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It’s that time of year. Time to pick out the new holiday-type album. Yes, we at Chez Saleski probably own way too many of these things, but try not to let it stop us. This year, it’s Pink Martini. I was sort of expecting a collection of loungificated Christmas songs.

It ended up being way better than that.

Read the full Friday Morning Listen at SomethingElse! Reviews.

Yes, it’s about that time. We’ve been mulling over the metric buttloads of music that has passed over our ear parts and are finally coming to some conclusions. There were some tough decisions to make but we made ‘em.

I mean, can you imagine me making a best-of list where Pat Metheny is on it…but not at #1?

Read my Jazz Favorites for 2010 over at SomethingElse! Reviews.

Patti Smith’s book about her relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe was very inspiring. It was great to read about the two “kids” trying to make their way…heck, trying to figure out what “the way” meant.

Read the full Friday Morning Listen at SomethingElse! Reviews.

I just couldn’t help myself. I googled “Bizingas” and the result was kind of funny. That just set me off. This is a good thing because the music that Bizingas makes, whatever you end up calling it, is a big load of fun.

Read the full review of Bizingas over at SomethingElse! Reviews.

We’re heading into the end of the year and here we have a new contender for the year’s funtestest (yes, that’s a word) album. The Chandler Travis Philharmonic is a crazy fun big band grown from the roots of Boston’s The Incredible Casuals. Check it out. (P.S. Don’t listen to “Fruit Bat Fun” unless you’re prepared to be distracted for the rest of the day)

Read the full review of Chandler Travis Philharmonic Blows! at SomethingElse! Reviews.

It’s nice to stumble onto a sentiment that totally busts the ever-growing cynicism that invades our cultural world. This is especially important near the end of the year, with all of the whining & hand-wringing about year-end lists, the Grammys, and all of that.

Today’s cynicism buster is the ever-genuine Regina Spektor.

Read the full Friday Morning Listen at SomethingElse! Reviews.

Esquivel was one of those composers who might have had too many ideas in that head of his. Too many? OK, just kiddin’. But still, a “stereo” recording of two orchestras playing simultaneously? Yikes.

Boston-based Mr. Ho’s Orchestrotica pays fine tribute to the man.

Read the full review of The Unforgettable Sounds of Esquivel at SomethingElse! Reviews.

On Thanksgiving, people are thankful for many things: friends, family, prosperity, security.

Me, I’m thankful for music. Or at least…what music does to me. Or something like that.

Read the full Friday Morning Listen at SomethingElse! Reviews.

Is it possible to listen to a piece of music too often? Too much?

What does “too much” mean anyway? I don’t think it has meaning.

Read the full Friday Morning Listen over at SomethingElse! Reviews.