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

"Hey Soul Sister" by Train

When I first heard this song, I never would have guessed the band or the fact that it's a recent release.  While I'm generally not a huge fan of Train's sound, I love the upbeat feel and mandolin groove of this number.  Couple that with some playfully fun lyrics and you've got yourself a bona fide feel-good tune.

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

  There's just something soothing and relaxing about Natalie Merchant's vocals.  I never feel like she's working too hard and she doesn't make me work too hard to listen to her.  I loved the 10,000 Maniacs MTV Unplugged album and was disappointed when the band broke up, but Natalie's solo work stands up quite well.  Check out my list of the Top 10 Natalie Merchant/10,000 Maniacs Songs and let me know what you think of my selections of her best.

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The Gem
A lesser-known song that deserves more attention

"Winter" by Bayside

I haven't been able to get this amazing acoustic anthem out of my head for weeks.  The title suggests this is just a song for the season, but it's really much more.  It's a tribute to a fallen friend that is equal parts heartbreaking and moving.  Give it a listen and you won't soon forget it.

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Folk Fascination
Good old fashioned music with acoustic instruments

"The Sandman, the Brakeman and Me" by Monsters of Folk

How could I not feature a group called "Monsters of Folk" in this column? As you might guess, this relaxing song is about a lazy ride on a train.  If you're in the mood to chill out and watch the day go by, you couldn't do much better than this.

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Aaah Cappella
Unaccompanied Treasures

"Bamfield's John Vanden" by The Bills

Moving from the rails (above) to the seas, this song feels like it's being sung by a groups of rowdy sailors.  If you're an a cappella fan, you'll want to give this gem a listen. Go Bills!

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Kiddie Corner
Quality music for kids and adults alike

"Crazy ABCs" by Barenaked Ladies

As if they weren't eccentric to start, this song proves that they're going off the deep end.  All of the words sound like they start with another letter: "A is for aisle, B is for bdelliums, C is for czar"... you get the picture. Still, their playfulness is infectious enough to satisfy nerdy parents and kids alike.

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