The Chain

Song: "The Chain"
Artist: Fleetwood Mac
Album: Rumours

This has to be one of my favorite albums of all-time, and I don't think there is a bad song on it. The last 30 seconds or so of this track, when the song really kicks in, is the best part.

The Producers

Song: "What's He Got"
Artist: The Producers
Album: The Producers and You Make the Heat

This stuff isn't available on iTunes but I was able to find it recently. The Producers have two songs from the '80's that I absolutely love...this one and "She Sheila." It's just really catchy pop/rock.

Breaking Laces

Song: "Shack Up SOS"
Artist: Breaking Laces
Album: Lemonade

I have the privlege of doing PR work for this great indie band from New York City. If this was the seventies, this band would be huge. They not only know how to write timeless melodies, but their arrangements and precision playing are what has kept them together for almost a decade. Check them out if you haven't already.

David Pack

Song: Vertical Disbelief (That's Not Me)
Artist: David Pack
Album: The Secret of Movin' On

You may not recognize the name, but David Pack was the long-time lead singer for pop band Ambrosia. His voice is pretty easy to spot, and he really has a knack for catchy melody, even if his light rock genre isn't your thing.

Katy Rose

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

So I proclaimed Katy as the new "it" girl a few years ago, and she promptly dropped of the face of the earth. But she was 16 when this album came out, and it's just a great pop/rock album --nothing like the bubblegum of today's female popsters.

Carly

Song: "Beautiful You"
Artist: Carly Hennessy
Album: Ultimate High

You might recognize the face, but not the name. This is American Idol finalist Carly Smithson, who released an album in 1999. It was produced by The New Radicals' Gregg Alexander, and well, pretty much sounds like Carly fronting The New Radicals. Which, to me, is really a good thing.

Innocent

Song: "Innocent"
Artist: Fuel
Album: Something Like Human

Fuel is a band that labels and radio programmers have molded into sounding like every other band on "active rock" radio these days. But their earlier stuff, like this, stands out to me. It just has more depth and melody and heartfelt musical punch, and, well, I still love listening to it.

Toby Lightman

Song: "Better"
Artist: Toby Lightman
Album: Bird on a Wire

Toby Lightman is a pop artist with jazz and r&b flavors. Think Norah Jones with a bit more infused soul. Mostly, Ms. Lightman is an amazing singer and songwriter who has somehow managed to stay under the radar. Hopefully she'll break out big eventually, but if not, you can still go buy her music.

Laurie Sargent

Song: "Without Letting Go"
Artist: Laurie Sargent
Album: Party of Five Soundtrack

Laurie Sargent is the former lead singer for pop/rock band Face to Face, who were popular for a short time in the '80's. If you can find an old Face to Face record somewhere, it's worth checking out, because they flat out rocked. This song is more subdued, but Laurie has a really unique voice that will hook you in.

Mark Selby

Song: "If The World Was Mine"
Artist: Mark Selby
Album: Dirt

This album came out a few years back by Mark Selby, a well-known and respected songwriter in Nashville. If you dig good songwriting, pick this one up...it's got an old-school pop meets Americana feel. Mark and his wife have written hits by the likes of the Dixie Chicks.

John Mayer Can Play

Song: "Vultures"
Artist: John Mayer
Album: Continuum

If you need proof that John Mayer can play guitar, listen to this song. I mean, this guy takes a lot of abuse from critics, especially from dudes who think they are too cool to listen to him. But let me tell you...not only can this guy sing and write timeless pop, he can play the guitar like a freaking madman.

One more comment. Mayer and Josh Rouse would have been HUGE in the '70's...I'm just sayin'.

Monta

Song: "Good Morning Stranger"
Artist: Monta
Album: The Brilliant Masses

This is a really pretty, rainy day type song. It's lo-fi, melodic and just oozes cool. This is just one of those really great, under the radar type songs in my collection.

Anything Can Happen

Song: "Anything Can Happen"
Artist: The Finn Brothers
Album: Everyone Is Here

Anything Neil Finn touches is melodic, bordering on brilliant. And this album he did with his brother Tim a few years ago is just awesome.

All You Zombies

Song: "All You Zombies"
Artist: The Hooters
Album: Nervous Night

Talk about ear candy. The Hooters could write ear candy in their sleep, but more than that, this stuff was way cool. I think they have broke up and reunited a few times since the mid-80s, but either way, this album is still their best work.

Rebel Yell

Song: "Rebel Yell"
Artist: Billy Idol
Album: Rebel Yell

I've always loved how this song absolutely rocks. It's a perfect track to get you ready for the weekend too!

Matthew Good

Song: "Deep Six"
Artist: Matthew Good
Album: Beautiful Midnight

I'm pretty sure I've already written about this guy before, but either way, this Matthew Good album is one of my all-time faves by anyone. It's grungy, depressing, alt-rock that somehow comes off as uplifting. I can't describe it, but it's just really powerful music. Check it out if you don't own it, you'll know exactly what I mean.

3 Libras

Song: "3 Libras"
Artist: A Perfect Circle
Album: Mer de Noms

Have you ever gone through your iTunes "Top 25 Most Played" list? I just did and this track was the most played, at 103 times. Actually it's really interesting to see, and even though I love this song and album, I wouldn't have expected it to be my most played.

Low Millions

Song: "Hey Jane"
Artist: Low Millions
Album: Ex Girlfriends

I really dug the debut from this band a few years ago, and they kept spinning the songs on the local AAA station here in Nashville, Lightning 100. This is great radio pop the way it used to be, but of course Low Millions didn't catch on big. At least not yet.

Ferras

Song: "Blame, Blame, Blame"
Artist: Ferras
Album: Aliens & Rainbows

You've heard this Capitol artist if you watch "American Idol," because his song "Hollywood's Not America" was the exit song for a few episodes. This guy is not the Daniel Powter type though, he's more rock along the lines of Something Corporate....catchy as hell and solid.

Tonight, Tonight

Song: "Tonight, Tonight"
Artist: Smashing Pumpkins
Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

This is one of those records that is etched in my mind from the mid-nineties, and when I hear it I can feel where I was at the time. I think we'll look back at this album as one of the great ones from the decade, if we're not doing that already.

Tattoo

Song: "Tattoo"
Artist: Novo Combo
Album: Novo Combo

Yeah, I know Jordin Sparks has a single called "Tattoo," but this song with the same name is more my speed. Novo Combo delivered new wavey-pop that makes you remember the days when men were men and music was music, instead of all the over-produced crap ruling the airwaves today.