Dazed and Confused

Song: "Dazed and Confused"
Artist: Led Zeppelin
Album: Led Zeppelin

This was one of the first songs Led Zeppelin recorded before going on to mega-stardom. It sums up the band too--bluesy guitar playing, sings and screams from Robert Plant, and bombastic noise from John Bonham and John Paul Jones. Was this one of the greatest rock bands of all time or what? I was obsessed with them growing up and it's just too bad Bonham passed on because I'm convinced they would still be touring today.

Sara Smile

Song: "Sara Smile"
Artist: Hall & Oates
Album: Darryl Hall & John Oates

Hall & Oates are one of the most recognizable duos in music history, along with the likes of Simon & Garfunkel. And they are still making music together. Hall & Oates have undergone changes with the times, but some of their oldest stuff is still their most timeless, and this song is, in my opinion, their best.

Hopeless

Song: "Hopeless"
Artist: Train
Album: Drops of Jupiter

This band camed out of the Aware Records camp and became overnight sensations with two hits--"Meet Virginia" and "Drops of Jupiter." It's safe to say the songwriters in this band are set for a while financially. But the album Drops of Jupiter was really deep and featured some incredible songs that didn't make it to the airwaves. This song still floors me like 5 years later.

Wank

Song: "Paranoid"
Artist: Wank
Album: Get a Grip On Yourself

This band name is really funny, but once you get past that, they were (maybe still are, I don't know) just a really good rock band. If you can imagine a cross between Green Day, Weezer, and Smash Mouth, you've got Wank in a nutshell. This whole album is really good too, so if you find it in a bargain bin, grab it. Unless the above mentioned bands are not your thing, of course.

Edwin

Song: "Wish In This World"
Artist: Edwin McCain
Album: Messenger

His voice is as recognizable in pop music as anyone's in the last ten years, and for good reason. He's got a killer voice and he writes incredible songs. But this 1999 release was Edwin McCain's best in my opinion. It's got it all...edgy songs like this and acoustic based songs to make the girls cry. And for a guy who gets so much play on lite rock stations, he's still remains cooler than all his peers.

California Angels

Song: "California Angels"
Artist: Missing Joe
Album: Highway Songs

I first saw Missing Joe when they opened for a favorite band of mine, Nine Days, at Ashland University in Ohio, around the year 2001. These guys released a couple of albums of amazing songs and all of them continue to generate heavy rotation in my player years later. The band never made it big, but they should have. These days they have re-emerged as a group of acoustic-and-three-part-harmony dudes called The Brightwings. Do yourself a favor and find these guys.

Sunday Morning

Song: "Lover's Paradise"
Artist: Eric Darius
Album: Just Getting Started

You can argue that most smooth jazz sounds the same, but that doesn't hide the fact that it's tailor made for Sunday mornings. Young artist Eric Darius is really talented and his latest album is as good on a Sunday morning as an omelet or pancakes, and a big fat newspaper. This is also good music if you guys are making dinner for your lady and trying to impress her, no matter how old you are.

Prowler

Song: "Prowler"
Artist: Iron Maiden
Album: Iron Maiden

This is the first song on the first album by metal band Iron Maiden, and it flat out freaking rocks.
I've loved this song ever since I was a pimply faced high school kid, and it still sounds as raw and edgy as it did back then. It's also the first of only two albums with vocalist Paul Di'Anno, who left in favor of Bruce Dickinson after battling alcoholism. Nothing against Dickinson, who is one of the best unheralded singers in rock music, but I always liked the band better with the scratchy-throated Di'Anno singing.

Oldest Story

Song: "Oldest Story in the World"
Artist: The Plimsouls
Album: Everywhere At Once

I didn't get into The Plimsouls until about six years after this debut album came out, but I fell in love with their music instantly. The band didn't really do much after that, but front man Peter Case has released solo material and I think they briefly reunited in 2006 at SXSW. But either way, this is one of the most underrated rock albums of all-time. It's rock music the way it's supposed to be--raw, hooky, and way cool. This song is as close to a "ballad" that The Plimsouls would ever get, and even then it's got more balls than the uptempo songs of today's bands.

Alicia Keys

Song: "If I Ain't Got You"
Artist: Alicia Keys
Album: The Diary of Alicia Keys

She kind of came out of nowhere a few years ago, but Alicia Keys is going to have a nice, long career. This young, sexy singer/songwriter is a throwback to the old days of Motown, and she's been championed by the likes of Stevie Wonder. She can play the piano well, sings amazingly and writes hooky pop/R&B songs that leave most of her peers in the dust. Those of you not familiar with Ms. Keys should start with this album.

Love Time

Song: "Love Time"
Artist: The Insiders
Album: Not For Sale

My buddy Dave and I found this band on a drunken bender in Chicago and made them our own.
We also stopped for fried chicken in a really bad part of town and lived to tell about it, but that's another story. The Insiders didn't really bust out in a big way outside of their hometown, but truly deserved to. These guys were beyond cool, and could even take a potentially wussy song like this and give it an edge. If you see anything in a used bin or in a vintage record store in Chicago by this band, pick it up.

