The New York Public Library's Office of Central Collection Development fields dozens of requests to purchase new material from our patrons each month. It is a great way to enrich our collections and cover lesser-known titles and areas of interest.

I have the pleasure of fielding those requests for music and have been introduced to some great new music this way… music I would not have known about otherwise. This list is a monthly compilation of my own personal favorite patron requests for music. I hope you will check out some of this great music your fellow library users have suggested the Library acquire!

Provided are some great preview tracks for each. Just click on the titles to be taken to the Catalog.

He Who Travels Far by Hanggai

The coolest find this month! Blends Chinese folk, Mongolian-style Tuva throat singing, with pop, slightly punk rhythms and song structures. (preview) 

Black Up by Shabazz Palaces

Distinctive hip-hop, grimy, and atmospheric — it trips you out before it blows your car doors off! (preview)

The Bang Years: 1966-1968 by Neil Diamond

Early Neil at his best! (preview) 

Galactic Melt by Com Truise

This is a great retro electronic instrumental album. (preview)

Aman Iman (Water is Life) by Tinariwen

A Malinese rock band formed in a refugee camp in Libya present a great mix of West African and western pop sensibilities. (preview)

Songhai Blues by Samba Toure

Groovy Mali guitar music (preview)

All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone by Explosions in the Sky

Instrumental "post-rock" outfit: noisy, atmospheric, but melodic and enjoyable (preview)

Culture of Fear by Thievery Corporation

Mixes hip-hop, dub, indian classical music, reggae, and a slew of other influences into a highly enjoyable, diverse collection of tunes. (preview)

Red, Hot & Rio by various artists

A great comp of current artists doing their take on the Brazilian sound, from an organization devoted to promoting AIDS awareness. (preview)

Devil's Music by Teddybears

Hard rockin Swedish punk with elements of electronic music thrown in. (preview)

(See this full list in our new Catalog, BiblioCommons)

TUNE IN NEXT MONTH!