A graduate; though remembered for a grand disc

Thirteen lucky tracks fall under the creative control of Kanye West, rapper, producer and fashion man extraordinaire. Graduation is one of a select few albums that I can listen to time and time and time again, from start to finish.

Whether he is starting it off in sharp form with "Good Morning" or slightly more mellow with "Champion" - his beats make me move and groove and cause good food for thought with his rhymes. A whole host of guests are featured; from T-Pain to Lil Wayne, the intelligent Mos Def, Dwele and DJ Premiere and, of course, Chris Martin on the melodic and marvellous "Homecoming."

One does have to have a predilection for the distinct personal perspective Kayne West has and enjoy his sharp delivery. And then, when these two basics are satisfied, one can safely count this as a super solid disc to borrow from the expanding collection of Hip Hop at your favourite local library.

Melody Gardot

A reduction in mobility after a motor car mashed her off her bicycle meant Melody Gardot would turn to music more than ever before as a means of travel on the road to recovery. Years later, releasing this first full-length disc, we witness her blend of jazz and blues instrumentation with her soulful, sultry, slightly smoky, super cool vocals. She co-produces this album and all too short at just over thirty minutes it is.

Norah Jones jumps to mind as an immediate comparison upon initial listen. Yet more spins around the stereo and one can pick out elements unique to Gardot, along with clarinet, cello and slide guitar arrangements, to name but a few varied instruments. Periodically, she incorporates a spot of Scat Singing, adopting a sometimes pensive, sometimes playful persona. It is hard to pick just a few choice tracks from the ten fine forms. A couple of the more reflective numbers that captivate me on the theme of love are "Quiet Fire" and "Love Me Like A River Does." And two fun ones being "All That I Need Is Love" and the jolly "Goodnite " with its jazzy double bass, finger snapping music with French lyrical moments thrown in for grand measure.

The wonder of wandering around the music sections in Audio Visual yield such groovy gems. I am well pleased with this lovely little number, new to the collection in our favourite library and I shall endeavor to give it just a few more listens before bringing it back tomorrow so someone else can share the sweet sounds and wait patiently for her new disc due to hit store shelves on 28 April 2009.

Pitbull of Personal Development - indeed!

His style is that of someone who slices and dices and chops and cuts. Though the only thing cooking in the kitchen is you. This fellow, known for his business advice and best sellers in that regard, branches out to break stupid ways, habits and thoughts you may hold about your life, personal universe and just about everything, including airline travel.

As with many books on betterment of the self, there are always quantifiable numbers of lists, exercises, ways and principles that one must hurdle through and over and come out the other side of the book with a good grasp on goals present and future. Where this Larry Winget chap falls off the typical feel-good, lovey-dovey wagon is in his straightforward and often chortle worthy way of mincing words and telling it like it is. He wants his words to be a guide, a means to an end and a possible path. It is recommended to think for oneself and consider what works, what does not and use critical thought processes in order to weed through the walk to a successful life.

It is, at 218 pages, an easy read of an evening (for someone who proceeds at a decent pace, even with stopping at intervals to do all the exercises and making notes on all the laugh out loud funny bits and phrases) and concludes in a very focused manner, suggesting that, through all the sundry thinking and listing and planning and answering why things are wanted, to pick one starting point and just go to it. Organisation of home – here I come!

I am Happier

When one has a book to delve into, life is good. And when there are things to be learned, ideas to consider, notes to take, things to write about, it is even better. Mind, one can simply read this blend of Harvard Positive Psychology and personal development, also known as self-help, and still pick up some gems without having to put too much effort into the process.

Although, if intrigued by the bright yellow cover, the red font on the front and upon reading the dust jacket, you are curious about improvement in your mood, then you may be keen to take pen to a separate piece of paper to ponder and plan, both during reading and review after the fact. Fifteen chapters, exercises at the end of each and "Time-In" moments sprinkled throughout allow for many moments of introspective pondering.

The writing is clear. The grand bit about this book is the reference to many others in the fields of Psychology and the premise of balance between the here and now and the future, near and far. Wit, wisdom, selected quotes at the start of each chapter and the additional notes all add to the solidity of the sundry notions for thought on a more examined and better lived life.

Definitely a Carnival

Here we are with more music for another Monday and further in the spirit of a melange of sounds with Frank London and company. Whooping it up in a classic kind of circus, party, carnival, playful way we have one man and his band, plus a whole host of special guests combining forces for one fierce Klezmer party.

"In Your Garden Twenty Fecund Fruit Trees" is the traditional tune to get things going. It features Marjana Sadowska with such a contagious vibrant joie de vivre, hooting, hollering and singing with such spirit one cannot help but wiggle at least five toes on a foot to the wonderment. Throughout the disc, there is an ebb and flow to the party mood. Lest you think it is all fast or all slow, no, a good blend of varied tempos mix up the new and old songs. "Who Knows One?" is another lovely number of a lady with lilting lyrics.

This one man, Mr. London, has a sense of humour in the liner notes, stating: "Esteemed reader, you have purchased the greatest recording of all time, a CD so powerful that it will cure you of all ailments from impotence to flatulence." Cheeky chap! And a great bunch of fun to listen to and read the booklet to boot. Hurry over to our favourite local library to give this disc a good go around your disc player of choice.

Book of the Month - Hunger games

I am so excited that the book of the month for February is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. At first glance, you may have hesitations about reading the book because it is after all a young adult novel. Do not let this dissuade you at all! I had been eagerly anticipating this book back in the Fall of 2008. The moment I got my hands on it, I devoured it (which included neglecting my family at supper). I walked in the next day at work and raved about this book to many of the staff and patrons. Everyone who has picked this book up has loved it.
Now, let me tell you why I enjoyed the book immensely. It was a quick read, had a disturbing plot and it was well written. Imagine yourself in the future, living in a district controlled by an overpowering State where if you are between 12-18, you may end up in a survivor like battle. The twist is that at least in survivor, you live......

Music Mondays: Marvels from England

Across the ocean we do go, dipping back to 2005 to meet the quintet of quintessential performers who exceed expectations on their debut disc A Certain Trigger. It has been on rotation in my stereo system for years. We have it here. And to say they rock is like taking coals to Newcastle, which, fancy that, is where they are from.

The disc does have a fault. It is just shy of forty minutes. It leaves you wanting more of their post-punk, keyboard infused, rhythmic hooks and poetic portraits in poignant lyrics of love lost, found at inappropriate moments and even a bit of fun braggadocio about romancing skills. One of my absolute, all-time favourite tracks in my personal music history is the up-tempo, punchy, catchy "Apply Some Pressure" - even after hundreds, literally, of listens, I do love it so. Shards of sentences and bars of music resonate in mind of "Going Missing" with its slower, reflective, melodic moments. Then, sharp as a tack these souls, the passage "I am young and I am lost / Every sentence has its cost / I am young and I am lost / You react to my riposte" sticks to me as a clever sort of look at their lot in life from "The Coast Is Always Changing."

And this lot of lovely gents happens to be splendid in a sound recording. Though, upon borrowing the disc from our favourite local library, finding you too love it so dearly as I do, watch for them touring around the town and see a live show. It is an electric spectacle of energy, wild jumping scissor kicks, thrashing about in time to the tunes and romping around, wooing the audience with their captivating forms, witty banter and wondrous accents.