"Hallelujah" Rufus Wainwright

Rufus, son of Loudon (of "Dead Skunk" fame), is most well known for his ability to cover a song. Three Shrek movies later, I'm beginning to be able to listen to this Leonard Cohen remake again and truly enjoy it for the first time since the height of its popularity.

"Hallelujah" Rufus Wainwright

"Love Is My Religion" Ziggy Marley

 
















Ziggy (first born son of the great Bob) follows in his father's reggae footsteps, but tends to lay his beats at a slightly faster tempo. Also worth giving a listen is Ziggy's younger brother Damian, a perpetrator of rap/reggae fusion.

"Love Is My Religion" Ziggy Marley

"Those Sweet Words" Norah Jones

 















Norah, born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar, is the daughter of master sitar player Ravi Shankar. I suspect Ravi's connections helped get Norah started, but owning her career by leaving "Shankar" out of her stage name is truly respectable. This is one of my underplayed favorites off of her second album. Grooveshark was resistant to uploading this song, so I linked to her Myspace. Just press play.

"Those Sweet Words" Norah Jones

"Nothing I Can Do" Ben Taylor

It's Legacy/Namesake Week! The next seven posts will feature children of famous performers. Today's namesake is the spitting image/sound of his father James. It's both cool and eerie.

"Nothing I Can Do" Ben Taylor

"Trashcan" Delta Spirit

 















That man's face may exaggerate how enjoyable this band is, but only slightly.

"Trashcan" Delta Spirit

"Dance Tonight" Paul McCartney

 















A simple, but wonderful song. Gotta love the whistling.

"Dance Tonight" Paul McCartney

"Lonely Soldier" Damien Rice

I recently uncovered this gem that I somehow missed back during the height of Damien's career. He has fallen off of the radar over the past couple years, but I do hope he returns.

"Lonely Soldier" Damien Rice

"Sweet Little 16" Chuck Berry

 
















This one's for Landon Donovan and the gang. Do work.

"Sweet Little 16" Chuck Berry

"It's Such a Good Night (Scoobidoo Love)" Paul Rothman

Sometimes I like revisiting the sounds of earlier times. Apparently this song never had album artwork, so I chose a pic that came up when I googled "Scoobidoo Love". Somehow, it seems appropriate.

"It's Such a Good Night (Scoobidoo Love)" Paul Rothman

"Easy To Love" Ivan & Alyosha

 
















I love these guys, I can't wait for another album.

"Easy To Love" Ivan & Alyosha

"Sweet Disposition" The Temper Trap

I was thrilled to see this song featured on MTV's Jump Start a couple days ago. I'm genuinely thankful these guys were not one of the once self-respecting bands that contributed original songs to the Twilight: Eclipse Soundtrack.

"Sweet Disposition" The Temper Trap

"We Are Man and Wife" Michelle Featherstone

wishes for a long and loving life to Andrew and Erika Gascho! Congratulations!

"We Are Man and Wife" Michelle Featherstone

"Blister in the Sun" Violent Femmes

The exam is over, time to enjoy the summer! AND it's a Friday! Everyone gets to celebrate!

"Blister in the Sun" Violent Femmes

"Pump It" Black Eyed Peas

 















I'm revisiting this quality jam today for a little impulse to give me the momentum I'll need. Rahhh!
P.S. original melody from "Misirlou" by Dick Dale & His Del-Tones in 1963. word

"Pump It" Black Eyed Peas

"Penny on the Train Track" Ben Kweller

 















My judgment day is tomorrow. I DEFINITELY feel like a penny on the train track. Fun song, terrible album artwork. tisk, tisk

"Penny on the Train Track" Ben Kweller

"You and Your Heart" Jack Johnson

A little ditty from Jack's new album. I heard on NPR that this record is a tribute to his recently departed father, who sailed as a young man from California to Hawaii.

"You and Your Heart" Jack Johnson

"Cold December" Matt Costa

I am fighting a cold. All of the songs titled "Sore Throat" are (unsurprisingly) heavy metal songs, so a song that uses cold as an adjective is my best option to represent cold as a noun. Regardless, a lovely tune.

"Cold December" Matt Costa

"Sweet Thing" Van Morrison

 















One of Van Morrison's oft-forgotten masterpieces. It just puts me in a good mood.

"Sweet Thing" Van Morrison

"Apologies" Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Ms. Potter's sleepytime influence makes it difficult to be a member of her band.

"Apologies" Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

"Wavin' Flag" K'naan

 
















World Cup 2010! When K'naan sings the theme, everyone wins.

"Wavin' Flag" K'naan

"I Want You Back" Jackson 5

 
















Who can say no to Jackie, Marlon, Michael, Jermaine, and Tito?

"I Want You Back" Jackson 5

"Tonight I Have to Leave It" Shout Out Louds

 
















All indie rock should include violins and an agogo.

"Tonight I Have to Leave It" Shout Out Louds

"On The Street Where You Live" Nat 'King' Cole

I prefer to think of this song has hopefully romantic, rather than creepy and stalkerish. This song beautifully describes a familiar feeling. I would totally stay on the street where Mr. Cole lives.

"On The Street Where You Live" Nat 'King' Cole

"Don't Forget Sister" Low vs Diamond

"so give up the fascination and remember who you are"

"Don't Forget Sister" Low vs Diamond

"The Stable Song" Gregory Alan Isakov

 
















This style exemplifies my Sunday mindset. A laid-back mentality can sometimes be a cure-all.

"The Stable Song" Gregory Alan Isakov

"Gravity's Hold" Tim Be Told

One of my favorites on their debut album. Tim writes, plays piano, (oxford comma) and sings like a pro. Shout out to Parker Stanley, TBT's bassist and former EMU student. Keep it up, man!

"Gravity's Hold" Tim Be Told

"Walking on Broken Glass" Annie Lennox

 















The piano melody of this song is simple, but REALLY catchy. The emphasis on the even eighth notes creates a unique groove. For some reason I always envision a plane taking off when I listen to this song. Perhaps it's a defense mechanism so I don't imagine someone actually walking on broken glass.

"Walking on Broken Glass" Annie Lennox

"Spread Your Wings" Queen

Creepy cover, but glorious and under-appreciated song. You should'a been sweeeeeepin', up the Emerald Bar!

"Spread Your Wings" Queen

"Brick Halo" DJ Schmolli

 
















I've always been skeptical of mashups, but this one blending Paramore's Brick by Boring Brick and Beyonce's Halo is just too much fun.

"Brick Halo" DJ Schmolli

"In My Head" Your Vegas

Reason for posting this song: see title

"In My Head" Your Vegas