House's Movies: 2010 Music Favorites

December is the time that we start thinking about our favorite discoveries during the past year. I have heard a lot of new music that I'd like to share with you. CDs make good Christmas gifts; perhaps you'll find a few you haven't heard about. I have very broad tastes in music, ranging from classical to hard rock but I'll keep this fairly mainstream.

Santana's latest “Guitar Heaven: Santana plays the greatest guitar classics of all-time” is my number one pick for 2010. The fourteen tracks (12 plus 2 on the Deluxe Edition) are all covers from 1961-1983; with six of them from 1967-1972. Each tune has a special guest vocalist and a few feature guest musicians. The songs include Led Zeppelin's 'Whole Lotta Love' with Chris Cornell on vocals; Cream's 'Sunshine Of Your Love' sung by Rob Thomas; Joe Cocker on Jimi Hendrix's 'Little Wing'; India.Arie and Yo-Yo Ma on George Harrison's 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'; Robyn Troup and rapper Nas on AC/DC's 'Back In Black' and Ray Manzarek on organ on The Door's 'Riders On The Storm'. This is a CD that will be a welcome addition to the playlist at many parties this holiday season; and I'm sure you'll hear someone saying “crank it up”.Play it loud and party on!

Black Mountain is a five piece progressive rock band from Vancouver B.C. Their third release “Wilderness Heart”is a move to psychedelic metal with some Led zeppelin-hued tunes. Other tracks have some softer orchestral arrangements. Lead vocalist Amber Webber can really belt it out. This CD will get the stoner crowd dancing and swaying.

Do you remember The Steve Miller Band? Formed at the peak of psychedelia in 1967 San Francisco by Steve Miller, the band turned to more mainstream pop through the 70's and 80's. “Bingo”is the band's first studio release since 1993.This album has ten covers of great blues from the likes of BB King, Jimmie Vaughn, Lowell Fulson and Jimmy Reed.(There are four bonus tracks on the Special edition.) The band is tight, the rhythm section kicks and you will want to shake some booty when you spin this one. Joe Satriani sits in to add some solo licks on two cuts. The album is dedicated to Norton Buffalo who passed away a year ago. Apparently a second album was recorded at the same time as this one and should be released in February.

Phil Collins(formerly of Genesis) is now 59 years old and considering retirement. “Going Back(18 Good Reasons)” is possibly Phil's' final effort. This is a collection of covers of 60's Soul and Motown standards including 'Heatwave', 'Uptight', 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone', 'Going To A Go-Go', and “Take Me In Your Arms'. The extended CD has 7 bonus cuts including 'Dancing In The Street' and 'You've Really Got A Hold On Me'.There is also a DVD with 4 more tracks. Phil said he wanted to recreate the sounds and feelings he had when he first heard these great classics. This will make a great gift for some oldsters and get you a cheek-to-cheek dance at the New Year's party.

Ray LaMontagne is a raspy voiced singer-songwriter with 3 albums prior to this years' release of “God Willin' And The Creek Don't Rise”.His previous outputs were solo efforts, but here he is backed by 'The Pariah Dogs'.These five musicians really fill out his sound. There are some fine banjo and pedal steel guitar licks and you may find yourself stompin' along to some great bluesy countrified songs.