I listen to a lot of music, but rarely buy CDs. But I bought two CDs last week, vastly different, both very good.

M. Ward (Matt Ward) is an unusual talent, sometimes compared with Bob Dylan in his unique voice and storytelling. The CD is called Post-War and one cut, Chinese Translation, has gotten some airplay. The record is certainly something different with its Hawaiian-style tunes. The one problem is that the CD’s liner notes are unreadable.

The other CD I purchased is Steve Winwood's Nine Lives. Track #4, Dirty City (with an Eric Clapton solo), is
an anthem and the rest of the cuts are as good, if not better.

It may be the best CD I've heard in years. Don't forget to treat yourself to this one, and cranked it up when no one is around. Winwood is approaching age 60 and Nine Lives isn’t reminiscent of other aging rock & rollers’ valiant but flat efforts.

Winwood is at his finest with rich vocals, and his signature Hammond organ is soaring. It’s a jazz, it’s rock, it’s reggae and it's calypso. It’s poignant. It’s Winwood, still fresh. Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys and Arc Of A Diver are iconic rock albums. Nine Lives makes it a trio. Drive somewhere, find a winding country road and crank up the volume.