#4 Album That Rocked My World 2011: Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi – Rome
Audio: Black (featuring Norah Jones)
This collaboration of super producer Brian Burton (Danger Mouse) and Italian composer Daniele Luppi is inspired by the music from spaghetti westerns was a project 5 years in the making. The album also reunites the choir which performed on the soundtrack of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. The album also features three tracks with vocals from Jack White and three songs with vocals from Norah Jones. It is hard not to admire the ambition of the project, but the album succeeds beyond being an interesting musical experiment. Of course the album is cinematic, but it is also haunting and gorgeous. It also accomplished the miraculous feat of turning me into a Norah Jones fan. I always found her music and persona somewhat bland. But there is a real coolness to her performance on this album. Jack White’s vocals are emotional highlights as well. But much of the album is instrumental. To be honest not really a huge instrumental fan, but the instrumental tracks on the album are truly compelling. A real masterpiece.
