As I tried to make abundantly clear in an earlier blog, my first and foremost gift suggestion this holiday season is to buy the book Diary of a Player written by Brad Paisley and -- wow, this is slightly awkward -- me. And if any of you think that I would make this suggestion simply because I have some financial stake in all of you making said purchase, you -- sir or madam -- are incredibly cynical and rather insightful too. But if you feel the need to buy someone you love a product from which I in no way personally profit, then here are a few more decidedly last-minute musical gift suggestions from a lazy idiot who still hasn't done his holiday shopping. So stay warm, stay cool, and have a good one -- whatever one you chose to have. And feel free to tell me below what music you want to see under your Christmas tree or Hannukah bush.
THE BEST IMITATION OF MYSELF: A RETROSPECTIVE - Ben Folds
Yes, Virginia, before he was a judge on "The Sing Off," Ben Folds was already one of the most gifted, quirky and interesting piano men in rock history, and if you think he just plays a musical genius on TV, "The Best Imitation of Myself" is an excellent way to educate yourselves. The single CD version is well done, but if you can, splurge for the 3CD box set with not only the hits -- okay, the hit -- but also a CD dedicated to Folds' live recordings and his eccentric and often spectacular rarities, as well as the chance to download another five tracks too. Both with the Ben Folds Five -- the best name ever for a trio -- and on his own, Folds is an artist worthy of such an artfully compiled anthology.
THE COMPLETE ALBUMS COLLECTION - Billy Joel
Yes, Virginia, there were talented piano men before Ben Folds. The first time I ever took a girl on a date to a concert, we went to see Billy Joel. My mother dropped us off at a nearby community college to see the show. A stoner behind me threw up all over me early in Billy Joel's set, and I still had a good time. That's a great entertainer -- and a forgiving date. Even as a fan, I've long felt that Joel's best work were not his best known singles, but his less familiar album tracks. I told Billy this so once, and I think he actually agreed. I even offered to write liner notes for free if he ever put out a Greatest Non-Hits collection. So I love this chance to revisit Billy Joel's career -- 14 albums and a bonus CD with 17 rare and non-album tracks. But most of all, I'm thrilled to revisit so many songs that are hits at least with me - from "Everybody Loves You Know," to "You're My Home" to "Summer Highland Falls" to "Until The Night" to "Where's The Orchestra?" to "And So It Goes" to "Famous Last Words." And that guy who threw up all over me way back when -- come to think of it, he looked a hell of a lot like a young Newt Gingrich.
SONGWRITER - Paul Simon
Yes Virginia, there are talented singer-songwriters who play guitar too. And lest we ever forget, if you like your singer-songwriters intelligent, artful, witty and enduring, Paul Simon is as good as it gets. Simon's 2011 album So Beautiful Or So What is easily his best album since Graceland, a genuine, full-on masterpiece from one of our true musical masters. Songwriter is a fantastic new two-CD set handpicked by Simon himself that puts his career in a fresh perspective, from his work with a guy named Art, to his very latest piece of solo art, from the songs that we all know and love, to some recent we all should know and love. Wrap up a little genius for someone you love. And as a short man myself, I'm here to tell you Paul Simon is a little genius.