Which Patricia Barber album floats yer boat?

I've got all Barber's albums, including her earliest.

"Modern Cool" does it for me, though I very much enjoy every single one of them. In particular, the title track and "Company" are superb.

As for uninvited comparisons, I never much enjoyed the music of either Bob Dylan or my compatriot, Joni Mitchell. I recognize them as major artists, but never liked 'em enough to buy any of their albums.

Anyway, if one is going to compare Barber, it makes sense to compare her, favourably or not, to other jazz composer/vocalists.

I think she's a major musical and lyric talent. Yes, she's intellectual and self-conscious and both of those are part of her artistic importance.

Happy listening all!

Joel.

It seems, for reasons I cannot divine, that one either loves her or hates her.

My (two) favorites are "Companion" since it is recorded live and has lots of old-school ambience, and "Cafe Blue" in 45rpm vinyl where the renditions of "Too Rich for My Blood" and "Nardis" are outstanding and--for me--hair raising.

I agree that the studio recordings lack "presence" which detracts from otherwise strong performances. Also, the angst in some of her tracks (particularly Modern Cool) some regard as artificial and superficial but I accept as amusingly sardonic and ironic (whatever she were intended).

I too was surprised at the negativism...as "do you think PB is overated?" wasn't the question.

Personally I have all her cds & enjoy each one. On top of her & her band's talent I think she/they have a unique sound. "Unique" is hard to find and a special joy if it trips your trigger. (Zappa comes to mind when I think unique.)

The

"I currently only own companion and spend most of the time wishing she would shut up"

comment was actually kind of funny as shutting up and letting the band play is one of the things I DO like about her. Norwegian Wood off Fortnight in France...if this isn't letting the band play...awesome cut.

I have Modern Cool and Night Club. Great recordings but the music has no substance. Sorry.. File under Easy Listening...

KiD

Cafe Blue. Ms. Barber is not a Dylan or a Mitchell but then who is. I enjoy her work for what SHE is doing.
[Playing her work on either LP or SACD also makes me feel like I have even better audio systems than I do, which seems to help me minimize all of the tweeking I try to do after playing so much of the poorly engineered stuff out there (whether LP, tape, or CD).]