Jackson Browne

Song: "Here Come Those Tears Again"
Artist: Jackson Browne
Album: The Pretender

Jackson Browne is one of the greatest American singer/songwriters ever, and he never really seems to get the props he deserves. He's getting it here. The Pretender is such a stellar album, and this song as well as the title track have resonated for like 30 years now. Unbelievable.

New Maroon 5

Song: "Better That We Break"
Artist: Maroon 5
Album: It Won't Be Soon Before Long

Granted, this album has only been out a week, but it may be even better than the band's amazing debut. Maroon 5 has taken their time to craft a sophomore effort of really great songs, and this ballad has to rank up their with anything they have done. Before it's done, this album is going to break a lot of records and win these guys many more awards.

Saturday In the Park

Song: "Saturday In The Park"
Artist: Chicago
Album: Chicago V

Chicago has been around for what seems like forever, and some of their old stuff is so amazing and timeless. This song is such a definitive summer song, you can picture the whole scene vividly. And the opening piano riff is one of the most recognizable in rock history.

The Sheila Divine

Song: "Automatic Buffalo"
Artist: The Sheila Divine
Album: New Parade

I was driving from Cleveland to Cincinnati and back with my manager about seven years ago, and he was turning me on to some really cool indie music. The Sheila Divine's New Parade was played over and over again, and we never tired of it. I still never tire of it, and it may be one of my favorite albums ever.

Carole King

Song: "It's Too Late"
Artist: Carole King
Album: Tapestry

It doesn't matter how old you are, Carole King is one of the greatest songwriters of the last forty years and she has earned that distinction. Tapestry was her breakthrough album, and it's as timeless today as it was in the early 70s. The woman has a gift for melody that few have, and has written songs for a multitude of other artists including James Taylor.

The Damnwells Freakin Rock

Song: "Accidental Man"
Artist: The Damnwells
Album: Air Stereo

I posted about these guys back in February, and last night I got to see them live for the first time. Holy, holy shit. The Damnwells are so good, it blows my mind that they're not huge. The Air Stereo album is a 90 mile an hour romp down the freeway with a few short stops for fuel. Seriously people, you need to hear these guys......

The Fixx

Song: "Red Skies"
Artist: The Fixx
Album: Shuttered Room

This was the MTV-era band's first single, and it had the synth-pop British New Wave sound down to a teel. Wailing vocals, larger-than-life synthesizers, chiming guitars and large fake-sounding drums contributed to The Fixx's sound, and it was good. This is still a great song 25 years later.

New Radicals

Song: "Someday We'll Know"
Artist: New Radicals
Album: Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too

Only around for one album, the New Radicals hit the music scene in 1998 with one of the greatest albums ever, period. Front man Gregg Alexander was, and is, a bit odd....but there's no denying he's brilliant when it comes to creating songs. This entire album never gets old, and this stunning track is one of the best on it.

Windmills

Song: "Windmills"
Artist: Toad The Wet Sprocket
Album: Dulcinea

I think this is my second post on Toad, but they have been one of my favorite bands for a long time, and Dulcinea is one of my favorite albums. This song is timeless and riveting no matter how many times I listen to it.

The Red Elvises

Song: "El Nino"
Artist: The Red Elvises
Album: Surfing With Joe

The Red Elvises are an independent rock band from Los Angeles by way of Russia. They play really fun, energetic surf rock with a twist of comedy. Really, these guys are one of the most entertaining bands I've ever seen. Catch them if they come to your town.

Spyro Gyra

Song: "Tuesday"
Artist: Spyro Gyra
Album: Wrapped In A Dream

Everyone should have some smooth jazz in their own catalog. I have just enough to make a few Sunday morning mixes, and some of the best is by this band that has been around for a couple of decades.

Steve Winwood

Song: "While You See A Chance"
Artist: Steve Winwood
Album: Arc Of A Diver

My iTunes is full of classic rock songs, but some of them are more "timeless" than others. Steve Winwood, who was in the band Traffic in the 60s and later had a ton of success as a solo artist, has one of the more distinctive voices in rock. And his songs are also distinctive. This track, with its trademark keyboard riffs, is one of Winwood's best.