The Stranger

Song: "The Stranger"
Artist: Billy Joel
Album: The Stranger

Billy Joel has been writing music and performing for over three decades, but I still think The Stranger is his best album ever. He had a big hit with "Piano Man" in the mid-70's but it was this album that put him on the map. I'll bet no one remembers this title track as well as they remember "Just the Way You Are" or "Only the Good Die Young." The song sounds a bit dated now, but I still think it's better than any of the big hits.

Glow

Song: "Glow"
Artist: Katy Rose
Album: Because I Can

When this album came out on V2 Records in 2004, I swore that Katy Rose would be the next big thing. She writes sensible pop tunes with a bit of teen angst, but not in an over-the-top way. And when the album came out she was only 16, meaning that Katy is maybe 19 now. Though she's been dropped from the label, I read recently that she's working on new music. Hopefully she can resurrect her own career post-V2, because she really is quite a talent.

Butch is the Man

Song: "Suburbia"
Artist: Butch Walker
Album: Left of Self-Centered

Noted wiseass and very gifted singer, songwriter and producer Butch Walker spread his wings when he left the band Marvelous 3 to start a solo career. This was the first solo effort for Butch and for my money, it's one of the greatest rock albums of all-time. He hasn't quite matched the magic of that album, but the songs on this one stand the test of time anyway. Plus, Butch has made a nice career as a producer and songwriter, working with the likes of Avril Lavigne and Bowling For Soup, among many others. This song is a prime example of how Butch marries witty lyrics with hooks that don't quit.

The Unforgettable Fire

Song: "The Unforgettable Fire"
Artist: U2
Album: The Unforgettable Fire

This band went on to become huge. I mean, they were huge in the eighties but now they're like Rock & Roll Hall of Fame huge and one of the top concert tickets in history. But I was never a huge fan. I still think The Joshua Tree is U2's best album, and this lesser known track is one of my all-time favorite songs of theirs. I know everyone knows who Bono is, but I don't think they all realize what an incredible singer he's always been.

White Limo

Song: "White Limousine"
Artist: Duncan Sheik
Album: White Limousine

Though not the same poppy songwriter as the guy who delivered a huge hit with "Barely Breathing" over ten years ago, Duncan Sheik is still making great music. His stuff tends to border on the experimental, but not in an annoying way. In fact, it's just the opposite. I find myself wanting to hear more and more of what Sheik creates, because it's the kind of stuff that you find something new to like about with each listen. This is the title track from his latest, and it's really a stunning album.

Burn Down

Song: "Burn Down"
Artist: Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash
Album: Distance Between

This is one of those so-called "alt-country" groups that sounds nothing like Johnny Cash but uses his name for notoriety nonetheless. Forget about the band's name, and pick up this album if you like anything at all that resembles middle America. I'm talking a way cooler version of Mellencamp, a twangier Toad the Wet Sprocket, or simply a good jangly rock band. This is the band's best effort and this song is one of my all-time faves by anyone. I can even get past the fact that it sounds like Grover from "Sesame Street" is singing background vocals in the chorus.

Long Island Shores

Song: "Long Island Shores"
Artist: Mindy Smith
Album: Long Island Shores

Mindy Smith is like a young Patty Griffin....she has a velvety, bluesy, and immaculate voice. She, like me, grew up on Long Island and now lives in Nashville. Her surroundings have added a touch of twang, but Mindy's songs are still tinged with folk and alt-pop, and sometimes quite mesmerizing. This title track to Smith's latest album mentions parts of Long Island I remember, which is cool in itself. But it's really just an amazingly pretty song.

Mercy Me

Song: "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)"
Artist: Marvin Gaye
Album: What's Going On

Barry White's music is usually synonymous with seduction, but you can make that case for one of the greatest soul artists of all time, Mr. Marvin Gaye (RIP). There was so much great music to come out of Motown in the early years, but Marvin's music has stood the test of time and then some. There isn't an aspiring R&B singer anywhere that hasn't studied or emulated him and his career. To me, Marvin Gaye's music borders on brilliant and this was one of his best songs.

High

Song: "High"
Artist: Feeder
Album: Polythene

I can't remember how I came across this band, but I think they're British and I know they're really good. They had a song, it may have been this one, on one of The O.C. compilations, which helped spark interest in them, but they are not a one hit wonder by any means. There's a cool alterna-vibe to the band and they sure know how to craft a catchy song.

Eleanor, not Rigby

Song: "Eleanor"
Artist: Low Millions
Album: Ex-Girlfriends

Thank goodness I live in Nashville where we have a kickass radio station in Lightning 100. It's AAA (adult album alternative) and has turned me on to bands like Stereophonics and this band, Low Millions. The band released their debut album on Manhattan Records in 2004 and there are a load of really good songs on it. Singer and guitarist Adam Cohen has a very cool voice, too.

Fine China

Song: "Fine China"
Artist: Andy Davis
Album: Fine China EP

I'm somewhat partial because this is a client of mine, but Davis is a singer/songwriter who has an incredibly bright future. He's got a knack for melody, a great full voice as well as falsetto, and his songs stick in your head but don't have a high burn rate...for those of you not in the business, that means you won't get sick of his songs after repeated listens. The title track to Davis' Fine China EP, released in January 2007, is a piano-based gem.

