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So the other day, a Facebook friend asked for recommendations for a quiet and relaxing acoustic guitar album. My initial reaction was to recommend two of my go-to albums for unwinding.
My first recommendation was Little Lion by Brooks Williams. The second was Gravity by Jesse Cook.
But after posting my response, I couldn’t stop thinking about the question, and three more albums came to mind. Rather than add another comment to an already lengthy Facebook discussion, I decided to share all five favorites here.
And, of course, I couldn’t resist putting together a playlist!
Little Lion – Brooks Williams
Little Lion was released in 2000 following up his 1999 album Hundred Year Shadow. I saw Brooks live at The Main Point shortly after the release of Hundred Year Shadow which was getting a fair amount of airplay on WXPN at the time. I said to him during a break in the show that when I listened to the album I thought man this guy can really play!” He thanked me and said it was his first love. Anyway after buying Little Lion that album has become one of my first loves!
Gravity – Jesse Cook
Gravity by Jesse Cook was the second acoustic guitar album that came to mind. It’s even a little older than Little Lion. It was released in 1996 and I believe I bought it soon after it’s release. My favorite track on the album is “Closer to Madness”.
Now after I had posted my response on Facebook. I thought about two other albums. But since the friend had already had over two hundred and fifty responses to her query, I decided to write this post and discuss those albums here. So here goes!
Promise – Flow
Promise from the supergroup Flow is the first album. The group consists of Lawrence Blatt on guitar, Jeff Oster trumpet and fluglehorn, Fiona Joy Hawkins on piano and vocals and Will Ackerman acoustic guitar.
Flow’s name comes from the first letters in the names of the band members F (Fiona) L (Lawrence) O (Oster) and W (Will).
Their first self-titled album spent many weeks atop the Zone Music Reporters Radio Chart and won the Zone Music Reporter’s Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album
Although Promise was released in August of 2019 I just became aware of it earlier this year. Since I discovered it, It has been a go to album for relaxing and calming down.
The tracks throughout the album vary. On some tracks it’s Blatt’s or Ackerman’s guitar weaving its way around Oster’s trumpet or flugelhorn. While on other tracks it’s Fiona’s piano intertwining between the guitars and horns. But the music throughout the album is always soothing.
Emergence – Lawrence Blatt
The next album I thought about was Flow member Lawrence Blatt’s 2014 release Emergence. Like Promise it’s a great soothing and restful album. I wrote about the album back in 2015 and you can read my post here.
Tales from the Wine Dark Sea – Tom Caufield
Finally, I thought about and listen to an album from guitarist Tom Caufield. I have listened to several of Caufield’s albums. But the one that stands out the most is his 2014 release Tales from the Wine Dark Sea which was the….
Winner of One World Music’s ‘Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of 2014,’ Tales from the Wine Dark Sea’ is Tom Caufield’s fourth collection of contemplative, acoustic guitar pieces, and his first on steel string guitar.
On the album Caulfield blends American rural guitar styles, ambient soundscapes and Irish and Turkish traditional ballads, to make ‘Tales from the Wine Dark Sea’ a terrific album.
You can read more about the album here at Tom Caulfield’s website.
Five Albums, One Relaxing Playlist
There you have it! Five of my favorite albums for those times when I want to slow down, relax, and let the music carry me away.
- Little Lion — Brooks Williams
- Gravity — Jesse Cook
- Promise — Flow
- Emergence — Lawrence Blatt
- Tales from the Wine Dark Sea — Tom Caufield
While the music on these albums ranges from acoustic folk and flamenco-influenced guitar to contemporary instrumental and New Age, they all have something in common. They’re albums I can put on, settle back, and simply enjoy.
And since I couldn’t leave well enough alone, I put together a twelve-track Spotify playlist featuring music from all five albums.
Give it a listen. Maybe you’ll discover a new favorite!
Now it’s your turn. What acoustic guitar album do you reach for when you want to unwind?
