Riot on an empty street

I usually enjoy music that I discover on my own much more than any recommendations I receive from others. What is that saying? Music, like God is much better appreciated when one discovers it on their own.

Of course, I take into account what others have to say, especially when its the opinions of friends that I know are into good music and don't put their stamp on just anything.
One such person is my man {J} from back home, an avid fan of music and always at the cutting edge of what is hot, he is the one that trendoids keep a close eye upon to know where the next big bang will happen.

As such, his opinion about music ranks high in my books. So when he recommended Kings of Convenience's cd, Riot on an Empty Street to me back in April '05, I made a note to check it out. . I never got around to it however, and though he burned me a copy of their cd, I never had a chance to sit down and give it a thorough listen.

Then, in June, I was admitted to hospital; when I woke up from my near coma, I craved music. But the usual slew of WuTang, Slick Rick or Outkast was just not helping me, I needed something different, something calming, a cd that would hum in my ears while I lay in my hospital ward alone, trying to take stock of what life had just thrown at me.

At my insistence, my sister grabbed all the cds she could find in my room one day, and going through them, I came across J's recommendation that I had ignored for so long. I'm not going to insult you now by telling you that I loved this album, this whole post has been a build up to this fact, and you've probably figured that out.

Someone on the Amazon website, while reviewing this cd, comments that the songs on this album are all good, that "each one feels like a friend coming home to you". I couldn't agree more. This cd feels like a throwback to some sweeter time in your life. Its as if you've heard every song before, somewhere in your psyche, a voice springs up, humming along with the tunes. The songs are beautiful, the lyrics are wonderful, the rhythms are intoxicating and the whole cd is a pleasure from beginning to end. The meoldies whisper sweet nothings in your ears, putting a slight smile on your face without you ever realising it- Riot is a perfect cd to begin your day, to end your day and to enoy your day.

My personal favourite tracks are "Love is no big truth" and "Know How". Check out the cd, you won't be dissappointed.