Now Playing: February '08

So here are my February music discoveries -- stuff I didn't know existed, but discovered by chance and now they are playing on my iPod. So here is the list, (on the pic: from top left, to the tight and down) with one-sentence reviews, and my personal star ratings (1-5):

NOTE: click on the links if you want to check these out on iTunes (the link will launch iTunes and go to the album page) YAEL NAIM (**) Far, Far - last week's iTunes freebie, by the chanteuse whose other song, New Soul is the soundtrack for Apple's new MacBook Air; one online reviewer said "Don't know - sounds like crappy yodeling..." -- not quite that bad, actually, but I don't expect Yael to be a keeper on my iPod; YOAV (****) Club Thing (orange cover and Adore (green cover EP) - this one is definitely a keeper: familiar sounds of acoustic guitar and voice, turned exotic and otherworldly by this South-African singer-composer, a recent Verve label discovery - just give Yoav some time... grat lyrics, mesmerizing sound - my prediction: this one's going to the top big time; LENNY KRAVITZ (***) - his new album is much softer and mellower than his previous efforts, but I managed to find two  rougher pieces I actually like: Good Morning and Love, love, love -- really gritty, not nice -- NICE; then JASON COLLETT (***) -- Roll on oblivion and Sorry Lori especially the latter is a great song -- Collett's voice is an intriguing  cross between Dylanesque mumbling :) with a tinge of as-laid-back-as-it-gets Mark Knopfler mumbling -- a great paper-correcting music! TYLER RAMSEY (***): Ships from his new album; Ramsey tours with Band of Horses - mellow, folk sound with acoustic guitar, and a great, vibrant singing voice; OREN LAVIE (*****) the album, The Opposite Side of the Sea reminds me very much of Elvis Costello's Juliette Letters: raw gritty vocals, jazzy accompaniment - a really great sound mix, especially Her Morning Elegance and The Man Who Isn't There; DAN WILSON's (***) Easy Silence from his new album Free Life is one of those songs that get stuck in my head and I can't resist to hit the BACK button when it's over ( a perfect Valentine's day song); he is also the producer for another February discovery, STORYHILL (***), who can best be described as Simon and Garfunkel for the 21 century; their Paradise Lost (gone for good) from the eponymous album is tinged with youthful nostalgia: "there's no going back again... when we were young [those guys are in their late 20s!], we used to walk out in those fields, and run forever,  in a back-yard worlds, now the old trails disappeared in neighborhoods, streets named after what's gone for good...) mixed with catchy hooks and melodious harmonies; the unabashedly romantic, upbeat Love Will Find You will make the coldest winter snow day feel a little warmer...