Shirli McAllen of Leftover Cuties and Blake Mills

Shirli McAllen’s recommendation: “It’s a real challenge to choose one artist when there is so much music I love. I was going to go with something classic like Bob Dylan, but then again, everyone already knows about Dylan and his brilliance, right? So I decided to go with something completely new that most people haven’t heard of yet and totally should. Blake Mills. This guy is the best guitarist/singer/songwriter around. He had played with so many huge artists as a session guitar player (Kid Rock, Cass McCombs, Lucinda Williams, Fiona Apple, etc.) and he was also a band member of Simon Dawes.”

New to Blake Mills? Shirli suggests you start here: “In 2010 he released his own solo debut titled Brake Mirrors. It has been my favorite and most frequently listened to album in the past year. Songs like Hey Lover and It’ll All Work Out get to me every time. Blake’s voice, lyrics, guitar parts and overall sound go directly into my soul and give me that bittersweet feeling that I live for. He is original, innovative and sincere. And when you find out how young he is, you won’t believe it. Treat yourself, really. Take a listen.”

Check the Blake Mills web site for tour info, album ordering and more.

About our guest author, Shirli McAllen: Shirli fronts The Leftover Cuties, a band whose rise to success started with a song that was literally written on the back of a napkin. Israeli born McAllin was working in a bar when she scribbled down lyrics for what would become the band’s breakthrough single, Game Called Life. She met up with Austin Nicholsen later that night and the two synched up the lyrics with a chord progression he had been playing on the ukulele. Karma would have it that the tune eventually would become the theme song for the Showtime show, The Big C. And, yes, there are other Cuties. Stuart Johnson (drums), Ryan Feves (bass), and Mike Bolger (keys, horns, and accordion) rounded out the rest of the lineup for their debut album, Places To Go, a collection that was produced by veteran producer, Tony Berg (Squeeze, Peter Gabriel and Michael Penn) and won praise from the likes of Filter Magazine and LA’s KROQ who gushed over McAllen’s ‘sugary sweet vocals.’ We’re right there with them fawning over McAllen’s sultry delivery. The band is finishing up work on a covers EP (you gotta hear them take on Regina Spektor) and are currently on tour. Be sure to visit the Leftover Cuties website for the latest updates.

MP3: Places To Go by Leftover Cuties

Adam Levy and Sam Phillips

Adam Levy’s recommendation: “One artist who moves me consistently is Sam Phillips. Her songs are smartly written, yet she always keeps them from sounding fussy or fussed over. Her melodies get stuck in my head and I never mind them sticking there. Some of her lyrics race along with the pace of taut short stories (imagine Tobias Wolff as a singer/songwriter), while others are more dreamlike. She’s a strummer — not a fingerpicker — and I love the way her guitar lopes and swaggers through her songs.”

New to Sam Phillips? Adam suggests you start here: My favorite Sam record is A Boot & A Shoe. Song for song, I think it’s her most consistent batch, and the production is seductively gritty. My other fave is Fan Dance — released a few years prior to A Boot and a Shoe To me, these two feel like companions. (I’ve no idea if Phillips thinks of them that way.) Both records were produced by T-Bone Burnett, and the cast of session players is similar — including drummer Carla Azar and guitarist Marc Ribot.

MP3: I Don’t Know Why by Sam Phillips

About our guest author, Adam Levy: We at Rocktorch.com recently found out about Adam Levy on a WFUV segment and we really liked what we heard: skillful guitar work perfectly laid under intimate, well crafted lyrics. We dug around the Web for his bio info and found out that his grandfather wrote “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and the theme from the TV series Gilligan’s Island (how cool is that?!) and that he has backed the likes of Norah Jones, Ani DiFranco and Tracey Chapman. But the interesting thing is that there is not a ton of bio info on his own site. Instead the music and reviews of his work speaks for itself. Of his most recent record, The Heart Collector, No Depression says, “A great album overflowing with warm and soulful songs that enchant the ears and captivate the heart,” and Minor 7th writes, “It’s his guitar virtuosity, melancholy melodies, vocals — multiple musical personalities — that will surely mesmerize you.” Levy gets a lot of jazz coverage, but there is definite crossover potential here; we see him as a gifted singer-songwriter. Be sure to check http://www.adamlevy.com to check Adam’s concert schedule, join his mailing list and more.

