40. Patricia Barber, Mythologies 2006
Patricia Barber and Cassandra Wilson were the most inventive and imaginative Jazz vocalists of the decade I believe. This album is her musical musical telling of Ovid's Metamorphoses. Yet she does not just tell the stories, she interprets them. Sit down with a copy and read the stories, then listen to the music and let it carry you away to a mythical tales of Icarus, Orpheus, Narcissus and other wonderful tales.
39. Esperanza Spalding, Esperanza 2008
As a young, up and coming singer/bassist, I look forward to what she is going to do in the future, but this is a tremendous sophomore effort.
38. Over the Rhine, Drunkard's Prayer 2005
This is one of the most intimate albums I've ever heard. Soft and tender, Karen and Linford let us into their lives and tell the story of their marriage, hurts, love and healing.
37. Ólafur Arnalds, Eulogy for Evolution 2007
This all instrumental album of post-rock neoclassical music needs to be heard. I don't know how these Icelandic musicians are putting out so many great albums, but they seem to do it over and over. I put him up there with Sigur Ros and Emiliana Torini.
36. Roy Hargrove, Earfood 2008
This is a straight up jazz album, and there's nothing terribly new or inventive about it, but it lives up to its title. It is thoroughly enjoyable food for the ears, beautiful from beginning to end.
35. Cassandra Wilson, Glamoured 2003
Jazz and blues with a twist of African rhythms, this album has it all. This is a great introduction to a magnificent singer.
34. Yo La Tengo, And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out 2000
This is probably my favorite Yo La Tengo album since it seems to capture best the spectrum of music that they put out.
33. Cat Power, Jukebox 2008
This is the most soulful of her ablums, which is why I prefer this one to her others.
32. The Weepies, Say I am You 2006
Their catchy folk/pop music will have you hooked the moment you start listening to them. This is a thoroughly enjoyable album--I haven't weeped once, yet.
31. Herbie Hancock, River: The Joni Letters 2007
I have no idea why this album won best album. I'm not saying it didn't deserve it, but there have been several jazz albums in recent years that probably deserved to win even more. Perhaps it's because he brought in pop singers like Norah Jones to sing for him. If you're a jazz fan, don't write this off as a pop effort--this is truly jazz. If you're a pop fan, don't write this off as obscure jazz music--this is a great way to get into a style of music you may be missing.
