"Arms" Christina Perri

 
















Writing off Ms. Perri after really disliking her first single "Jar of Hearts" was clearly a mistake. THIS song is excellent!

"Arms" Christina Perri

"Always Be" Jimmy Eat World

 
















A visit back to one of my all-time favorite albums.

"Always Be" Jimmy Eat World

"Collide" Leona Lewis

 
















The verses are uninspiring, but I always like a good Leona chorus.

"Collide" Leona Lewis

"Right Place Wrong Time" Dr. John

 















Sorry I've been getting in the habit of regularly posting a day behind. I'll work on that.

"Right Place Wrong Time" Dr. John

"Clean House" Vick Allen

The whole situation happening at PSU is distressing, but picturing the Board of Trustees sensually deliberating to this song is bringing a little levity.

"Clean House" Vick Allen

"Stay Asleep" Evan McHugh

 
















A special treat today (that I'll try to post occasionally): music you can legally download for FREE if you feel so inclined! Follow the link, click the play button over the album cover, click play on "Stay Asleep", it's my favorite. If you like what you hear, enter your email below and you will be sent a link to download the entire album. If you feel so led, NoiseTrade provides an easy way to leave a tip/donation for Evan's efforts. When I post links to NT in the future, I'll spare you these lengthy directions. Happy listening!

"Stay Asleep" Evan McHugh

"It's Time" Imagine Dragons

 
















"It's time to begin, isn't it?"

"It's Time" Imagine Dragons

"You Got Me" Eddie Ray

The Columbus-based Prix Label never reached the level of Motown, but sure yielded some killer tracks in the same vein.

"You Got Me" Eddie Ray

"Remember Remember" Dario Marianelli

 ...the 5th of November.

"Remember Remember" Dario Marianelli

"Shine" Collective Soul

I love the guitar riffs in this 90s classic.

"Shine" Collective Soul

"City of New Orleans" Arlo Guthrie

Can someone please explain to me how I know this song... was it on sesame street? a TimeLife Classics commercial?

"City of New Orleans" Arlo Guthrie

"Attaboy" Goat Rodeo Sessions

 















I strongly approve of any collaboration that features Yo-Yo Ma and Edgar Meyer, but an album of refined bluegrass is almost more than I could have asked for.

"Attaboy" Goat Rodeo Sessions

"Islands & Shores" Deportees

 













Another high-quality tune from the Swedes.

"Islands & Shores" Deportees

"I'm A Goner" Matt & Kim feat. Soulja Boy

 

Here's a morgue party for your Halloween entertainment.

"Open Arms" Journey

Who can resist a power ballad?

"Open Arms" Journey

"Masquerade" Andrew Lloyd Webber

 















Halloween festivities make this song pop into my head every time.

"Masquerade" Andrew Lloyd Webber

"Mr. Polite" The Jungle Giants

Hey. I'll only stay if you stay; I'll only go if you go.

"Mr. Polite" The Jungle Giants

"Dark Blue" Jack's Mannequin

 
















It's a tad on the whiney side, but Jack's Mannequin remains one of the best in the genre.

"Dark Blue" Jack's Mannequin

"The Departure" Gattaca

If you didn't watch this movie in 10th grade biology, do it now. Movies are served best with compelling plots and beautiful music.

"The Departure" Gattaca

"Tempted" Squeeze

This song can't possibly be 30 years old as indicated by Wikipedia. I refuse to believe it!

"Tempted" Squeeze

"My Home" Nneka

 
















You really should know this girl. Nothing but serious, soulful music-making.

"My Home" Nneka

"The Background" Third Eye Blind

 
















This is one of the less well-known tracks on this album, but it really shouldn't be.

"The Background" Third Eye Blind

"Show Me Love" Robin S.

Whether or not you've heard this song, I imagine you'll be familiar with the background riff.

"Show Me Love" Robin S.

"You Might Think" The Cars

 
















If you want to see one of the most bizarre music videos of the 80s, youtube this gem. If not, simply enjoy a listen.

"You Might Think" The Cars

"Ashes & Fire" Ryan Adams

This album goes to show that Ménière's can't keep a good singer/songwriter down. Fighting the good fight, making the good music.

