SiriusXM highlights CLXXIX

Standout tunes heard today:

1st Wave Deep Cuts

• Leave In Silence-Depeche Mode (Alas, some relationships are destined to fizzle out.)

'60s Gold

• Ain't That Peculiar-Marvin Gaye (Rhythmically and vocally, this 1965 oldie never wears out its welcome.  This is an excellent example of how to build to a chorus in a fast tune.) 

Alt 2K

• Brick By Boring Brick-Paramore (A compelling case for not living exclusively in one's own world, as understandable as it might be.)

Bakersfield Beat

• Come On Home-Mel & Carl (The vocal harmonies are reminiscent of The Everly Brothers.)

Escape

• Fields Of Gold-Brian Withycombe (A pleasant piano rendition of one of Sting's most compelling hits.)

Lo-Fi Sleep

• Midnight, Somewhere-Idealism (An endearingly halting piano melody anchors this instrumental.)

Real Jazz Just Music

• Fula (Live)-McCoy Mrubata (Rhythmically compelling bass and piano set the stage for expansive saxophone wailing.)

Watercolors

• Silver Lining-Andrea Lisa (This unhurried smooth jazz guitar groove sounds like it's going to lead into some '70s R&B vocals at any moment.)

FM dial scan highlights CCCXII

Today marks 12 years since I started this blog, and scanning the FM dial for compelling music is just as captivating to me as it was on September 1, 2014.  Here are five standout tunes I heard this morning:

WSIE 88.7 FM

• Digits-Clark Terry (An effective doubling up of a sunny melody from Johnny Griffin on saxophone and Terry on trumpet.)
• Bountiful-Kayla Waters (I'd play "Quiet Storm" by Ramsey Lewis before this because one pleasant jazz piano instrumental deserves another.)

KCLC 89.1 FM

• Black Is Black-The Verbs (This respectable cover of the 1966 Los Bravos hit, which used to be a staple cut of oldies stations, approaches the lyrics from a female perspective.)
• Get Down-They Might Be Giants (I never expected to hear this group's brand of cerebral rock detour into a '70s-style dance pastiche with horns, but it kind of works.)

KLOU 103.3 FM

• I Can See Clearly Now-Jimmy Cliff (As comforting as Johnny Nash's original version is, the backbeat on Cliff's faithful rendition gives the tune a bit more rhythmic vigor.)