Identifiable

Streets of New York
$12.97
this cd is matt's debut record. he comes out strong with 6 of the 9 songs being originals. what makes this album special is that it seems to appeal to just about everybody. the melodies are played in harmony by three horns: alto sax, tenor sax, and trumpet. for this reason, it has a full and rich sound. they're smart arrangements with latin jazz feels , some real progreesive sounds, and hard driving tunes as well. basically something for everybody. the first 2 tunes have a vibrant latin feel that you could dance to. the third tune "afraid of love" is right out of the fifties pulling at your heart strings. "reservation" is contemplative and introspective. "swing street" and "pier 39" are real swingers with interesting harmonies. "wait" is from the musical sweeney todd and is very rhythmic and swinging and quite interesting. Lastly, "it never enetered my mind" will touch that tender side of you as it's a beautiful ballad poignantly presented by matt. this is a cd that you'll likely play when you have friends over ( guarantee they'll ask who's playing) . It is recorded the old fashioned way on 2" tape , not digitally, so it has a texture and warmth that transmits nicely. you will love this cd :)

In This Single Moment
$14.99

Noblesse Oblige: An Enquiry into the Identifiable Characteristics of the English Aristocracy (Oxford Language Classics)
$12.74
Americans think that "My Fair Lady" is sort of a joke, akin to pulling someone with a Jeff Foxworthy redneck accent out of West Virginia and teaching him to talk like a Connecticut River Valley Knickerbocker. I always thought so too, until I actually lived in England and married a Brit. America is such a big country, but we have so few accents... unlike England where a native can tell what street in which city you grew up on just by hearing your voice! The system is so concrete that it is impossible to fake out anyone who "knows."

This is a sort of difficult book for Americans to read, because we don't really understand just how important language is as a social and class divide in England. It is still the case, but when Ms. Mitford's essay was first published it was even more concrete. At times, I grew a little bored of the book because even though I understand that it is a big deal over there, the democratic American spirit in me doesn't particularly like or appreciate it.

The book consists of Ms. Mitford's essay, and several supplemental and follow-up essays and letters about it. It is worth a read if you are interested in class in England, or in linguistics (though keep in mind that it's best described as "anecdotal linguistics" and not as a real academic study). However, it is rather snobby at times, though she tries to cover this up with her considerable sarcasm and wit, and Americans who haven't witnessed firsthand the language snobbery that goes on over the pond might be confused.