Here Comes 2 Edition

1. Don't Need Anything- Glen Phillips

• "I've got almost nothing, but I understand...that I don't need anything that I don't have."
  This song is the opposite of what George W Bush told you to do after 9-11. Instead of giving into mindless consumerism this song tells you to take stock of what you already have. People have been conditioned to feel good from buying things- in the words of Chuck D, "...people don't even own themselves, paying mental rent to corporate presidents". Listen to this song and simplify.

2. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word- Elton John

• "What do I gotta do to make you love me?" If sad songs say so much this song must say a lot. Dark and depressing. Songs like this make it hard to jog to my iPod on shuffle but appeal endlessly to the ocean of sadness in my heart. It's a monsoon people.

3. Angels & Whores- Ike Reilly

• "Riding in my Crown Vic outta school half-lit" I'm not sure if I have any idea what this song is about but I'm not sure it matters. This is a fun, upbeat and profane rock song off the "Salesman and Racists" album which I love. I think Ike fell off a bit after his debut and insinuated that a friend felt the same way while she was talking to him. Whoops.

Birthday Edition

1. Me And Bobby McGee- Janis Joplin

• "...but I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday". Janis Joplin at her best. One can only wonder what this song would sound like if Bobby's first name was Vondrell.

2. I'd Like To- Corinne Bailey Rae

• " I'd, I'd like to put my fingers on you". There are songs you can knock boots to and there are songs where you wonder if the musicians were getting it on while they recorded the track. If you listen to the acoustic guitar solo on Lionel Richie's "Hello" it's not hard to imagine. This song may be another example. This song brings the funk with horns, hooks, and references to eating chicken.

3. Universe & U- KT Tunstall

• " When I'm cold inside you are warm and bright". This song is featured on the singer-songwriter's smashing debut "Eye to the Telescope". The album's upbeat "Black Horse & The Cherry Tree" and "Suddenly I See" found crossover pop success but this slow groove is more indicative of the vibe of the album. An even more folked out version of this song appears on the "Acoustic Extravaganza" collection. Songs like this make KT one of my favorite new artists.