Ala Zingara - Shackled to the Wind

When NPR asked the music writers from alternative weeklies around the country what their top picks of 2004 were, Melissa Bearns of the Eugene Weekly picked Ala Zingara as one of her top three bands (available for listening in 'Day to Day' archives for 12/31/04 in Alternative music picks). Empowered by the idea that any music is fair game, Ala Zingara blazes through an impressive array of sounds and sonorous worlds. This Seattle quartet's original music happily blurs the line between different genres of music and provide a solution for those listeners who have an eclectic palette. AZ has done a remarkable job of creatively blending the above with a pop rock sensibility that can be described as Roots Rock Gypsy Funk. Ala Zingara's influences come from all corners of the globe using the traditional blended with the cutting edge. This is reflected in the quartet's instrumentation: Bouzouki, Upright Electric Bass, Drum Set, and Electric Guitar.

1) Shackled to the Wind
2) Peace Falls from My Eyes
3) Because the Silence
4) Melancholy Nature Girl
5) Macedonian Dance
6) Island Groove
7) Golden Splendor
8) Invoking Tara
9) Little Caravan
10) St. Joseph's Cemetary
11) D Minor
12) Walkin' on a Wide Smile