Elan Atias and Bob Marley

Elan Atias’ recommendations: “WOW! Picking just one artist is too hard! So many artists are going through my mind and so many different genres. To start I would have to definitely say Bob Marley and the Wailers, Otis Redding, Sam Cook, Al Green, Marvin Gaye,U2, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Dennis Brown, Fela Kuti and Cheb Khaled. They are all artists who made music that moved me in so many ways. Bob with his simple but so deep lyrics that even a baby could understand, and they would speak to you in whatever you were going through at that moment. Otis and Sam’s soulful voices, Al Green and Marvin Gaye’s sweet falsetto’s. U2, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles are just all around great in vibe and sound. There’s Dennis Brown’s majestic voice and Fela Kuti, Cheb Khaled and Alpha Blondy giving me a taste of real Afican roots. As for new contemporary artists I love Adele, Young the Giant, Major Lazer, Skrillex, 12th Planet, Gogo Bordelo, Broken Bells and Robyn. There are so many talented artists who have influenced me.”

Looking for album suggestions for these artists? Elan suggests you start here:

For Bob Marley any album will do but the one that you have to hear is Exodus (which by the way it was voted “Album of the Century” by TIME magazine)

Al Green, Otis Redding,Sam Cook their greatest hits.

Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On

U2′s War and All That You Can’t Leave Behind

Zeppelin’s IV and The Song Remains the Same

The Beatles’ 1 and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Dennis Brown’s Wolf and Leopards

Fela Kuti’s Best of the Black President

Cheb Khaled’s Sahra

Alpha Blondy’s Jerusalem and Merci

Adele’s 21

Young the Giant self titled album

Major Lazer’s Guns Don’t Kill People ….Lazers Do

Skrillex’s Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites and Bangarang

12th Planet’s Control and 68

Gogo Bordelo Gypsy Punks Underdog World and Transcontinental Hustle

Broken Bells’ self titled album

Robyn’s Body Talk

About our guest author, Elan Atias: When Elan was only 19, he grabbed hold of his destiny and never let go. Plucked from obscurity, Elan was given the near impossible job to fill Bob Marley’s shoes and perform as the lead singer for Bob’s backing band, The Wailers. Elan wowed audiences (many people thought Elan was actually one of Bob’s sons because of the striking similarities in voice) and fronted the band for over ten years. In 2004, he scored his first radio hit, Dreams Come True and then released a solo record, Together As One in 2006 (produced by No Doubt’s Tony Kanal). Now he’s back with a new record, We Are and an early but essential new Summer anthem, Step Into The Sunshine (video below). He’s also been featured in Sports Illustrated’s first ever showcase of emerging artists in the annual Swimsuit issue and, since the weather is getting warmer, you should expect a slew of new tour dates coming at you. Check his tour page for the latest dates and for more info about Elan.

Mike Doughty and Thin Lizzy (Phil Lynott is second from left)

Mike Doughty’s recommendation: “One of things that attracts me to Thin Lizzy is that I’m so moved by the life story of Phil Lynott, the singer, songwriter and bass player. His father was a black Guyanese guy that knocked up his Irish mom and split. He grew up a black kid in Dublin. Can you imagine how isolated that kid must’ve felt? Much of his work resonates with his very strong core of Irishness, which is poignant, given how he must’ve been taunted for his un-Irish appearance.

He’s a soulful, tortured singer, very Van-Morrison-influenced, which is really interesting, given Thin Lizzy’s solidly 70s-heavy-rock sound.

Phil Lynott died, in 1986, of septicemia – which, as far as I understand the Wikipedia entry, is basically an inflammation of every organ – brought on by a ruinous heroin and alcohol intake.

They weren’t, in my opinion, an album band – their strength was the live show. They have some amazing recordings – The Boys Are Back in Town, naturally, and Jailbreak, which has one of the most amazing, thick, rich, growly guitar sounds of all time.”

New to Thin Lizzy? Mike suggests you start here: “Actually, I’d recommend a newcomer a live album called Life/Live, a tossed-out end-of-career album. It’s slightly tricky to find–there’s a CD reissue, licensed by a small label, buyable online, but it wasn’t a particularly important album in their career.

It happens to be the first Thin Lizzy album I ever bought. I ordered it from the Columbia Records and Tapes Club as a 14-year-old, in 1985, not knowing anything about how the band sounded. Being a metal kid, it was way more soulful than anything I’d been listening to.

The cult of Phil Lynott is kind of hilarious. There is an incredibly ugly bronze statue of him standing outside a pub on Harry Street in Dublin. In fact, there is an astonishing range of bad portraits of him. As it happens, on my Tumblr, http://mkdo.co, I declared January of 2012 Bad Phil Lynott Art Month, and posted a horrible picture of him daily.

