Not all of these are panpot fiestas -- they just work better in an intimate, straight-to-the-head way: · R.E.M. - Chronic Town (especially the first, second and last tracks)
· American Music Club - Mercury
· Rare Air - Hard to Beat
· Soul Coughing - El Oso (n.b.: never play "Maybe I'll Come Down" when you can't)
· Concussion Ensemble - Stampede
· The The - Mind Bomb (only side 1)
· Jeff Buckley - Grace (probably one of the best-produced chanteur albums ever, leads off with two Gary Lucas tracks, best CD to test headphones using the openings of "Lover You Should've Come Over" and the title track) A couple of the albums above really only need headphones for the first track or the first few. This is especially true for:
· Deltron 3030 (effing amazing album but the heavy stuff gives way to more relaxed tracks and the headphones can come off)