KBEM (Minneapolis, MN)
- Ain't It Funky Now?-Grant Green (Yes...and I would expect no less from Green on the guitar.)
- Please Send Me Someone To Love-Cory Weeds (Classy tenor sax in a big band style, released in July. Also recommended: "Canadian Sunset," in an interesting blend of bossa nova and walking rhythm line.)
- Happy Unhappy-The Beths (Catchy power pop lead and backing vocals in this appealing tune for driving, released in August. Cruiserweight's "Slack" could segue with this.)
- Born To Be Needed-Tennis (Alaina Moore's vocals float above their surroundings in this uptempo gem.)
- Waltz For Reannon-Rickie Simpkins (Simpkins pulls off this melody equally well on mandolin and fiddle. This is a Wyatt Rice composition, but based on its style, I half-expected to read that Chris Thile had written it.)
