John - Most people know Jennifer Warnes as the Oscar winning duet singer (with Joe Cocker and Bill Medley) on movie soundtracks. But, did you know that she was also a longtime collaborator and background singer for Leonard Cohen? I bring all this up to recommend her brilliant album, Famous Blue Raincoat; a collection of some of Cohen’s greatest songs and an epic writing collaboration, Joan of Arc. The 20th Anniversary remastered version is the best listen. This is a marriage of a beautiful voice and incredible songs.

Chris - Pat Metheny - Still Life (Talking) - I’ve been revisiting a lot of the Pat Metheny discography and this has long been my favorite album of his. His playing is incredible as always but I’m most moved by the strength of his melodies and compositions, all of which is particularly strong on this record. “Last Train Home” is one of the quintessential Metheny classics and you might hear me playing “In Her Family” at any point here in the store. Above all, “Minuono (Six Eight)” is potentially my favorite piece of music ever created.  

Mike - The Replacements - Time (Let it Bleed Edition) - The Replacements have long been one of my favorite bands, and I count their singer/guitarist, Paul Westerberg, as one of the best living American Songwriters.  This is the record that caught my ear all those years ago.  Initially released in 1986, this remixed and remastered edition breathes new life into already outstanding songs while still retaining their signature “dont let them catch your trying” ethos.  Standout tracks are still “Kiss me on the bus”, “Waitress in the Sky” and the ever anthemic “Bastards of Young”, while album closer “Here Comes a Regular” will ring true to any soul who has spent an evening belly up to a bar, during what Douglas Adams called, “the long dark tea time of the soul”.