1. Wrong Way- Sublime

• "A cigarette pressed between her lips but I'm starin' at her t*ts It's the wrong way." If you lived in the Philadelphia area in the mid/late 90s you'd know this as a Y-100 song, in that it was played ad nauseum on the station. Some critics come down on Sublime as faux ska/reggae, the kind of stuff most appealing to frat boys who'd most likely turn a deaf ear to those forms of music in their undiluted state. There is probably some truth in that but I could care less. This song is fun.

2. Do You Realize??- The Flaming Lips

• "Do you realize - that everyone you know someday will die, and instead of saying all of your goodbyes- let them know you realize that life goes fast, it's hard to make the good things last." This is an amazing song. "Do You Realize??" is featured on the "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" album which would qualify for one of the most creative album titles in my collection. When a song with awesome lyrics and great melody is coupled with a nice arrangement and great production you have yourself a classic. "Do You Realize??"is built on an acoustic guitar progression augmented with synth and chimes. Speaking from experience, it also functions quite nice by itself on acoustic guitar. The song was used several years ago in an add for HP computers and more recently to sell Land Rovers.

3. Come Back to Bed- John Mayer

• "What will this fix, you know you're not a quick forgive, and I won't sleep through this, I survive on the breath you are finished with." John Mayer flashed some blues power on his sophomore album "Heavier Things" with the song "Come Back to Bed". This song was somewhat of a departure from the sound on his first album and nod of things to come like the John Mayer Trio and the more bluesy sound of "Continuum". The refrain at the end of the song "don't hold your love over my head" also works melodically as a refrain for the song "Gravity" over the "just keep me where the light is" part. If you are a fan of John Mayer's blues sound and you find yourself in Vegas on New Years Eve be sure to check out the Trio at The Joint.