Angie Aparo

Song: "Wonderland"
Artist: Angie Aparo
Album: Out of the Everywhere

Angie is a dude, and a dude who can sing his ass off. Case in point, this song where his vocal ability might just blow your mind.

Carol of the Bells

Song: "Carol of the Bells"
Artist: Al Di Meola
Album: Winter Nights

I had the opportunity to work with this amazingly talented guitarist last year as his publicist. He's pretty much in another class when it comes to jazz guitar players, and his Christmas album is no exception to his awesomeness. This is the first track on my annual Christmas playlist.

Michael Schenker

Song: "On and On"
Artist: Michael Schenker Group
Album: M.S.G.

Former UFO guitarist Michael Schenker and his M.S.G. outfit were back one year after their debut with a solid effort simply titled M.S.G. This guy can wail on the guitar, but this song not only rocks hard, it's melodic and strangely easy on the ears.

All My Friends

Song: "All My Friends"
Artist: Counting Crows
Album: This Desert Life

It might be the most unheralded Counting Crows album, but has some really great songs on it including this one. Seriously, this band has only released two albums in the last ten years, but their first two releases were so good they could tour forever based on them. But true fans of the band know there is more to them than that, including songs like this.

Christmas Time Is Here!

Song: "My Holiday"
Artist: Mindy Smith
Album: My Holiday

If you're going to buy one holiday album in 2007, this should be it. Mindy Smith is a sultry singer/songwriter with a great voice and delivers a nice mix of classic holiday songs as well as some of her own material on this one. I love Christmas music, and this is a great album to kick off the season with.

Giving Thanks for The Silver Seas

Song: "High Society"
Artist: The Silver Seas
Album: High Society

On the day before Thanksgiving, I'd like to give thanks to a great band I became hip to a few months ago, The Silver Seas. Their latest album, High Society, is one of the best releases I've heard in a long, long time. If you are into '70s flavored rock with soaring melodies and harmonies, go grab this one ASAP.

Brendan Benson

Song: "Cold Hands Warm Heart"
Artist: Brendan Benson
Album: Alternative To Love

You've probably heard the opening piano/guitar riff of this song in a commercial...for what, I can't remember, but it's pretty recognizable. And the rest of the song is pretty damn good too.

Marshall Tucker Band

Song: "Fly Like an Eagle"
Artist: The Marshall Tucker Band
Album: Carolina Dreams

This was one of the first bands I saw growing up, at the height of the Southern Rock boom of the late 70s along with The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet and Lynyrd Skynyrd. I can still smell the pot smoke all around the Nassau Coliseum. Ah, memories.

Bahia Funk

Song: "Bahia Funk"
Artist: Lee Ritenour
Album: Color Rit

I used to work with this older gentleman we called "Big George" who would say, "Lee Ritenour is right on the money!" If you listen to the jazz guitarist's "Bahia Funk" you'll understand why George felt that way. The dude can really pick it, and this is great Sunday morning music.

Redmond

Song: "Down and Distance"
Artist: Redmond
Album: Measure Of One

I had the pleasure of playing some shows with this Philadelphia band about 7 or 8 years ago. They were fun, great musicians, and had some incredible songs. This one is funky, melodic and extremely listenable.

Oliver's Army

Song: "Oliver's Army"
Artist: Elvis Costello
Album: Armed Forces

Elvis Costello has written some of the more melodic yet maybe underrated music in history, including this piano driven, boppy, politically charged song. I swear I never get sick of this guy's music.

Island In The Sun

Song: "Island In The Sun"
Artist: Weezer
Album: The Green Album

Here is a song that maybe defines summer for a lot of you....it's one of Weezer's greatest pure pop songs, and a diversion for this edgy alt/rock band. The melodic lead guitar work is really nice too.

Bryan Adams

Song: "There Will Never Be Another Tonight"
Artist: Bryan Adams
Album: Waking Up the Neighbors

Canadian rocker Bryan Adams lost cool points when he did that horrible Don Juan DeMarco theme, but you can't blame him for wanting the big bucks. Still, this album he put out in the early 90s really rocked, and if you saw him live in the 80s or 90s, he also put on a great show. And he's one hell of a songwriter.

Blush

Song: "Why"
Artist: Blush
Album: Blush

I'm not sure what this female-fronted Ohio rock band is up to these days, but man, they have some great songs and a killer sound. Think maybe a modern-day Concrete Blonde but with more edge.

A-Ha

Song: "Take On Me"
Artist: A-Ha
Album: Hunting High and Low

This is one of the great songs from the 80s and the early MTV generation, and one that takes me back to 1985 whenever I hear it. That's the beauty of music.

George Harrison

Song: "What Is Life"
Artist: George Harrison
Album: All Things Must Pass

This stuff recently became available on iTunes, and I couldn't be happier. My brother had this album on vinyl and I remember going down the basement in our Long Island home and listening to it over and over again. People I think tend to forget what a great songwriter George was when they compare him to John and Paul.

Silly Love Songs

Song: "Silly Love Songs"
Artist: Wings
Album: Wings Over America

I've got the live version of this great pop song from Paul McCartney and company, but in the studio version you can really hear what I believe is one of Sir Paul's greatest bass lines ever.

Long Way Down

Song: "Long Way Down"
Artist: Pete Yorn
Album: Day I Forgot

Speaking of "forgot," this album is all but forgotten in Pete Yorn Nation. It's his sophomore effort and the more rocking followup to the incredible Musicforthemorningafter, and has a few really great songs on it including this one.

Addicted To Me

Song: "Addicted To Me"
Artist: The Click Five
Album: Modern Minds and Pastimes

If you haven't heard this young pop/rock band yet, you need to check them out. This is from their latest album, which is every bit as catchy as their last record and then some. There are eighties flavors in here, and these kids just really know how to write good songs.

April McLean

Song: "So Far Away"
Artist: April McLean
Album: Becoming

If you throw a rock in Nashville, you'll hit a singer/songwriter. But some of them stand out, including piano playing rocker April McLean. This is from one of her earlier efforts and it's a really great song.