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

"You Don't Know Me" by Ben Folds (featuring Regina Spektor)

I'm a big fan of Ben Folds and have eagerly awaited the release of his new album.  The standout track is (surprisingly) this catchy, mainstream pop duet.  Just to warn you... the f-word unfortunately makes one appearance in an otherwise terrific song.

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

It's hard to separate last month's featured artist, Billy Joel, from this month's as the two premier piano based pop/rock kings of the last 40 years.  While Billy has always been more straight forward, Elton has been more... eccentric, both in his Bernie Taupin-penned lyrics and, of course, his live performances.  Check out my Top 10 Elton John Songs list and let me know what you think.

The Gem
A lesser-known song that deserves more attention

"Super Duper Love " by Joss Stone

Just some good old fashioned soul (recorded in 2003).  Give it a listen!

Chill Out
A nice, relaxing song to check out

"Caramel" by Suzanne Vega

Recently, a few friends and I were talking about "Luka," Suzanne Vega's biggest commercial hit.  They called it a one-hit wonder, but I had to disagree - at least from the quality standpoint.  Not only is this song rich and tasty just like its namesake, but it also reinforces my use of three syllables for the confection (much to the chagrin of my wife).

Folk Fascination
Good old fashioned music with acoustic instruments

"Let 'Em Run" by The Bills

I remember when I first heard this song on NPR a few years ago and I thought "hey, I really like the feel of this.  I wonder who's singing.... wait... is it about chickens?"  As it turns out, The Bills (formerly the Bill Hilly Band) are a great bluegrass/folk/jazz group from Canada and yes, the song is about raising chickens.

Kiddie Corner
Quality music for kids and adults alike

"The Marvelous Toy" by Peter, Paul and Mary

This "noisy" folk classic has also been performed by The Chad Mitchell Trio, John Denver, and Tom Paxton, but it seemed appropriate that Mommy (Mary) participate of the delivery on this version.