There’s a haunting connection in two of my favorite songs, Dancing in the Moonlight and Got to Give It Up. In the former, he’s a teenager staying out too late to meet a girl; one lyric is, “My father, he’s going crazy–he says I’m living in a trance.” The latter is a cry for help from a barstool, explicitly about how low he’s been brought (a hideous irony is that he introduces the tune on Life/Live with a whoohoo-is-anybody-drunk-out-there-tonight monologue). The first line is, “Tell my mother, and tell my pa, that their fine young son didn’t get too far.” So harrowing that he writes about a father that he never really had.”

About our guest author, Mike Doughty: Mike is currently a solo artist but most will remember him as the leader of Soul Coughing, a band that Doughty formed in 1992 and was deserving of Steve Almond’s praise of “making the most interesting music on the planet” for a number of years back in the ’90s. The band uniquely blended infectious grooves, jazz arrangements and, of course, Mike’s signature lyrics. There were alternative hits (Soundtrack to Mary and Super Bon Bon), albums and praise, but the group disbanded in 2000. After Soul Coughing, Mike hit the road on his own and was approached by Dave Matthews to sign to his ATO label. Fast forward several years and albums later, we find Mike still doing what he does best: releasing ultra-catchy records that are packed with his sly observations and playing those songs for adoring fans. His latest release, Yes And Also Yes is one of his best, and standout tracks Na Na Nothing (video below) and Holiday (What Do You Want) deserve massive repeats on your Spotify playlists. (Incidentally, the latter is duet with Roseanne Cash, who has been very vocal about being a big M. Doughty fan, listen to the track here). Mike has also written his first memoir, The Book of Drugs: A Memoir and the critics are raving. Popmatters.com says, “The reason why The Book of Drugs works is because it’s absolutely unflinching … A highly entertaining read … All in all, The Book of Drugs is an outstanding book.” Mike is out on the road supporting the album and the book, so be sure to visit http://www.mikedoughty.com/ to get the latest on his appearances and new releases.

Liam McCormick of The Family Crest and The Tiny

Liam McCormick’s recommendation: “I love so many different kinds of music and so many different artists, that being asked to chose just one artist that moves me is an extremely hard task. Where does one start? I could talk about a number of well known artists like Miles Davis, Cursive, Claude Debussy, Kings of Convenience, Damien Rice, Feist, and so on, but I think it is more important to talk about an artist that is less known, that deserves recognition. So, my band of choice is a small group out of Stockholm called The Tiny.

One of my best friends is an amazing Swede named Lars, and because of our friendship I’ve had the privilege of being exposed to a ton of Swedish artists. Many of them are relatively unknown in the states. I first fell in love with The Tiny during a vacation in Ireland. We were driving through a dark, wooded area around the small western village of Innestoge when we decided to throw their debut album, Close Enough, on the stereo. As cliché as it sounds, as soon the first note was sung, time seemed irrelevant, like we were the only thing that mattered at that moment. Like we’d been plucked up out of our moving car and were being spoken to individually. We didn’t speak until about 15 minutes after the record finished, once we’d had time to process how the music mixed with the scenery had changed us.

Where do you begin with The Tiny? A small band of three, The Tiny carry a perfectly balanced sound. I guess I should start with their vocalist. There is something so hauntingly beautiful about Ellekari Larsson’s tone and delivery. If you’ve ever heard a Swede sing in English, the accent is amazing. It’s hard to place, sometimes sounding Irish in nature… but there is a clean, and trebly snap in the way they articulate words that make lyrics really hit you. Ellekari’s voice has a Billie Holiday-meets-Bjork tone quality, and she sings with such cautious passion that you can almost hear her heart breaking. Then, there are the equally amazing instrumentalists that help tell The Tiny’s stories. Ellekari plays piano and sometimes the pump organ, Leo Svensson plays the cello mainly, but has been also featured playing the glockenspiel and the saw, and finally, there is their double bassist, Johan Berthling. The record also features violin and viola on a few tracks.”

New to Tiny? Liam suggests you start here: “Due to their bass-heavy instrumentation, the music on Close Enough has an amazing tonal gap between the vocals and the instruments, which allows the listener to pick up every note that each player strikes. The album is recorded live, so there is a high level of musicianship exhibited by the band. Additionally, all of the clicks and breaths that are usually removed from the final product are left untouched, which makes the songs sound extremely vulnerable and organic. It is dramatic music like this – music that takes me to another place or time – that truly enables me to write the music that I write. Listen to The Tiny while driving at twilight and try not to skip any tracks. You won’t regret it.”

