Sunday morning U-verse highlights:
Alt Country-Americana
- Green River-Eilen Jewell (If I'd just read "Green River"'s lyrics before hearing the song, I would have expected this to have a slow tempo and for the vocals to be accompanied by an acoustic guitar. This is a Creedence Clearwater Revival song, though, so I knew it would be upbeat. Jewell's voice fits the song well, and she nails the feeling of the original version.)
Canadian Indie
- Settle & Fly-Jesse Mac Cormack featuring Gabrielle Shonk (The steady, pulsating rhythm of this July release drew me in, and the empowering lyrics about not letting a relationship define you made me listen a second time.)
The Chill Lounge
- Walker-Guardner (Haunting instrumental underscoring, fit for wandering in a graveyard at night.)
Cool Jazz
- Noche de ronda-Charlie Haden (Haden anchors a classy, elegant rendition of this waltz on bass. His fellow rhythm players contribute equally well to the tune's atmosphere.)
Folk Roots
- Silver Lining-The Black Feathers (Endearing vocal harmonies. I can imagine I'm With Her or Nickel Creek covering this.)
Jazz Masters
- How Deep Is The Ocean?-Miles Davis (What other trumpeter would you turn to for such a melodic, resonant take on this Irving Berlin standard?)
New Age
- The Room Of Ancillary Dreams-Harold Budd (This piano-based instrumental alternates compellingly between fanciful and foreboding.)
Retro R&B
- Walk Tall-Esther Marrow (These aren't the easiest lyrics to hear when you're tempted to wallow in your sorrows, but they're a powerful springboard for snapping out of a "What's the use?" mindset.)
