"Stake Your Claim" Eli 'Paperboy' Reed & The True Loves

I'm not sure if the movement of new artists making music circa the 50s & 60s has a name, but I'm all about it. For now, let's call it retrosoul or retrotown. Patent pending.

"Stake Your Claim" Eli 'Paperboy' Reed & The True Loves

"The Man in Me" Bob Dylan

 















Some people forget Bobby D wrote more than Blowin' in the Wind and Like a Rolling Stone. Some people are missing out.

"The Man in Me" Bob Dylan

"Kiss With A Fist" Florence + The Machine

Short and sweet. I struggle to believe that mutual domestic violence is nearly as much fun as this song makes it sound...

"Kiss With A Fist" Florence + The Machine

"A Message 2010" Coldplay

 
















 An awesome LIVE (but audience free!) version of Coldplay's hit from their album X & Y, performed for the televised Hope For Haiti Now benefit concert.

"A Message 2010" Coldplay

"Fighting For My Love" Nil Lara

It's hard to believe I was 8 when this song came out. 14 years later, it's still GREAT.

"Fighting For My Love" Nil Lara

"For the Price of a Cup of Tea" Belle and Sebastian

This song's pleasant groove should brighten things up after yesterday's depressor.

"For the Price of a Cup of Tea" Belle and Sebastian

"In My Veins" Andrew Belle

There's a tragic beauty to this song that makes me want to play it over and over. Andrew Belle already has an album and an EP under his belt, both of which are worth checking out.

"In My Veins" Andrew Belle

"Spirit In The Sky" Norman Greenbaum

 















Sometimes campy classics are just what I need. I admit this isn't the song's original album cover, but I couldn't resist Norman's sweet face among the foliage.

"Spirit In The Sky" Norman Greenbaum

"Parting Words" Michael Giacchino

The LOST series finale has arrived. Although many are eager for the show to end, I will certainly miss it. High production quality, creative storytelling, and a stellar score. It's been a good 6 years; fare thee well!

"Parting Words" Michael Giacchino

"Rill Rill" Sleigh Bells

A Saturday type of song. Don't think too hard about the title; it used to be named "Ring Ring". Why the name change? Perhaps their phones are broken, but really I don't know. Thanks go out again to Mr. B. Thunder for another rock solid recommendation!

"Rill Rill" Sleigh Bells

"Black Balloon" The Goo Goo Dolls

#1 on my "Top 25 Most Played" iTunes playlist. I like just about every Goo song post-1993, but apparently this one's my favorite.

"Black Balloon" The Goo Goo Dolls

"Lay Your Head Down" Keren Ann

A little something from an Israeli-born, French singer-songwriter who happens to have a couple albums in English. Work it.

"Lay Your Head Down" Keren Ann

"Suzie" Boy Kill Boy

Frankly, I know very little about this band, including how they made their way into my music library. A message to the stowaways: infiltration appreciated.

"Suzie" Boy Kill Boy

"Neverland (Piano Variation in Blue)" Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

I love listening to movies almost as much as I love watching them. Even on its own, a well-crafted score can have a strong emotional affect, whether it incites excitement, empathy, or satisfaction. At least for me, this one musters all of the above.

"Neverland (Piano Variation in Blue)" Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

"The Infancy of Us" Eliot Morris

If I had heard the iTunes version of this song first, I probably wouldn't have given it much thought. This version (I'm currently not certain of its origin...) is much less muddled with instruments and FAR more delightful.

"The Infancy of Us" Eliot Morris

"Crash '95 Mix" The Primitives

Every time I hear this song, I wonder how I had forgotten it for so long.

"Crash '95 Mix" The Primitives

"Free Fallin' " John Mayer

It's no secret that I'm a big John Mayer fan. On this live set (and awesome live concert DVD, check it out), John throws in new vocal and acoustic guitar licks that enhance the glory of Tom Petty's hit.

"Free Fallin' " John Mayer

"Jealous Guy" Gavin DeGraw

A somber and sultry version of John Lennon's apologetic ode.

"Jealous Guy" Gavin DeGraw

"A Change Is Gonna Come" Ben Sollee

 















Sam Cooke would dig the vitality Ben's infused into his powerful classic. Check out the rest of Ben's album; it's one of my all time favorites. There's nothing quite like a cellist/vocalist, especially when it's Ben Sollee.

"A Change Is Gonna Come" Ben Sollee

"Fields of Gold" Eva Cassidy

The only cover of the week that crosses gender! With the beauty of this version, it's hard not to think that a woman should have sang it (instead of Sting) in the first place.

"Fields of Gold" Eva Cassidy

"One" Johnny Cash

A tasteful conversion of U2's classic into Cash's unique style.

"One" Johnny Cash

"In Your Eyes" Jeffrey Gaines

 














I could only find a live version of this song, but it still does Peter Gabriel justice.

"In Your Eyes" Jeffrey Gaines

"Better" Dashboard Confessional

This week is "Cover Week". I will be applauding musicians that take another artist's song and make it their own without destroying the song's legacy, as is so often the case with cover songs. Hopefully after this week is out, using "cover" as an adjective will no longer leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Today's cover: a simple and sweet acoustic guitar version of Regina Spektor's "Better".

"Better" Dashboard Confessional

"Let's Work" Mick Jagger

 
















I can't tell if this song is motivational or patronizing. Either way, I guess I'm pretty stoked to do work. It's not a huge surprise Mick Jagger gave up on his solo career. KE$HA must not know about this song...

"Let's Work" Mick Jagger

"Is There a Ghost" Band of Horses

I wake up to this song as often as possible. First it sympathizes with my desire to continue on in slumber, then slowly gets louder and more lively to roust me out of bed. I will likely be playing this song tomorrow at 10 AM... 10:05,10:10, and 10:15.

"Is There a Ghost" Band of Horses

"You're So Vain" Carly Simon

After hearing PSU girls decimate this song at karaoke, it was comforting to know that Ms. Simon's flawless recording was waiting for me at home.

"You're So Vain" Carly Simon

"Hand Me Down" Visqueen

 To be honest, it was this remarkable album cover that first led me to give Visqueen a listen. How fortunate that their music lives up to my anticipations.

"Hand Me Down" Visqueen

"I'll Be Here When You Wake" The Reindeer Section

 















This song fits my plan to sleep in and relax all day wonderfully. You may recognize the voice of Gary Lightbody from Snow Patrol. The Reindeer Section was an early 2000s conglomerate of indie rock bands that also included Arab Strap, Belle & Sebastian, and Idlewild.

"I'll Be Here When You Wake" The Reindeer Section

"Fans" Kings of Leon

 
















A little something to drive home to.

"Fans" Kings of Leon

"Graduate" Third Eye Blind

At least today, the answer is: YES. Yes, I can.

"Graduate" Third Eye Blind

"Hometown Glory" Adele

Adele' s got pipes. Her first album is essentially flawless; I'm highly anticipating what she rolls out next. Beautiful song, stellar vocals. 2:30ish is my favorite.

"Hometown Glory" Adele