Getaway Car

Song: "Madeleine"
Artist: The Getaway Car
Album: All Your Little Pieces

This band used to be called The Excentrics, and never really achieved the success they deserved. They re-formed under The Getaway Car, and are still toiling in relative obscurity. These songs are some of the most melodic, heartfelt songs that you'll ever hear from an unsigned artist.

Simple Minds

Song: "Oh Jungleland"
Artist: Simple Minds
Album: Once Upon A Time

They are mostly known for the hit, "Don't You (Forget About Me)," but Jim Kerr and Simple Minds had some really great songs to go alongside that single. This was one of them. Simple Minds most closely resembled INXS back in the day, and could really bring the rock without ever trying too hard.

Pamela

Song: "Pamela"
Artist: Toto
Album: The Seventh One

Toto was a supergroup of sorts, since it began as a bunch of studio musicians getting together to write and perform. And they had some monster hits in the late seventies and early eighties. On this album, the lead song, "Pamela," is one that has to grow on you. But once it does, it cements its own place among the band's best work.

Jimmy Eat World

Song: "Bleed American"
Artist: Jimmy Eat World
Album: Bleed American

Jimmy Eat World rose fromt that emo/indie rock world a few years back and with this polished major label release, they cemented their place in complete and utter coolness. But more than that, this title track rocks with a fury that few rock songs ever have.

Elvin Bishop

Song: "Fooled Around And Fell In Love"
Artist: Elvin Bishop
Album: Struttin' My Stuff

This was a big hitfrom the mid-seventies, and it's got a really great bluesy pop vibe. But in addition the mad skills of Bishop on lead guitar, this was the coming out party for lead singer Mickey Thomas, who went on to Starship fame a decade later. Hands down, this is one of my favorite songs of all-time.

The Southland

Song: "Shadow"
Artist: The Southland
Album: The Influence of Geography

I became hip to this band at South By Southwest in 2006, as one of their songs was on a sampler. And then I went and downloaded most of the rest of the album. It's intelligent altern-pop, and the kind of songs you can listen to about 500 times and never tire of. This particular track is played about as much as any in my entire iTunes.

Cary Brothers

Song: "Ride"
Artist: Cary Brothers
Album: Who You Are

Nashville native Cary Brothers is not a twangy Southern boy. In fact, he's more of a brooding, alt-rock kind of guy. You may remember Brothers from the song, "Blue Eyes," that he placed on the "Garden State" soundtrack. And his latest album, Who You Are, is stunning. There really isn't a bad track on it and you should go pick it up, now.

Lynyrd Skynyrd

Song: "That Smell"
Artist: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Album: Street Survivors

Just before the horrible plane crash in the late seventies that claimed the lives of three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd, including lead singer Ronnie Van Zandt, they had released their best album to date, Street Survivors. The album had the whole band on the cover surrounded by flames, and after the plane crash the album jacket was reprinted without the flames. The band is still together and has had various re-formations, but it was never really the same after the crash.

Matt Nathanson

Song: "Sing Me Sweet"
Artist: Matt Nathanson
Album: Beneath These Fireworks

Matt Nathanson is one among a whole bunch of singer/songwriters with full bands that burst onto the music scene a few years ago, creating somewhat of a glut. So while Nathanson's music kind of got buried beneath Gavin DeGraw, Ari Hest and Michael Tolcher, his stuff is really good and shouldn't be ignored. He has another one coming out soon, but if you haven't heard this album yet, you should--it's full of good songs.

Lisa Papineau

Song: "Power and Glory Part 1"
Artist: Lisa Papineau
Album: Lisa Papineau

The stunning debut from this electro-pop artist is, well, stunning. I mean, this album was one of my faves of 2006, with not a bad track on it. Lisa has a smooth, sexy voice and her music is cool, catchy and incredibly well-arranged and produced all at the same time. If you haven't heard of Lisa, you need to check out her music.

Buddy Holly

Song: "Everyday"
Artist: Buddy Holly
Album: Buddy Holly

Every music collection should have some of the rock and roll greats, the ones who started it all. Buddy Holly falls into that category, and unfortunately his life was cut short by a plane crash. But his music still lives on, and this song is one of his best. Holly was also proof that you can look like a nerd and still rock out.