Hello Time Bomb

Song: "Hello Time Bomb"
Artist Matthew Good
Album: Beautiful Midnight

This album, released in 1999, is not only Good's best effort, it's maybe in my top 20 albums of all time. It's one of those records that you can listen to from start to finish, hit re-play and never, ever tire of. That's a gift few artists can deliver. This song, naturally, has a ticking time bomb sound throughout, but the guitar and vocal onslaught are what makes it extremely powerful.

Kodachrome

Song: "Kodachrome"
Artist: Paul Simon
Album: There Goes Rhymin' Simon

This was one of Simon's first hits after the first separation from Art Garfunkel, and it's one of his catchiest songs ever. When I was a kid, I thought Simon was singing "Mama don't take my coat and comb away," but then when I bought the single I was set straight. There really isn't much to say that hasn't been said before, but basically Paul Simon is one of the greatest songwriters in pop history, and is voice is as recognizable as any in music.

Toad Rules

Song: "Whatever I Fear"
Artist: Toad the Wet Sprocket
Album: Coil

Glen Phillips has had a nice solo career, but nothing has matched the magic he and guitarist/co-writer Todd Nichols created as front men for the band Toad the Wet Sprocket. The band's last album, Coil, is one of my favorites of theirs....the walls of guitars, harmonies and powerful hooks are pure pop candy, but there is also an edge that made these guys cooler than everyone gave them credit for. This song kicks off the Coil album in fine form.

MuteMath

Song: "You Are Mine"
Artist: MuthMath
Album: MuteMath

This is a newer band, at least as far as major label signings go. Warner Brothers signed this New Orleans rock band and released their debut in 2006, and it's postively stunning. The album is a mix of alternative rock, funk, and electronic elements....but as with many artists, it's the vocals that take MuteMath to another level. Paul Meany is one of the best singers that not everyone knows yet, but give it time. This spacey song is not like everything else on the record, but it's my favorite track.

Piano Man for a New Generation

Song: "Selfless, Cold, and Composed"
Artist: Ben Folds Five
Album: Whatever and Ever Amen

Piano-playing indie rocker/singer/songwriter dude Ben Folds burst out of obscurity with the release of this album in 1998 when modern rock radio played the crap out of the single, "Brick." If that's what it took to get me to become a fan, so be it. This album is one of my all-time faves by Folds and his "Five" or by anyone for that matter. It's got just the right amount of indie charm to mix with its listenability, and the arrangements on every song are stellar.

One More Chance

Song: "One More Chance"
Artist: Zebra
Album: Zebra

It was 1983 and I was driving my school bus yellow VW Rabbit back from Boston with my buddy Dave. After a weekend of partying at his his girlfriends' campus (were we studs or what?) we were pumped because we had tickets to see our favorite band, Zebra, on the campus of Hofstra. But then my radiator sprung a leak and the hot coolant (is that an oximoron?) shredded a fan belt, causing the engine light to come on and smoke to emit from under the hood.
Of course, I worked in my dad's VW dealership back then, and had a spare fan belt in my trunk. We put it on, and stopped to fill the radiator with water every half hour until coasting home and then grabbing Dave's car to take to the show. It's fun to look back on but we were horrified at the time, not of being stranded on a freeway in the middle of Connecticut, but of not making it to the show. Zebra was a power trio that was influenced by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Rush and The Moody Blues. In fact, this song was a favorite of ours long before the band was signed to Atlantic Records. The chorus lifts like few choruses lift anymore, and lead singer Randy Jackson has a voice that rivals Robert Plant.

Maybe Tomorrow

Song: "Maybe Tomorrow"
Artist: Stereophonics
Album: Maybe Tomorrow EP

I was turned on to this band a few years ago when WRLT (Lightning 100) here in Nashville played it, and it was one of those songs that I had to go and buy as soon as I returned to my computer. I'm not sure if this song was on a full-length LP or not, but it doesn't matter. There is a really cool live version of it too. Anyway, not only was I smitten by this song, but I went and bought the band's Language Sex Violence album soon after it came out, and it's become one of my all-time faves. Stereophonics are way more popular in their native UK than here in the States, but do yourself a favor and check them out.

Inside and Out

Song: "Inside and Out"
Artist: Feist
Album: Let It Die

So about two years ago I interviewed Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty fame for a website I write for. And I asked him what he was listening to at the time. One of those artists he mentioned was Feist, aka Leslie Feist, Canadian singer/songwriter. Feist had just released her breakthrough album, Let It Die. She's got this soft, subtle, but extremely powerful voice and an old soul that makes for a very powerful album. But this particular track, a cover of the Bee Gees' "Inside and Out," is one of my favorite re-makes of all time. Yeah, this is the freaking Bee Gees we're talking about, but Feist does the song justice and then some.

The Cure

Song: "Push"
Artist: The Cure
Album: Head on the Door

This was one of the first Cure songs I ever heard, and while it's one of their lesser known tracks, it just rocks. I think Robert Smith is one of the most underrated singers and performers in rock.
There's great guitar work in this song as well.