Austin City Limits

The Best Of Austin City Limits: Country Music's Finest Hour
$9.98
This was the first album to be released under "The Best of Austin City Limits" from their vast library of classic country music. It delivers the best country album compilation I've ever heard. With the likes of Mary Chapin Carpenter's "I Feel Lucky" (and you will if you own this great album) to Waylon Jennings "I've Always Been Crazy" and Tammy Wynette's "Stand By Your Man", all the great country music venues are explored here. From slow, tender love songs to foot-stompin' tunes, the minutes race by like an old iron horse headed west into the sunset as you listen to your favorite hits. It all ends too soon, but lively, with "Boogie Back to Texas" by Asleep At The Wheel. If you don't own this album, get it. Then do someone else a favor--share it!

Austin City Limits Festival 2004
$19.98
I love Austin City Limits and I respect the way they encompass so many types and genres of music but I am sorry to say that this compilation of performances was way under par for them. I bought the DVD in hopes of discovering some new interesting music along the same lines as Jack Johnson, Cake, and Ben Harper which are awesome performers in my opinion, but there were only a handful of others that were even mildly entertaining to me. Of course that's my opinion. But it wasn't so much that the bands were terrible- some of them were quite interesting and there were some surprise performances by musicians I may not have otherwise heard. It was the WAY they mixed the music together which just didn't flow at all and ended up feeling like a weird-ed out hodge-podge of psychedelic and country-esqe bands with a few hard bands thrown in here and there. They didn't jive at all and left me feeling flat. Perhaps the actual festival merged more smoothly, but on this DVD, they skipped from day performances to night and back again with jarring genre-switching that got on my nerves, and seemed to affect the artists' performances as well which I find regrettable because the potential for a great show was there, just not captured this time. Not worth the money in my opinion. Maybe if I was there drinking as heavily as the crowd it may have been more enjoyable.

Music in the Kitchen: Favorite Recipes from Austin City Limits Performers
$34.95
I recieved this in the mail recently and was amazed at the beauty of this cookbook. Jam-packed with recipes that everyone can make, whether you are a beginner cook or an established party-maker. Each recipe features interesting glimpses of the artist and their submitted recipe. I plan to try Mary Chapin Carpenter's "Real Margaritas" along with Cindy Cashdollar's "Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Baguette". I want to make Widespread Panic's "Chile" and Lorettta Lynn's "Collard Greens". A Huge variety of recipes, everyone will find something they enjoy from a favorite artist featured. I will give this a gift to friends. There is beautiful photogaphy and illustarations throughout the book.

Austin City Limits Music Festival: 2005
$18.98
For fans of the indie music scene this is a great live album. There are some great cuts on here by groups like Keane, Kasbian, etc. This festival has gotten bigger and bigger each year, it's interesting to see who was there a few years ago, who's still around and who isn't.

Matt Zarnstorff