"Ashes & Fire" Ryan Adams

"Blood" The Middle East

 














Crazy. Stupid. Love.

"Blood" The Middle East

"Rock Me Mama (Wagon Wheel)" Bob Dylan

 















After polling friends at country night, I discovered very few people know the OCMS hit came from a rough cut of a Mr. Dylan tune. Listen and be enlightened.

"Rock Me Mama (Wagon Wheel)" Bob Dylan

"99 Red Balloons" Nena

 
















I've been singing the riff from 1:00 to 1:11 in my head (and out loud) all day.

"99 Red Balloons" Nena

"Suday" Heavenly Beat

A little suday on a Sunday.


"Suday" Heavenly Beat

"Tell Me Something Good" Rufus and Chaka Khan

 














This PSU favorite played during official reviews was in my head all day long.

"Tell Me Something Good" Rufus and Chaka Khan

"Don't Rain On My Parade" Barbra Streisand

Wishful thinking for the PSU homecoming parade.
 
"Don't Rain On My Parade" Barbra Streisand

"Eyes Wide Open" Gotye

 
















Meanwhile in Australia...

"Eyes Wide Open" Gotye

"As Long As I Live" Bruce Peninsula

I can't remember a better combined use of percussion and wailing.

"As Long As I Live" Bruce Peninsula

"Freestyle" Taalbi Brothers

 
















These boys are 13 and 15, but wield their guitars like seasoned pros. Just press play.

"Freestyle" Taalbi Brothers

"Defeatist" Cameras

For the long ride home.

"Defeatist" Cameras

"Take Me To The River" Al Green

A favorite at the Beehive.

"Take Me To The River" Al Green

"When You're Smiling" Louis Armstrong

 
















I heard this being delightfully crooned by a saxophone in Boston Common on a most beautiful day!

"When You're Smiling" Louis Armstrong

"We Built This City" Jefferson Starship

Can you listen to this song without cracking a grin? I, for one, cannot.

"We Built This City" Jefferson Starship

"Diamond Way" JEFF The Brotherhood

 
















I saw these guys on Late Night. The guitarist was wearing a dress. Props.

"Diamond Way" JEFF The Brotherhood

"Life Gave Me Love" Jason O

A little ditty from the frontman of My Hero Zero.

"Life Gave Me Love" Jason O

"Do The Panic" Phantom Planet

So panic... bop bop bop, bop bop sha-doo.

"Do The Panic" Phantom Planet

"Chocolate" Snow Patrol

 
















I love the driving feel Snow Patrol puts into so many of their songs. This one is no exception.

"Chocolate" Snow Patrol

"Every Woman In The World" Air Supply

Sometimes the songs that pop into my head frighten me. Though there's no denying, this song is stupendous.

"Every Woman In The World" Air Supply

"Roll to Me" Del Amitri

Have I really not posted this yet?? My apologies, this quintessential 90s tune should have been featured MUCH earlier.

"Roll to Me" Del Amitri

"The Surface of the Sun" John Murphy

My favorite song from the soundtrack of one of my very favorite movies.

"The Surface of the Sun" John Murphy

"C'mon Talk" Bernhoft

 
For those who enjoyed the loop tracks I posted last week, this one's killer.

"I Dream of Chicago" Parlours

"I dream I could go and say all the things that I never said to you."

"I Dream of Chicago" Parlours

"Unaware" Allen Stone

 

 The screen capture above isn't the most flattering, but that's the beauty of music: you don't have to look like a superstar to have a voice like one. Falsetto mastery. I'm all about Allen becoming the next big thing.

"Question" Old 97s

Another song brought into my life several years ago by Zach Braff.

"Question" Old 97s

"Buckjump" Trombone Shorty

Shorty's sweet brass licks seal the deal on his hip-hop/blues/funk genre.

"Buckjump" Trombone Shorty

"Kyrie" Mr. Mister

Full-out jammed to this song on my drive back to State College. Yes, Mr. Mister WAS on the radio.

"Kyrie" Mr. Mister

"Rider" Okkervil River

So, little baby, be brave. 

"Rider" Okkervil River

"Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" Lisa Bassenge & the J-Chestra

I can no longer say perhaps just once.

"Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps" Lisa Bassenge & the J-Chestra