Thursday afternoon highlights:
Acoustic Guitar Instrumentals
- Found-Martin Gauffin (The echo on the guitar gives this comforting melody added gravity.)
The Bridge Deep Cuts
- Another Rainy Day In New York City-Chicago (This is one of Chicago's underrated hits. Despite its title, the vibe in the vocals and horns is encouragingly sunny.)
Carolina Shag Radio
- Give Me Just A Little More Time-The Chairmen Of The Board (I've always liked the general attitude of these lyrics, as it's a realistic way of saying, "Not every decision we make as a couple will be perfect, but we'll have a bright future together.")
Happy Dance
- Strike It Up-Black Box ("Strike It Up" and Black Box's other two dance hits, "Everybody Everybody" and "I Don't Know Anybody Else," have all held up equally well. Since 1991, all of them have likely been played at wedding receptions.)
Happy Oldies
- Dance With Me-Orleans (I've never tired of hearing this 1975 oldie. Its sentiments are appropriate in any era, and the opening guitar lick draws me in every time. Also recommended: "Love Takes Time," which the radio overlooks these days, and Earl Klugh's pleasant guitar instrumental cover of "Dance With Me.")
Indie 1.0
- Chicago-Sufjan Stevens (Lyrically, this is an honest accounting of how the world can seem wide open to you in your early 20s and that at least a few miscues are inevitable.)
Lo-Fi Cafe
- The Artist Weeps-Daryl Donald (It wouldn't be much of a stretch for Michael Franks to record a similar version of this track.)
- Cali Bossa-luv pug/Sweeps/CMJ (Warm bossa nova guitar against an unobtrusive beat.)
The Village
- These Times We're Living In-Kate Wolf (Less than great times for the world should make all of us more thankful for everyone in our lives who means something to us.)
Watercolors
- Meet Me In Malibu-Pamela Williams (Upbeat smooth jazz saxophone.)
