One of my favorite collections to work with at the Library is the music collection. I love finding out what new releases are coming out and new artists to check out. Last fall was a good season for music releases with new music by Taylor Swift, Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Aerosmith and many more. In the early part of 2013 things have slowed down a bit, but there are some big artists coming out with new albums early on.

Destiny's Child - Love Songs

Earlier this year Destiny's Child announced a reunion after an eight year hiatus. Of course Beyonce has been busy in the last eight years, but the other girls in the group have held their own with solo releases, although it can't be easy being in Beyonce's shadow. Love Songs is almost exculsively made up of older material, but does feature a new song by the group called Nuclear. The song is produced by Pharell Williams and I was surprised how upbeat and catchy it is. Likely the song will be showcased if the rumors are true and the group takes the stage during the Superbowl Half-time show.

Tim McGraw - Two Lanes of Freedom

If you are a country music fan then you’ll definitely want to listen to Tim McGraw’s latest release. Another singer turned actor this is his newest release after Emotional Traffic which came out just last year. Don’t be fooled by Two Lanes of Freedom when you are listening to it though. The last song on the album is called Highway Don’t Care and features Taylor Swift and Keith Urban; as an ode to Swift the song is listed as track 13 (she has of often said 13 is her lucky number), but there is no track 11 or 12.

Tegan and Sara - Heartthrob

Last but not least is some Canadian (and local) content, Tegan and Sara’s seventh album is my most anticipated album of 2013 so far (it is only February though). I have had the first single, Closer, off the album on constant replay and can’t wait to listen to the full album. With every album the group’s popularity and profile seems to increase, so here’s hoping that Heartthrob continues that trend.

I lost my i-pod and I’m really upset about it. A perfectly curated archive of podcasts, a playlist of “guilty pleasures” that I would never admit I listen to, and a bunch of other sonic delights: all gone.

So, heartbroken, I visited the 1^st floor of the Central library, to pan the CD collection for some new gold. I borrowed 3 Bob Dylan discs (Best of the 60s, Best of the 70s and Greatest Hits), and some “best of” albums by Carly Simon, Paul Simon, and Marvin Gaye. I found two Thievery Corporation albums – “It Takes a Thief” and “Versions”, which are both fantastic, and on a whim, the best of Pet Shop Boys ended up in my basket. But my favourite by far is the oldest recording of the bunch – The Everly Brothers’ Greatest Hits.

These songs are familiar to me because my dad had a penchant for the oldies. The 50s and 60s were the soundtrack to my early years, even though I grew up in the 80s. But I didn’t appreciate those old tunes then, like I do now. The Everly Brothers have incredible harmony, and as one of my colleagues pointed out, the melodies are simple but the harmonies are much more complex.

Give the Everly Brothers a chance, and you’ll see they stand the test of time. Place a hold online, or visit your local library branch and check out the music collection.

I guess I’m starting to perk up about the lost pod. But for now, I’ll do my crying in the rain...

Calgary’s Folk Fest is in full swing, and I can’t wait until tomorrow night, when I’ll finally get to see KD Lang live! What a treat!

If you’re a music lover, then be sure to browse our extensive music collection. We’ve got thousands of CDs! Every genre is represented – from classical to country, and international, too. We’ve also got live concert DVDs. Be sure to check out our New and Notable section for new releases and artists you may not yet have encountered. Did you know that the Calgary Public Library has a collection of sheet music, too? Check it out, if you play the piano or guitar. Also, scan our program guide for free concerts, drumming programs, and more!

What do David Bowie and U2’s Bono have in common? Well, there’s music and stardom, of course. But in addition, both of them have worked with Brian Eno, musician, composer, artist and man of many talents.

Catch Brian Eno’s 77 Million Paintings at the Glenbow Museum this month. 77 Million Paintings is a constantly evolving sound and imagescape which continues Eno’s exploration into light as an artist's medium and the aesthetic possibilities of "generative software."

I particularly recommend attending the launch party for this exhibit. The Glenbow has recently begun hosting launch parties for its new exhibitions, and they are really quite fun! If you’re not a “museum person”, these parties are a great way to get you in the door. Admission is pay-what-you-can, and there will be music, performances and a cash bar, too!

Now, what to wear to the party? I’ll have to choose from my 77 Million pairs of shoes...

More information about the Glenbow Museum and the launch party here.

What are the effects of hip-hop immersion on a young black mind? How can we navigate issues of identity and find who we really are, outside of our peer group? Can parents influence their children without employing overt means of controlling them?

I loved Losing My Cool. It’s a memoir by a young black man who evolves from a hip-hop loving and somewhat cloistered youth to one who studies philosophy and abandons ‘hood aspirations for the life of the mind. Along the way, new friendships are established as old ones atrophy, and the freedom of undergraduate life replaces the relative conformity required in high school. I found one of the sharpest insights towards the end of the book, when Williams begins to appreciate the difference between being “of” hip-hop culture, and being “into” hip-hop culture. He concludes that those blacks who are into hip-hop but not “of” it can see hip-hop ironically; see how distanced the concerns of the street are from the priorities within their own lives. Those who take hip-hop seriously and without irony (and to the exclusion of all else!) can become trapped by its hollow pursuits, and slaves to its materialistic ethic.

Not only is this memoir about Williams’s own evolution, but it’s a loving tribute to his father, whose stoic presence looms large in the narrative.

Emotional, probing, and very insightful! This was a great and unique read.

Suggest it to the philosopher, son, father, or gangsta in your life!

One word: Tapestry.

Stop everything you’re doing and listen to this album!

I grew up listening to it, although it didn’t make much of an impression on me while I was young. But, whenever I return to it, I appreciate the awesome power of the singer/songwriter.

Visit your local library branch for a ton of CDs. Jazz, Pop, Classical, International, and much more! We’re guaranteed to have something you’ve never heard of!