About our guest author, Liam McCormick: Liam is the lead singer for The Family Crest, a West Coast collective that takes a unique stab at making music. Liam started the group on 2007 with the idea of making music with virtually anyone, anywhere. Recording sessions take place in bars, churches, streets and other unconventional locations and session players include friends, fans, non-musicians…anyone who happens to be in the right place at the right time. The resulting lineup has swelled to over two hundred and fifty ‘Extended Family Members’ participating in recordings, live performances, and media projects. The songs are full sounding and expertly orchestrated, making best use of every stringed melody and back up holler. Bay Bridged recently said of the band, “…they take their earnest, anthemic cue from The Arcade Fire, but the presence of so many string and wind instruments and the talents of frontman Liam McCormick put them on a unique frequency.” The media has latched on to the group, helping fuel a series of sold out club shows and landing them a live performance on KEXP in Seattle. The buzz is sure to continue to build as the group is gearing up for SXSW and will release their new album, The Village in March. Be sure to check the The Crest Family website for pre-order info for that record, tour dates and more.

MP3: North by The Family Crest from The Village

Amy Ziff of BETTY and The Barry Sisters

Amy Ziff’s recommendation: “I’m inspired by so many artists, including Joni Mitchell, Marlene Dietrich, Judy Garland, Edith Piaf, Francoise Hardy, and some of today’s artists such as JD Samson, Jane Siberry, Tracy Bonham, Sia, to name just a few. One of my favorite groups is The Barry Sisters. I respond to their expression of truth and soul in songs and lyrics and phrasing. Just a simple note or breath or sigh sung by these artists, changes the way I feel about something in my life at any given time.”

New to The Barry Sisters? Amy suggests you start here: “My parents played At Home With The Barry Sisters for me and my siblings when I was growing up. Listening to them sing, made me want to pursue Life as a singer and performer. And here I am, in a band with my own sister and best friend for more than 20 years…still loving what we do together and how we make music and travel the world. Long live rock n roll.”

About our guest author, Amy Ziff: Amy is the lead vocalist for BETTY, the pop/funk band that formed in the ’80s in Washington, DC and later migrated to New York City. Some may know the band for their theatrical performances of BETTY:Inside Out and BETTY RULES (directed by Michael Greif (Rent). Others may know them from their appearances on The L Word (the show for which they also wrote the theme song for) or their performances at gay rights rallies and breast cancer benefits. But theater, fund raisers and television are only parts of the BETTY puzzle. They also have eight studio under their belt, the latest being Bright & Dark, a collection that is produced by David Maurice (Garbage) and features a vocal collaboration with Kate Pierson of the B52s. The album is consistently packed with whip smart stories (watch the Did You Tell Her clip below to get the feel) and shifts effortlessly in styles, from funked up grooves to grungy guitars. Be sure to cath their fantastic live shows by checking hellobetty.com for tour dates.

Shelby Earl and Jonsi

Shelby Earl’s recommendation: “There are a number of artists who move me or whose music makes me feel deeply, but there is one at the top of the heap – one who regularly takes me somewhere special with his music: Icelandic artist, Jonsi. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Jonsi live multiple times, both with his band, Sigur Ros and solo (I even got to see him play IN Iceland!) and every show has been extraordinary. I don’t know what Jonsi’s spiritual beliefs or practices are, but to me he seems undeniably tapped into the divine. He lays himself bare when he plays music and he takes his listeners to church every time. It’s as though he is dedicated to beauty above all else in his art. Through his ethereal voice and his songwriting – both seemingly full of immense heartache AND hope – and through instrumentation so beautiful it’s almost painful (strings, winds, keys, heavy rhythm, layered voices, etc), Jonsi’s music is utterly transcendent. And not only is he a brilliant artist, but I had the opportunity to hang out with him after a Seattle show in 2010 and found that he’s also an incredibly kind and genuine person. How rare and exciting to learn that an artist’s heart is as beautiful as the music they make. He is an inspiration on all levels.”

New to Jonsi? Shelby suggests you start here: “I would recommend every Sigur Ros album – especially Takk (2005) and Með suð í eyrum… (2008) – but above all I would recommend Jonsi’s debut solo album Go (2010).”

