Best CD I've heard so far 2011.........

Arvid Henrikson, this guy plays the trumpet like it's a flute...mindboggling ECM sonics too.

John - I'll have to give the new Frazey some more play time. Sometimes things grow on you after time, but after three plays nothing was really clicking with me. I was wrong about a new solo from her: I had gone to The Be Good Tanyas site and saw the promo for "Firecracker" which made it look like a new solo CD.

I do have Chestnutt's originals and agree with you on the comparison, but still enjoy the Junkies versions of his stuff too.

I will definitely check out Sera Cahoone - thanks!

Departing from chicks with strings, and going more into the melancholic male singer/songwriter...I've been really mesmerized by the sparse and haunting arrangements on the lone solo effort of Mark Hollis that someone introduced me to a few weeks ago (though it's an older release). It the self-titled CD.

Elbow, Adele, Brian Ferry, Cold War Kids, Warpaint,PJ Harvey, the Watson Twins, Doobie Brothers

Agree with Sfar, Smoke Ring Halo by the Wood Brothers is an awesome album!! They are also one of my favorite bands that I have discovered in the last few years. I saw them live and they put on a fantastic show! All of their albums are top notch.

I really like REM's new one "Collapse Into Now" It is closer to their earlier works with jangly guitars and good harmonies. Eddie Vedder and Patty Smith sing background vocals. As far as new artists go, I have enjoyed The Big Something out of North Carolina. Their cd "Stories From the Middle of Nowhere" was chosen as the Homegrown Music Network's new artist of the year. It is fantastic.