If you had to go away for awhile and you could only take five of your favorite albums with you, which ones would you choose? Yes, we know it isn’t a fair question, but that hasn’t stopped us from asking music fans who happen to be recording artists in their own right. This week’s Desert Island Discs list comes courtesy of singer/songwriter Ari Hest, currently promoting his latest release, Sunset Over Hope Street. Take it away, Ari!

Bob Marley, Legend

If I’m truly on an island by myself I’d better have some happy music with me or I’ll get really dark. This one is a no brainer.

The Beatles, Rubber Soul

I love all things Beatles but this album started me off when I was a kid, so when I sing along I think about that time in my life when music became important to me, when I really listened to what a good song sounded like.

BjÁ¶rk, Vespertine

When I listen to BjÁ¶rk, nothing else matters. I get completely lost in her music. Again, if i’m all alone on an island, not knowing what the future holds, I want to hear things that get my mind off that thought.

A Tribe Called Quest, Midnight Marauders

I used to listen to this album non-stop in high school. Not a bad song on it. Weird thing is I didn’t listen to any other hip hop or buy another hip hop album until way later. Actually wait i did buy one, another Tribe album, but i liked this one a lot more.

Various Artists, 80’s Pop Hits

ok yeah, I looked on the Itunes Store just now to find this. But come on, wouldn’t you want 80’s to sing along to in this situation?. Cyndi Lauper? Wham? Men At Work? Matthew Wilder? Yes please.

Sunset Over Hope Street marks Ari Hest‘s first full-length album of new material in four years. That’s not to say he hasn’t been busy in the years in between, spending the whole of 2008 writing and performing a new song every Monday as part of his 52 project. With 52 tracks in the rearview mirror, Hest dove headlong into crafting the lush orchestration of Sunset. You can hear the results in the video below.

About the Author

Michael Parr

Husband, Father, Writer, Musical Voyeur, Pop Culture Glutton, Gourmet in Training. I'm the tall guy behind all these short guys. You can find me on the Twitter.

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