About our guest author, Shelby Earl: Shelby’s story is the sort of underdog tale that both inspires and restores faith for artist-wannabe office workers who think about trashing their steady gig and risking it all to pursue their dreams. Shelby spent her days at several arts related jobs in the Pacific Northwest, including stints at The Experience Music Project and as a music liaison at Amazon, but her true calling was song craft and performing. “To be totally honest, I was pretty unhappy those last couple years doing the 9-5,” Earl told Spinner, so she quit, threw herself into writing and caught the attention of two heavyweights on the indie music scene: John Roderick, lead singer of The Long Winters, who went on to produce Shelby’s collection of tunes, and Rachel Flotard, the can-do powerhouse behind Visqueen who also runs Local 638 Records. Her debut, Burn the Boats quickly gained support from Earl’s long time acquaintance, Ann Powers (NPR/LA Times) who passionately wrote “… I don’t want this record to get lost in the avalanche of releases that confronts every critic and music fan…Burn the Boats is an album beyond trends, a classic work of singer-songwriterly craft and beautifully framed confession.” Praise for Earl poured in from other outlets as NPR made At the Start the song of the day and Seattle Weekly dubbed the same track as “…an early frontrunner for best song put out by any artist in 2011.” To cap off this feel good story, Burn the Boats snagged the number one spot on her former employers’ (Amazon) “Outstanding 2011 Albums You Might Have Missed” list. Be sure to visit Shelby’s site for tour dates, to join her Facebook page and more.

MP3: Under Evergreen by Shelby Earl from Burn the Boats

Jason Young of Heartour and Nada Surf

Jason Young’s recommendation: “My pick is Nada Surf. Most people remember these guys for their gimmicky 90′s hit Popular, but the records they have made in the last ten years are the ones that resonate with me. The formula is simple: drums, bass, guitar with great melodies and clever lyrics. These guys write great songs that feel good and flow easily into your life. They have this vibe about them that seems to whisper ‘It can be a cold dark world outside but there’s a fire inside’.”

New to Nada Surf? Jason suggests you start here: The Nada Surf record that hooked me was Weight Is a Gift.

About our guest author, Jason Young: Jason is the full time drummer for The Ruse, but Heartour represents the place where Jason is boss and becomes a one man maestro that expertly blends calming vocals and driving electronic bleep/bloop filled soundscapes that bring to mind the best of New Order and Yeasayer. His latest album, Submarine Sounds is his strongest yet and we equally love the bouncy opener, Big City Drinking, the bolder sounding Yaaay!, which evokes a sunnier Nine Inch Nails and the gorgeous album closer, The Idea of You (mp3 below). This is an ‘up’ album, so grab your headphones and prepare to move. Check the Heartour web site for more info.

MP3: The Idea of You by Heartour from Submarine Sounds

Joe Grushecky and Eli "Paperboy" Reed

Joe Grushecky’s recommendation: “My favorite CD of the past couple of years is Horsefly by a journeyman singer/songwriter/guitarist named Pat McLaughlin. I saw Pat play at Douglas Corners in Nashville and was blown away by his band and songs. The CD has everything I look for: great playing, impeccable grooves, intelligent meaningful lyrics, and passionate soulful singing. I think it really speaks to an audience that has a few miles on them (like me!). I have listened to this album endlessly.

Also, I have recently discovered Eli “Paperboy” Reed and his Come And Get It CD. I grew up listening to a lot of soul music, both mainstream and obscure stuff. Eli has an authentic sound. It is timeless, modern, and retro all at the same time. I like the horns and really admire his singing. My son discovered it in my car CD player. “Hey Dad, listen to this!” Listen indeed.”

About our guest author, Joe Grushecky: Joe has been making straight forward, righteous rock records since 1979. His first record with the Iron City Houserockers caught the attention of Rolling Stone’s Greil Marcus as he wrote, “…their debut album is strong, passionate and a little desperate…I hope they’re around for a long, long time.” The praise continued into the early ’80s as Joe and the band released three more albums, including Have a Good Time But Get Out Alive which was slugged by Rolling Stone as “a new American classic.” Joe split with his first band and took a position as a special education teacher in Pittsburgh (where he still lives and teaches today), but the rocker was far from finished. He formed a new group, The Houserockers, put out three more three more gutsy, earnest records and in 1995, Joe released American Babylon, a collection produced by fellow working class hero, Bruce Springsteen, whom Joe had met through Steve Van Zandt. Bruce co-wrote two of the songs for the album and even toured with Joe and the band. That marked the first of several collaborations between Joe and Bruce (the most recent being a November, 2011 two-night stand in Pittsburgh, review here) including the pair co-writing Code of Silence which has become a staple in Bruce’s live show. Joe has a new live CD out called We’re Not Dead Yet and you can catch his full-throttle performances by checking his tour page.

