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Midlake: The Trials of Van Occupanther
Stevens digs this "pastoral pop" record from the Fleetwood Mac-channeling Texas quintet: "It compels the listener to forget all the fussiness that goes into making an album."
Francis Poulenc: Choral Music [Listen]
The twentieth-century French composer and pianist was a "modern, worldly, experimental man with a soft spot for good church music," says Stevens. "These are gorgeous choral pieces."
Various Artists: New Orleans Funk
This "life-changing" compilation from the Soul Jazz label features rare grooves. "This is party music at its best -- the Meters, Aaron Neville and Allen Toussaint, the national hero."