world of tears/It took a long time to get back here.” Who knew he could be that...delicate? Josh Ritter: He's moved beyond his influences (Bruce and Bob) into a clear zone of great original songs. "I'm a good man," he sings. No kidding. Bruce Springsteen: the music of Pete Seeger, backed by a big ole band Teddy Thompson: The first song pleases, the second delights, the third thrills --- soon enough, you're in love HOLIDAY Christmas with the Tallis Scholars: world-class English polyphony A John Waters Christmas: Can you live without “Santa Is a Black Man" and "Here Comes Fatty Claus”? WORLD (AND OTHER WORLDLY) Noirin Ni Riain: a Celtic voice from another world Zucchero & Co: if Andrea Bocelli rocked..... Cesaria Evora: the barefoot singer from Cape Verde weaves a spell Mulatu Astatke: Ethiopian jazz mixed with '60s organ will twist your head Radio Tarifa: a potent blend of Spanish and African music; kiss the Gypsy Kings goodbye Bob Marley & The Wailers: their first CD, their purest, their best Khaled: Algerian fundamentalists forced Rai singers to Paris; Khaled met a Jewish producer from Los Angeles; the result is international joy THE IMMORTALS Nick Drake: He made three CDs, died at 25 and then the cult - deservedly -- formed Otis Redding: a live performance in Europe that you got to, got to, got to have Sandy Bull: the guitarist who mastered every style - and invented some Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong: the definitive “Porgy & Bess” Warren Zevon: his first CD, an ironic, tuneful hymn to LA BLUES CLASSICS Buddy Guy: “Gonna find me some kind of good woman, even if she's dumb, deaf, crippled or blind” Junior Wells: in a sharkskin suit, slicked hair and magic harmonica, the ultimate hipster Etta James: The blues is her business, and “business is good” Big Mama Thornton: “Hound Dog” was her song first, but then, she made every song her own COUNTRY Marty Stuart: This is why God made juke boxes and bourbon J.J. Cale: Oklahoma shuffle, great enough for two careers --- his and Clapton's BOOMERS Burt Bacharach: No one wrote as many hits; he never needed to know the way to San Jose Dion: 40 years later, he re-recorded his hits; this time, they're even better David Gray: the heavy piano chords, the teasing lyrics: take that, Elton John! John Fogarty/Creedence: every great hit, and so many you think “Wow, the American Beatles” Chris Isaak: Roy Orbison with sex appeal, lots of sex appeal Roxy Music: it's 4 AM at a 5th Avenue penthouse, party's over, one bottle of Krug left C.C. Adcock: dirty boogie Louisiana party music Joni Mitchell: I could drink a case of her Aretha Franklin: which is greatest, her singing, writing --- or piano playing? Van Morrison: If you don't have 'Astral Weeks,' don't say you know him JAZZ Herbie Mann: No flute ever carved a deeper groove Keith Jarrett: piano improvisation that sounds like brilliant composition CLASSICAL Vivaldi: Sacred Music, Vol. 2: This washes away the 'Four Seasons' Willie Ruff: The great French horn player, recorded in a Venice cathedral Hildegard von Bingen: mystical Christianity set to music Gregorio Allegri: a piece so beautiful the Pope kept it for himself Maurice Andre: the 20th century's most exquisite trumpet player PRAISE THE LORD Al Green: His gospel CD is perhaps his best work (yes, you can dance to it) Ben Harper and The Blind Boys of Alabama: the songs sound like classics, but Ben wrote them Buddy Miller: A country king expands his realm into gospel --- by Jesse Kornbluth, for HeadButler.com Copyright 2006 by Head Butler Inc.