WBER (Rochester, NY)
- Underline The Black-Metric (Powerful vocals from Emily Haines. Also recommended: "Breathing Underwater.")
- After The Storm-Abram Wilson (Free-spirited interplay between the trumpet, guitar, and piano; if I walked past a high school or college band rehearsal room and heard students warming up with this, I'd know the future is in rhythmically capable hands.)
- A Foggy Day-Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald (The grit in Armstrong's voice and the more conventional professionalism of Fitzgerald's vocals make this an enjoyable cover of this Ira Gershwin tune.)
- Porque (Because)-Louie Ramirez y Sus Amigos (This ensemble makes this Beatles tune its own, making imaginative use of the vibraphone, strings, flute, and, eventually, vocals.)
- The Cure-Watkins Family Hour (Sean and Sara Watkins provide some of my favorite vocals of 2020 on this tune about a fresh start. This is no surprise, coming from two of Nickel Creek's three excellent leaders. In my opinion, this is the strongest track on their "brother sister" CD.)
- Useless Desires-Patty Griffin (Painfully honest lyrics about cutting one's losses and starting anew. This is no surprise, coming from the author of the heart-wrenching song, "Rain.")
- The Letter ("Live In The Square" version)-Patty Larkin (Although I never disliked "The Letter" by The Box Tops, I didn't seek it out; there was no need, as oldies stations played it incessantly for decades. Hearing just Larkin's voice and an acoustic guitar on this cover made me appreciate the lyrics in a way I hadn't before.)
- Human Highway-Neil Young (How do you readjust to other people when you've been away from them for so long? Although this was released in 1978, it feels all too appropriate for today's pandemic.)
