Welcome to the pond

Here's the year's first Monday Music Mambo!

1. What are some new artists you discovered in 2005?

Andrew Bird, Anna Nalick, The Jayhawks, Missy Higgins, Keri Noble, among many others.

2. What musical things are you looking forward to in 2006? Concerts, new albums, new toys, etc.

I think Natalie MacMaster is coming here in October, so I'm definitely looking forward to that if it happens. That's the only real concert I know of that I want to go to. Elvis Costello has a new album coming out this year, so maybe I'll check that out too. I don't know what else is new for this year, so I guess we'll wait and see.

3. What is one song you'd like to use to ring in the new year?

"La Danse De La Vie" by Beausoleil. The title means "The Dance Of Life" in English, and I think that's an appropriate song for a new year.

4. What's your favorite musical instrument? Or, if you're like me, what are your top five musical instruments?

My top five:

1) Electric Guitar. So versitale and essential.
2) Violin. Ditto from above, and it's beautiful as well.
3) Drum kit. I love the drums, especially when they're played by a good drummer.
4) Piano. Beautiful, classic, capable of many different moods.
5) Banjo. I don't know why. I guess it's because the banjo is such an American instrument and has such a unique sound.