Diane Birch

Song: "Don't Wait Up"
Artist: Diane Birch
Album: Bible Belt

I don't know where this artist came from, but she is awesome....combining elements of pop, soul and rock, and even a little Gospel, her debut album is just stunning.

Dream Weaver

Song: "Dream Weaver"
Artist: Gary Wright
Album: The Dream Weaver

This '70's classic is one of my favorite songs of all-time...I don't think I could ever tire of it, because I haven't yet 30-something years later.

Is is a Crime

Song: "Is it a Crime"
Artist: Sade
Album: Promise

Sade's music is soothing, as soothing as anything you'll listen to, but I wasn't hip to this track until I saw her in concert.

God of Wine

Song: "God of Wine"
Artist: Third Eye Blind
Album: Third Eye Blind

I love this album, the debut from rock band Third Eye Blind, but the last four songs on it are particularly awesome. They are dark and somber but strangely pull you in.

Buffalo Springfield

Song: "Rock and Roll Woman"
Artist: Buffalo Springfield
Album: Buffalo Springfield Again

I represent the band Poco as their publicist, and they were one of the bands that was an offshoot of Buffalo Springfield. This song has incredible harmonies and some really great guitar work.

Angie Aparo

Song: "She's Alright By Me"
Artist: Angie Aparo
Album: For Stars and Moon

Angie is not a woman, he's a dude.....and he has a monster voice. This is one of my favorite tracks of his, and I'd love to find out what he's up to these days...Angie, you out there?

Sponge

Song: "My Lackluster Love"
Artist: Sponge
Album: New Pop Sunday

I played the crap out of this album when it came out, some time around 1998 or 1999....it's guitar-driven, brooding alternative rock with melodies that somehow stick in your head for days.

In My House

Song: "In My House"
Artist: Mary Jane Girls
Album: 20th Century Masters

If you know my taste in music, you'd know that this registers as more of a guilty pleasure. It's a dance/pop song from the mid '80's, but for some reason I just find it infectious as hell. And it brings me back to that summer of 1985.

Secret Smile

Song: "Secret Smile"
Artist: Semisonic
Album: Feeling Strangely Fine

Everyone knows the song "Closing Time," but this Semisonic album is just full of great songs. I'm not a huge fan of their other releases, but this one is just killer.

Kim Richey

Song: "Come Around"
Artist: Kim Richey
Album: Glimmer

I've been a fan of Kim Richey for about ten years now, and her music is very melodic and yet smooth and soulful. And this, in my opinion, is her best album.

Coffee

Song: "Coffee"
Artist: Paige Aufhammer
Album: Paige Aufhammer

This is a great song and appropriate for right now as I am on my second cup of coffee trying to wake up!

Blue Epic

Song: "Love and Hate"
Artist: Blue Epic
Album: Love and Hate EP

This rock band didn't have much of a shelf life, at least as far as I know. This EP came out maybe 7 or 8 years ago with some killer songs like this one, but I'm not sure what happened after that. Does anyone know?

Hello It's Me

Song: "Hello It's Me"
Artist: Todd Rundgren
Album: Sensational 70's

I am old enough to remember when this was a radio hit in the early '70's, and it's still a timeless, melodic classic today. What is it about Todd Rundgren's way of weaving prog rock into pop that is just so awesome and unique?

Soul Food To Go

Song: "Soul Food To Go"
Artist: Manhattan Transfer
Album: The Very Best Of

I'm working on a top 10 list of the best songs to cook to, and this one is going to be near the top of it. Great, happy and uplifting song, and the theme is perfect.

Jon Secada

Song: "Just Another Day"
Artist: Jon Secada
Album: Jon Secada

This may classify as a guilty pleasure, since it's one of those semi-cheesy lite rock type staples, but I love this dude's voice and this song is just catchy as hell.

Achin' To Be

Song: "Achin' To Be"
Artist: The Replacements
Album: Don't Tell a Soul

This album is maybe in my top 10 of all-time, and this single just touches the surface of Paul Westerberg's brilliance.

I Don't Want To Hear Anymore

Song: "I Don't Want To Hear Anymore"
Artist: The Eagles
Album: Long Road Out of Eden

I also don't want to see anymore, and I'm referring to my New York Mets, who are sinking to new depths of suck each day. Sure, they have lots of players on the DL, but they look like the Bad News Bears out there. Ugh. Anyway, this song is a good theme for how I feel about the team right now, because the manager and GM keep saying blah blah blah, our players our hurt, blah blah blah.

This Fine Social Scene

Song: "This Fine Social Scene"
Artist: Zero 7
Album: The Garden

My brother-in-law turned me on to this awesome group, and while it's not typical of my musical taste, their electro-pop is just mesmerizing. The best news is that they have a new album coming out soon.

Kris Allen

Song: "Ain't No Sunshine"
Artist: Kris Allen
Album: Ain't No Sunshine (American Idol Studio Version)

I'm proud to say I pegged Kris Allen as the one who should win "American Idol" this past season and he did win. The kid had likeable charm and great vocal skills without being over the top a la Adam Lambert, and he was not the one-trick pony Danny Gokey was. Anyway, this version of the great Bill Withers classic was pretty much what won the competition for Kris.

Trouble Sleeping

Song: "Trouble Sleeping"
Artist: The Persihers
Album: Music from the O.C. Vol. 2

I loved all the music from the O.C. even though I never watched a single episode of the show. Music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas has an amazing knack for finding great musical talent.

Don't Bother Me

Song: "Don't Bother Me"
Artist: The Blakes
Album: The Blakes

I have a lot of work to do today, so this is a good theme song. I love this rock band too...they remind me a lot of The Plimsouls.