Here's what turned up in my iTunes music library shuffle mode today:
1. Should Be Gone-The Feelies
(Accessible power pop guitar and vocals that segue well with The Sea And Cake's "Up On The North Shore.")
2. Zerapiky-Regina Carter
(A fun, whirling violin and accordion instrumental.)
3. Man In The Street-Umbrella Bed
(A cool, brassy ska instrumental, with shades of The Scofflaws and The Specials. It contains one of the best opening riffs of any ska track.)
4. 1901-Phoenix
(As catchy, danceable hooks go, Phoenix set the bar high here.)
5. She Walks The Night-Matthew Sweet
(Sweet knows his way around a sing-along hook. Also recommended: "I've Been Waiting," "Sick Of Myself," "We're The Same," "Get Older," and "Time Capsule.")
6. National Anthem-LeAnn Rimes
(A soaring, well-sung, respectful rendition.)
7. Still Rain-The Sun Sawed In 1/2
(As much as we'd all like to control the literal and metaphorical rain in our lives, a rain dance, unless you're Ted Mosby, won't necessarily elicit the result you want.)
8. Manzanita (1st Variation)-Tony Rice Unit
(Spanish guitar meets bluegrass pickin' in this compelling instrumental.)
9. To The Stars-Erin McKeown
(Cautiously hopeful lyrics set to an optimistic, energetic arrangement.)
10. Between Friends-The Nields
(For idealists with their hearts in the right place.)
11. Funny Little Frog-Belle and Sebastian
(I remember hearing this on KDHX and KCLC in 2006 as I was driving to my new residence. The keyboard and bass riffs made for great driving music. It's still one of the group's most appealing efforts.)
12. Moving On-Dolce
(The arrangement reminds me of The Kennedys, which is always a good thing.)
13. The Duck-Al Holliday
(A good, bluesy instrumental with a throwback feel.)
14. Pure And Easy-The Who
(Not the band's most frequently played track on the radio, but still one of the best...)
15. God Bless America-Beegie Adair
(A stirring piano rendition that takes just enough liberties without overdoing them.)
16. Soul Limbo-George Benson
(One track, among many, that proves that Benson's instrumentals are as strong as his vocals.)
17. Save It For Later-Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
(Sweet and Hoffs do a commendable cover of The English Beat's best song.)
18. Everybody's Talkin'-The Sneetches
(Now, this is how you pay homage to a great Nilsson tune; one of the best sets of lyrics about following your own muse.)
19. Festival Waltz-Al Petteway
(A consistently strong guitarist plays yet another pleasant instrumental.)
20. More-Bobby Darin
(When conveying heartfelt sentiments, you can miss the mark and be cheesy and cloying. Or, you can convey them this way--with heart and class.)
