Song of the Month
(Hopefully) something new for you to check out

"Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson

Nothing wrong with jumping on the memorial bandwagon, right?  I hope it was just a coincidence that the King of Pop was my featured artist for May and that it's not some sort of jinx....  Choosing from my Top 10 Michael Jackson songs, this one has to be my favorite with the great production, positive message, and all the "sho-mos" (actually "sure mon" - I had to look it up) you could ask for.

Listen or download on

Featured Artist: Jayhawks
A few tracks from one of my all-time faves

It's hard to believe that it's taken this long to feature this group.  Not only are they one of the best Musical Jays, but their "Rainy Day Music" album is one of my favorite albums of the decade.  A couple months ago I saw a couple of their key members in concert and now they're coming to the Twin Cities for an all-out reunion.  Check out my Top 10 Jayhawks Songs list and let me know what you think.

Listen to or download their catalog on

The Gem
A lesser-known song that deserves more attention

"Hammond Song" by The Roches

Having heard their version of the Hallelujah Chorus, I figured it might be worth checking out the rest of their catalog.  I did, and this song stood out for its memorable melody, unique harmonies, and bizarre synthesizer solo.  I've had it stuck in my head for a couple of weeks and would love to share it with yours.

Listen or download on

Folk Fascination
Good old fashioned music with acoustic instruments

"Mountains O' Things" by The Duhks

I discovered this group on a Stephen Foster tribute album a couple of years ago.  Since then, they've put out a couple of nice CDs featuring a combination of originals and covers such as this lamentation of excess written by Tracy Chapman.

Listen or download on

Aaah Cappella
Unaccompanied Treasures

"Thinking About Your Body" by Bobby McFerrin

It was high time that I featured Bobby in this column.  Although he is more famous for his multi-tracked work like "Don't Worry, Be Happy", he started out with some brilliant solo a cappella work including the incredible Spontaneous Inventions album from which this track was taken.  Also worth checking out is the Us3 version that samples this song.

Listen or download on

Kiddie Corner
Quality music for kids and adults alike

"Mahna Mahna" by Cake

One of my favorite Muppets songs, this is a cool version from the guys who brought you the memorable "Short Skirt, Long Jacket".

Listen or download on