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Last Minute Music Gift Ideas

For lack of anything better to post, I thought I'd give you all a small list of some CDs that I highly recommend giving someone this holiday season. There's only one more shopping week until Christmas, so if you need some last minute ideas for stocking stuffers or gifts, or even ideas on what to use the money your Aunt Ethel gives you, here's what I recommend.

Album Name: Volume 3 - Further In Time
Artist: Afro Celt Sound System
Type of Music: World/African/Celtic/Electronic
Details: Why should you buy this? Because it's my favorite album ever! It's an album full of emotion, power, drama, energy, and sounds that will get you off your feet and dancing. If you need a gift for someone who really appreciates good music or appreciates forward-thinking, eclectic sounds from many different cultures, this is the album to get!

Album Name: Grace
Artist: Jeff Buckley
Type of Music: Rock/folk
Details: This album may not be for everyone, but a person who loves male artists with amazing voices and the ability to combine many genres into one album will love this. Jeff had one of the world's greatest singing voices (my opinion) and Grace has a lot of beauty in just ten songs. Also, you can commonly find it for around $10 in many music stores. Or, you can shell out $30 for the Legacy Edition and get a bonus CD and a DVD of all of Jeff's videos!

Album Name: Greatest Hits
Artist: Lenny Kravitz
Type of Music: Rock/soul/funk
Details: His latest album may not have received good reviews, but this one gathers all of Lenny Kravitz's best-known hits in one place. Lenny's an awesome guitarist, very competent musician, and has songs in so many styles. He can rock, he can croon, he can even do a little country. If you have any Lenny fans on your list, or know someone who loves loud guitars or funky grooves from a funky musician, this is a good album to purchase.

Album Name: Siamese Dream
Artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
Type of Music: Rock. LOUD, expressive rock.
Details: Almost anyone who grew up in the 90's knows about the Smashing Pumpkins. Many of those people already have this album, but keep in mind that even I didn't own it until this year. This is the album for the person on your list who loves dramatic, progressive, ear-splitting rock anthems. It also has songs for people who like the softer side of rock, or who love introspective lyrics about life and love. If you know someone who loves the Smashing Pumpkins but does NOT have this album, you NEED to buy it for them!

Album Name: 25 years of Green Linnet
Artist: Green Linnet Records
Type of Music: Celtic
Details: This is a 2-CD, 32-track collection of amazing songs and tunes from Green Linnet artists celebrating the first 25 years of the label. It has romping instrumental sets of jigs and reels, gorgeous songs in Gaelic, solo fiddle performances and a few more progressive songs by innovative Celtic artists who have their eyes on the future. No matter what type of Celtic sounds you prefer, there's something on here to love. If you know someone who loves Celtic music, beautiful music, or music by people who really have a good touch with their instruments, this is a great product to consider buying.

Album Name: Down The Old Plank Road
Artist: The Chieftains plus many guest artists
Type of Music: Bluegrass/Irish
Details: Never before have two styles of music integrated so well. The Chieftains are one of the world's best Celtic and Irish bands, and they've made a career out of working with top musicians in other styles. For this album, they went to Nashville and gathered some of the FINEST bluegrass and country musicians and singers to make music with them. The common roots of Celtic and Bluegrass show crystal clear through the 14 tracks on this album. Guest artists include Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Del McCoury Band, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Lyle Lovett, Bela Fleck and Ricky Skaggs. If you have a Celtic music lover OR Bluegrass music lover on your list, this is a highly recommended item!