sympathique
Pink Martini's Sympathique. A perfect album, you'd have to be a corpse not to like every single song on it. I must have bought this album at least 15 times for people. That's right. Bought it. The album is so good that even a cynic like me won't dupe it.
Chances are you've already heard their music without even knowing it. As far as exposure through movies and TV commercials, they have been right up there with Moby for the last few years.
There's really no point in trying to explain how good it is. Go listen right now.
hang on little tomato
Pink Martini's second album, Hang on Little Tomato, took them 7 years to put out. Every year since 1997, their web site said that they were going to release it "next Spring".
While waiting, I saw them at about 3 or 4 of their live shows, where they would play all these "new" songs. So you knew they had all this great new material, but for whatever reason they just didn't go into a studio, record and release it.
Well they finally did release it in 2004. With album number 2, they accomplished a solid record.
hey eugene!
I think Pink Martini's sole motivation for releasing their third album, Hey Eugene!, was so nobody could complain about 7 year gaps between records.
The title track, "Hey Eugene" has been a favorite at Pink Martini's live performances since at least 2000. Now finally recorded, the song's soul has been completely lost in the overproduced, contemporary R&B version found here. It sticks out like a sore thumb from the rest of their song catalog, which is a true shame - given this is an amazing song when performed live. (For those interested hearing a more soulful, emotional version of "Eugene", seek out their older live performances on public radio.)
The rest of the album is surprisingly mediocre, save for the last track: "Tea For Two" featuring Jimmy Scott.
joy to the world
A Christmas album is always a bad idea. And Joy to the World is no exception. I'd like to tell you there's something here to like, but I don't really care for this album at all.