I believe that the album, as a whole, is a dying art form. With the radio, mix tapes, and now iTunes, people often listen from song to song to song. But an album, that’s different because it’s a whole experience by an artist, meant to be appreciated as a whole. It’s like a good meal; you can enjoy the chicken, but the chicken combined with the sweet potatoes and the salad, and the sauce is what makes it magic.

So, here’s the last Five CDs I listened to, in their entirety.

1. Death Proof Soundtrack, various. Quentin Tarantino has the ability to cull the most diverse, entertaining, and fitting music for his soundtracks. And this one is no exception. I admit this is almost against my “album” ideology, but since these songs were all chosen for their purpose, it works.
2. The New Standard, Herbie Hancock. I love jazz, and this is one of my favorite albums. I usually bounce back and forth between this and Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue, depending on whether I’m in an upbeat mood, or an introspective mood.
3. Back to Black, Amy Winehouse. The first time I heard Amy Winehouse was actually her song Rehab, remixed by Jay-Z. Loved it. Got the album. Passed it on to dad. I just love 60s girl groups, and the new twist on the genre is fabulous.
4. Grieg Cello Sonata in A minor, David Finckel and Wu Han. Great piece, great performance, and I was listening to it in anticipation of their performance here in Aspen.
5. Autonomous, Hodr. Hey it’s my brother’s CD that he just released, and it’s awesome in all its industrial-techno-electronica glory. He’s so cool and talented.