315. NINA GORDON - Tonight and the Rest of My Life Bought this one really cheap used because it was cheap and because Nina Gordon was in Veruca Salt, a band that wasn't too bad back in the day. Yikes. This is totally unlike Veruca Salt's stuff. There's not much edge to it at all. It's pretty light pop actually with the occasional bit of riffage. Sounds like she was kind of trying to do a Juliana Hatfield type of thing, but that it didn't really come off. Oh well. At least it was only a few bucks. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of music that's a lot worse than this, but this is such a HUGE departure from what she'd produced earlier that I'm sure it shocked quite a few people. There are a few decent tracks on it though, so it isn't a total loss.
316. HENRYK GORECKI - Symphony No. 2 "Copernican" Fairly unremarkable CD by a composer whose work is usually quite striking whether it is something serene like his Symphony no. 3 or something a little more cacophonous.
317. HENRYK GORECKI - Symphony No. 3 Gorecki's Symphony no. 3 is one of the quintessential pieces of the last 50 years, and probably of the last century. Some people may disagree because it moves at a snail's pace, but it is so hauntingly beautiful that it's hard to deny how great it is. The text is taken from various Polish prayers, religious texts and folk songs. The piece is more or less in memory of the sufferings of Poland during WWII.
319. GRATEFUL DEAD - Dick's Pick's Volume 1: Tampa, FL: 12/19/73 This is the disc that started the live series of releases where the material is chosen by the Dead's archivists. Their first archivist Dick Latvala started it, and after he passed away, they kept the name of the series for the new guy. Great show from '73. Highlights include "Here Comes Sunshine" "Big River" and a big segue-fest on disc two that includes "He's Gone > Truckin' > Nobody's Fault But Mine > Other One > Stella Blue." No Mickey Hart on this one and the Godchauxs were in residence.
320. GRATEFUL DEAD - Dick's Picks Volume 2: Columbus, OH: 10/31/71 Monster set featuring: Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia St Stephen Not Fade Away > Going Down the Road Feeling Bad > Not Fade Away Basically five songs on a full length CD, but they were in the zone that night. No Donna Jean on this disc.
321. GRATEFUL DEAD - Dick's Picks Volume 3: Pembroke Pines, FL: 5/22/77 Absolute MONSTER of a show. They're pretty much firing on all cylinders from the get go. It's virtually my dream setlist: Disc One: Funiculi Funicula The Music Never Stopped Sugaree Lazy Lightning> Supplication Dancin' In The Streets Help On The Way> Slipknot!> Franklin's Tower Disc Two: Samson and Delilah Sunrise Estimated Prophet> Eyes Of The World> Wharf Rat> Terrapin Station> (Walk Me Out In The) Morning Dew
322. GRATEFUL DEAD - Rockin' the Rhein: Dusseldorf, Germany: 4/24/72 A complete show from the famed Europe '72 tour. Another mind-bending setlist: Disc One: 1. Truckin' 2. Tennessee Jed 3. Chinatown Shuffle 4. Black-Throated Wind 5. China Cat Sunflower> 6. I Know You Rider 7. Mr. Charlie 8. Beat It On Down The Line 9. Loser 10. Playing In The Band 11. Next Time You See Me 12. Me & Bobby McGee Disc Two: 1. Good Lovin' 2. Casey Jones 3. He's Gone 4. Hurts Me Too 5. El Paso Filler - 5/24/72 Lyceum Theatre, London: 6. Lovelight> 7. The Stranger (Two Souls In Communion) Disc Three: 1. Dark Star> 2. Me and My Uncle> 3. Dark Star> 4. Wharf Rat> 5. Sugar Magnolia 6. Not Fade Away> 7. Goin' Down The Road Feeling Bad> 8. Not Fade Away 9. One More Saturday Night
323. EDWARD GREGSON - Concertos Interesting music by living composer Gregson. Nothing outstanding, but I like to check out what's happening in the modern scene. It's good and would be nice to see in concert. I will probably sell this at some point though.
324. ALEXANDER GRETCHANINOV - Vespers Setting of the Orthodox Church's vespers service in Slavonic. Great stuff.
325. EDVARD GRIEG - Violin Sonatas The Norwegian great's three violin sonatas. Nice disc. Really cheap. Go Naxos!
326. FERDE GROFE - Death Valley Suite Grofe was an American composer that typically wrote "light" music. "Light" doesn't always mean bad or cheesy, just music that is easier for the average concertgoer to digest.
327. FERDE GROFE - Orchestral Works These Grofe discs just don't hold the magic for me that they did a few years ago. Might have to dump 'em.
328. GYPSY FIRE - Gypsy Fire Bad name, horrible album cover (well, nice stomach...but bad design) but great music. This is one of those once off collaboration projects. It features some of the best musicians from across the Balkans and Near East. There's Armenians, Bulgarian Gypsies, and Turks on this disc. It is pretty fired up stuff (no pun intended.)
329. VASSILIS HADJINICOLAOU - Byzantine Music in the New World: Orthodox Saints Greek/Canadian musicologist and singer puts on Byzantine style hymns in English. Great disc.
330. RICHARD HAGOPIAN - Best of Armenian Folk Music The title pretty much says it all. One of many CDs of Armenian music that I own. Love that stuff.
331. RICHARD HAGOPIAN - Armenian Music Through the Ages I love these titles that describe the disc. How can you not love an instrument that uses and eagle feather for a plectrum (look closely at the photo)?
332. HOWARD HANSON - Orchestral Works vol. 1 Another disc of little known American classical music from the 20th century. Tonal music. Don't be frightened!
333. BEN HARPER - Fight For Your Mind Ben Harper was one of the first bands/artists I got into when my music tastes started developing beyond metal. Harper is part Marley, part Hendrix, part Marvin Gaye, but not at all derivative. He plays a weird kind of lap guitar that I've never seen anyone else play and it has a pretty unique sound. I LOVE this guy's music and have seen him once in concert. Hopefully I will get to catch him more in the future.