Stroke 9″Nasty Little Thoughts”Best to listen to: When you’re in a good mood while hanging outdoors with your friends on summer afternoons.
     My award for the best CD to listen to during not only summer but year round goes to Stroke 9. This is one of those great CD’s that I can listen to anytime when I’m in any sort of mood. Stroke 9 adds everything from catchy feel-good songs like “Letters” to the more slow down serious subjects mentioned in “Are you in this?” All together, Stroke 9 has encompassed a perfect way of putting everything I could ask for in a CD, and I can say truthfully that I definitely listen all the way through without having to skip one track. This CD flows extremely well, the set up for the track list is perfect. Starting off quickly to get your feet tapping, and then winding down with a slower song or two, Stroke 9 knows exactly how to get you started, and then bring you back down again. Now how many CD’s do you own that you can do that with? Hats off to Stroke 9.
Various Artists”Moulin Rouge” SoundtrackBest to listen to when: You’re getting dressed up to go out for a night on the town to have fun.
     The Moulin Rouge soundtrack gets my award for best soundtrack. This CD includes upbeat songs such as “Lady Marmalade,” “Because We Can,” and “Elephant Love Medley,” all the way to perfect slow dancing with your loved one with songs like Ewan McGregor’s rendition of Elton John’s “Your Song.” With contagious dance beats in several of the songs, you’re going to have to try really hard to prevent yourself from getting up and dancing to show everyone that you know how to work it. This soundtrack is just what you need to get the blood pumping through your veins before a big night out.
AFI”The Art of Drowning”Best to listen to: When driving in your car with friends and you need a kick start to get going.
     Formerly a lesser-known band that has been recently hitting the airwaves with their new singles, AFI is the definition of hard-core rock. This fifth release from this East Bay band includes their single “Days of the Phoenix”, along with smaller titles “Sacrifice Theory” and “The Lost Souls”. In my humble opinion, I think that this CD best defines who and what AFI is. Daring to be different and pushing the boundaries of music, this band knows exactly how to make themselves heard. I tend to think that AFI is poetry set to music-if they words were by themselves, I think they would be lacking something. Yet the music more than makes up for it. However, don’t let the seemingly dark titles scare you away. With electrifying guitar riffs and amazing drum ensembles, this CD is definitely one for getting you up and running along with the beat. Perfect music to drive to .. just as long as you don’t follow suit with trying to drive as fast as the lead singer Davey Havock sings.