The Best Jewish Music You’ve Never Heard!
I’m going to be writing an article for the upcoming edition of the Jewish Entertainment Magazine. The article will be about CD’s that you may have missed. Maybe it came out during a busy season when many other big name CD’s came out and it flew under the radar. Maybe it was a debut CD from a new artist and not enough people gave it a fair chance. There are many reasons a CD goes without being noticed. I’m going to try tackling that subject.
What I’d like from you is some input on CD’s that you felt were underrated or underexposed. You can leave a comment below or e-mail me at sameachmusic@aol.com and I will try to include it in the article. If you write a couple lines about the CD I might even include it in the article. You can leave the comments anonymous or leave your name. Credit will be given unless otherwise instructed.
The deadline for the article has passed, but please feel free to add your comments below.Â
Dear sruly.
There have been in my opinion many great albums recently that have gone under the radar. I consider myself to be a big-time Jewish music fan and I listen to all sorts of genres. The first album I think that has gone under the radar is Ushmeul Bikorea Shimo. This all-star collection featured so many good songs and artists that before even listening I knew it was going to be amazing. I feel that due to most Jewish music fans not really knowing much of the music of these artists they fail to realize how truly special this cd is. The second album I think that went under the radar is the Omek Hadavar album. I really enjoyed the combination of the rock songs with the beautiful slow songs. Shomear Yisroel is one of my top 5 songs of the year. I really think they have a sound that is truly different from all other Jewish music. The last cd I think that went under the radar was Yosef Karduneur Breslove Melavah Malkah. There is no one is Jewish music who can compare to Yosef Karduner. He is an awe inspiring singer who truly uplifts the soul every time you hear him. I think that almost any cd he puts out is going to be great. Anyway that is my two cents. I could go on forever but I will end it there. Hope this was a help.
1) Not so much an album, but an artist – Ken Burgess. Great English lyrics are hard to find, and he has a number of songs with beautiful lyrics. He has a nice style, with tasteful arrangements. Very different to anything else out there.
2) 8th day, Tracht Gut. An album with a great fresh sound which is just FUN to listen to. The brothers vocals blend together wonderfully creating soothing harmonies, with, once again, inspiring lyrics (although at times, they are a bit over the top!) and great original tunes. One can really get a feel for their energy and excitement, especially at their live performances. (e.g The Telethon)
I anxiously await their second album!
Thank you for all your efforts in promoting Jewish music with projects such as the podcast and the videos ion Youtube!
I think one album that perhaps is not as discussed as the big guys like shwekey and the crew is Shmuel Barzil’s latest release: Borchainu. I did a review on this album here. The songs were very moving and Abish does a great job as usual. It was nice to hear Reb Shmuel singing as well as his sons. It is certainly a yeshivish tam but it was done well.
I would say that perhaps the most underrated Jewish singer is Gershon Veroba, but that wasn’t your question.
Sruly Ginsburg’s second CD is a beauty. His voice is the best voice in Jewish music, and maybe also not the second best, but it’s a great album.
8th Day. Hands down the most unnoticed great talent in Jewish music. Their album maybe wasn’t overy produced, but it’s a lot of fun, great lyrics and look out, there’s another one coming!
Shloimy Daskal’s K’dai
MBD Efshar L’Taken!!!!
Ethan Leifer. He put out a very solid CD with some very great tunes. Nobody’s ever herd of him. And he disappeared.
I meant Sruly Ginsburg’s voice is NOT the best voice in Jewish music, I just forgot to write that one word.
1. Anything by Isaac Honig. He is almost unheard of by most people but he has a killer voice and awesome songs.
2. Certainly not everones cup of tea, but David Werdygers cantorial chants are incredible!
Yoel Sharabi
Sandy Shmuely
Martin Davidson
Dudu Fisher
are so underated by the community that loves musica chasidi.
(“jewish Music” b’laz)
There are so many of them, but just to name a few off the top of my head:
Vahavienu-I know their second album better than than first, but heard some of the first one too. Their second album is fantastic. The singers are Dani (I think that’s his first name) Kunstler and a guy that calls himself “Scratchy”. They have a mix of really well done beautiful slow songs with really great music and harmony. (I don’t know if I’ve heard an album with nicer guitar) And their fast songs are great too. It’s just as enjoyable as any other popular jewish music cd, if not more than some. I would definitely recommend it to everyone. I just looked, and can’t seem to find their second album on mostlymusic’s site. They do have their first album though.)
Another cd that I really enjoy that I almost no one that I mention it to ever heard of is Portraits of Soul. (I can’t seem to find it on mostlymusic’s site either.) I think it was produced by Andy Friedman. The album is mainly slow songs, and some of them are really really nice. Very soft, with beautiful music. Boruch Abbitan is the child soloist on the album and sounds fantastic. (He is the boy who sang G-d Bless American by that Hasc United We Stand concert…) His father Meyer Abbitan sings on it as well. The other vocalists sound really good too. (maybe it’s Andy Friedman, I’m not sure)
Another cd that also has a softer sound with some really nice songs is Oneg. More people have heard of this one, but definitely not enough. Those that I know have heard it, loved it. Ben Klein is the main singer. (Who also sings on Benny K’ton for those who heard of that cd, produced by Eli Gerstner.) He has a great voice and the music is great too.
Hmm, that’s all for now.
Great idea for an article btw. Looking forward to reading it!
maybe because it’s so hard to find, but I absolutely LOVE the album “Purim Sameach” by the Binyomin Ginzberg Trio. Mind-blowingly beautiful music, accentuated by haunting performances and stunning graphics on the cover and liner notes. This album shows the potential that this type of music has, when in the hands of an artist instead of the usual hacks we hear everyday. If I get to hire a band for my own wedding, I will certainly select these guys!
V’Zoicher – compositions by Avi Kula, featuring Shloime Dachs, Ari Godlwag, and Mendy Wald — and artwork by Sruly!
i dont know if its underrated or anything but the best thing out there in the world in annanim – Nochi Krohn… heaven down on earth… the best most moving.. i cant get enuf of it….
I think that mizrach goes pretty much underrated. They have some great songs that made it to my “greatest jewish music” playlist. Also, LevYatan is underrated because all the other soloists get so much publicity
I agree with ukid about V’Havienu (Dani Kunstler). Both albums are great, the 2nd one is better and I think it’s one of the best Jewish CD’s of 2006 and I never heard it played on any Jewish radio station, maybe because it wasn’t produced or distributed by Sameach music. It is amazing.
Malka, actually we do distribute V’haveinu. Not exclusively, but through another company. It’s a great album, and if you got ShmaisRadio.com it’s played on there all the time. If you want to hear it on other stations simply email them and request it.
It is a very interesting story. Thanks!
Great article
I’m guessing there’s no sense mentioning SoCalled, or the upcoming Soulico album? They’re both Jewish though. SoCalled is Canadian and Soulico are Israeli. Also there’s Jewdysee from Germany. Soulico and Jewdysee incorporate a lot of Yiddish into their music.