1. “The Past Recedes” – John Frusciante, guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, darn good songwriter too!

2. “Don’t You Worry” – Jim Noir Don’t know much about him – came up in a Hype Machine search and I loved his sound.

3. “When Your Mind’s Made Up” – Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, from the movie Once. If you haven’t seen it, it is a must-see movie.

4. “Until You Understand” – Kings of Convenience. A band very much like a modern day Simon & Garfunkel.

5. “If You’ve Got The Money I’ve Got The Time” – Merle Haggard. I love him for his song titles, and I love him because what he sings is true. Great foundation for country. I don’t need the new stuff – I love the oldies.

1. “Di Good Life” – Linton Kwesi Johnson – Tings an’ Times / Jamaican-British dub poet LKJ. Just came across his entire discography.

2. “Cream” – Prince – Dance 2 the Desert Groove / from his ‘07 summer run at the Rio in Vegas.

3. “Maricela” – Los Lobos – Los Lobos: Live at the Fillmore / Everyone should see Los Lobos live at least once in their lifetime.

4. “Evil Town” – The Vines – Winning Days / Just “happened across” a couple of Vines albums too. Never really listened to ‘em.

5. “In Full Effect” – Mantronix / Nice variety on my five! Topping it off with some funky old school beats courtesy of Kurtis Mantronik.

Easy Plateau Cold Roses Ryan Adams
This album is a masterpiece—I know people say that about Heartbreaker, but this one is it for me.

Out There In The Night
The Only Ones
Special View

Just love them.

Dreamin of You
Tell Tale Signs
Bob Dylan

Have had this CD on for weeks

Asking Annie Out
Streets of New York
Willie Nile

Very overlooked record. Just great.

Big Hard Sun – Eddie Vedder

Policy of Truth – Depeche Mode

Pop Life – Prince

Four Minutes to Save the World – Madge & JT

The Scientist – Cold Play

1. “Fun Of The Farm” by the Sutherland Brothers from “Down To Earth,” 1977. The brothers were folk-rockers from England who were most successful when they combined with the band Quiver. This one’s a later tune, and it’s okay, kind of herky-jerky at points, and some of the vocals and production put me in mind of 1971-era Paul McCartney. An odd start.

2. “I Don’t Wanna Fuss” by Sugar Pie DeSanto, Chess single 1093. A little bit of Chicago-style R&B. Makes me wanna move a little . . . but just a little.

3. “Laugh, Laugh” by the Beau Brummels, Autumn single 8. One of the great Beatles-soundalikes. And a pretty good single.

4. “Mama, You Been On My Mind” by Bob Dylan, recorded in New York City on June 9, 1964. A rare performance of what seems to be one of Dylan’s least-recorded songs. From one of the Bootleg Series albums. A nice one.

5. “We Belong” by Lowen & Navarro from “Walking On A Wire,” 1990. Pat Benetar had the hit six years earlier, but these are the guys who wrote the song. They do a very nice job. This got a lot of airplay on a Twin Cities radio station in 1990.

2. “Christmastime” by the Nourallah Brothers from “Nourallah Brothers” (2004)
Because Christmas is never really over as long as you have the music.

3. “Cover Me” by Patty Larkin from “Watch the Sky” (2008)
One of the best songs on what I think is her strongest album to date.

4. “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue from “Kylie Minogue”
Can I just say no comment?

5. “So. Central Rain” by Grant Lee Phillips from “nineteeneighties” (2006)
Not bad, but I do like the original better.

I wish the next five songs in my list had been the first five songs.