WFSK (Nashville, TN)
- Now That The Summer's Here-Michael Franks (Laid back vocals capture the essence of hoping Summer will be a relaxing, never-ending season.)
- Wunderbar-The Barbacans (Not just any garage rock band blends elements of Question Mark & The Mysterians, Franz Ferdinand, Love, and free form jazz this successfully. This is one of four standout tracks I heard on "Leopard Print Lounge.")
- Need All The Help I Can Get-The Cleopatras (Pursuing someone? Although it might be wishful thinking, good luck charms and spells might give you an edge.)
- Were You Real?-Brand New Sinclairs (Listening to this while sitting perfectly still? Not even tapping a toe or two? Are you a statue?)
- 24 Hours From London-Little Murders (See my comments on "Were You Real?" If you're waiting for a yes or no answer from someone about the future of your relationship, this is about as tuneful as waiting music gets.)
- Isn't This A Lovely Day?-Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong (Fitzgerald and Armstrong don't let a rainy day dampen their spirits in this cover of the Irving Berlin tune. I also recommend their rendition of "Moonlight In Vermont.")
- Naima-Alan Broadbent/London Metropolitan Orchestra (Sweeping grandeur dominates this piano-anchored rendition of John Coltrane's famous tune. This is from "Developing Story," released in June. It segues well with...)
- Paint It Black-The Danish Radio Big Band & Charlie Watts (Live) (...this considerably slowed down cover of a Rolling Stones song. The guitar playing falls somewhere between Al Di Meola on Chick Corea & Return To Forever's "The Shadow Of Lo" and Carlos Santana.)
- Summer Of Love-La Sera (Lyrics seemingly from the late '50s or early '60s filtered through modern vocals, guitar, and rhythm section arrangements. Katy Goodman's voice shines on this upbeat track from 2014. It says what it needs to in just under two minutes, but I still wish the tune was twice as long.)
- Under African Skies-Paul Simon (Simon's "Graceland" album has so much excellent music; unfortunately, "Under African Skies" has always been underplayed on the radio. It's a great set of lyrics about the Biblical Joseph and how we're all interconnected.)
