Alt Country-Americana
- Hard Night-Kelley McRae (One of McRae's more forcefully sung and played tunes from her latest release, "The Wayside." Also recommended: "Morning Song," to hear the softer side of her work.)
- Valley Clouds-Sam Beam & Jesca Hoop (I praised this duo's "Every Songbird Says" previously. Their call-and-response abilities shine on that tune. On "Valley Clouds," it's easy to hear how well-matched Beam and Hoop are as singers.)
- Franz Schubert: Impromptu No. 2 in A-flat major, D.935 (Alfred Brendel, piano) (It's difficult not to appreciate Brendel's technical expertise and Schubert's contrasting dynamics.)
- You Don't Have To Be A Star (To Be In My Show)-Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. (Endearingly of its time, instrumentally and vocally. Also recommended: "Wonderful.")
- To Wes-I Gres (Bossa nova organ music fit for the ballpark, the elevator, or home; lounge music at its finest.)
- Analog Hero-Mark Erelli (Erelli's vocals bring Jackson Browne to mind.)
- On Horseback-Eileen Ivers (Ivers conveys the urgency of a horseback ride convincingly on the fiddle.)
- The Village Caller-Johnny Lytle (There's a Martin Denny, "Quiet Village" type of vibe here.)
- You Go To My Head-Chet Baker (Baker conveys an elegant last-dance-of-the-night feel on trumpet.)
- Frederic Chopin: Piano Trio in G minor, Op. 8 (Leila Josefowicz, Garrick Ohlsson, and Carter Brey) (A gripping, intimate interpretation.)
- Brimful Of Asha-Cornershop (Cornershop builds the tune around a memorable recurring riff, ensuring that you won't forget the hook soon. It was good to hear this tune again, as you don't usually hear it on the radio these days.)