* Related: Joe Talks Working With Springsteen – and Teaching High School in Rolling Stone

Alyssa Graham and Serge Gainsbourg

Alyssa Graham’s recommendation: “Two of the greatest influences on my music, my life and my worldview are Neil Young and Nick Drake. I have spent numerous hours and days listening, loving and disappearing to these two profound and magical artists. However, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about two of my more recent obsessions, namely Francoise Hardy and Serge Gainsbourg. Gainsbourg is one of the most interesting, creative and diverse artists I have ever explored. Gainsbourg has experimented in jazz, funk, pop and rock. He often explored morbid sexuality and suffering and recorded concept albums with themes like Lolita and Nazis. He is “limitless.” His music is always progressive and always deep and it challenges me to go deeper into my own music and expression. When talking about Serge Gainsbourg and how he influenced French pop music it is impossible not to point out the sensual, lush and dreamlike voice and music of Francoise Hardy whom Gainsbourg often worked with. Hardy’s beautiful and spare sound can always lull me into a deep peaceful meditation. The subtle arrangements and the whisper and hum of Francoise’ vocals allow me to imagine and create in a continuous world of beauty and euphoria. She is a constant source of inspiration for me and was a big influence on my current project, The Lock, Stock & Soul EP.”

New To Serge Gainsbourg and Francoise Hardy? Alyssa suggests you start here: “Gainsbourg’s 1971 concept album Histoire de Melody Nelson is a great place to start. Often referred to as his “Lolita-esque” pseudo-autobiographical album, Histoire De Melody Nelson is a combination of funky guitar styling, dark string arrangements and spoken word like vocals. A quintessential Gainsbourg creation. A new super deluxe version coming out this month. Also, 1971, Francoise Hardy’s LA Question is truly a masterpiece. Subtle and spare, seductive and romantic, La Question is brilliantly produced and offers everything you could ever want from this dreamy and stunning artist.”

About our guest author, Alyssa Graham: Praise has been following Alyssa Graham for some time now. She co-led a band called Blindman’s Holiday in college and the group was quickly recognized by Entertainment Magazine as one of the best college bands in the country. The hype helped the band get touring gigs with The Band, Lisa Loeb and The Wailers. Not a bad college education, huh? (Note that Alyssa did graduate while holding down the tour schedule.) Graham then enrolled at The New England Conservatory of Music and released her debut album, What Love Is, in 2005. The album was chosen by All About Jazz as one of the Best New Recordings of 2005 and set the stage for her 2008 release, Echo, a collection that was named one of the Top 10 Vocal Albums of the Year by iTunes. Graham is now back with her new EP, Lock, Stock and Soul which features contributions from Me’Shell Ndegéocello (bass) and David Garza (vocals) and is described by Team Graham as “…a full circle return to Graham’s longtime musical loves: Neil Young, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan.” We hear a bit of Carly Simon and Joni Mitchell in there as well and one can’t help to hear a echos of Norah Jones too, and for good reason. Graham was able to snag Grammy winning producer Craig Street for this record, who happened to produce Jones’ breakthrough Come Away With Me and Jesse Harris, who penned Norah’s smash, I Don’t Know Why wrote Watching the Sky (mp3 below). Alyssa has friends in high places and is utilizing them perfectly on this EP. The praise ain’t gonna slow down for this sort of talent folks, so be sure to check Alyssa on the road before the venues get bigger and the bandwagon gets too crowded.

MP3: Watching the Sky by Alyssa Graham from her EP, Lock, Stock and Soul

Suzanne Santo and Eddie South

Suzanne Santo’s recommendation: “One of my favorite musicians of all time is a jazz violinist from Louisiana named Eddie South. I only have one record called Eddie South: The Dark Angel of the Fiddle: The Complete Standard Transcriptions that I listen to over and over. It is an instrumentally driven compilation (sans vocals) of the most gorgeous violin playing I have ever heard. He gave the instrument a dark yet delicate voice that I have yet to hear anyone else recreate. His gifts as well as his struggles as an African American musician in the late 20′s and 30′s are a true inspiration to me.

The other artist/album I can never get enough of is Radiohead’s In Rainbows. That record takes me through a gauntlet of emotions that leave me either wanting to go for a run, get it on or quit music and become an assassin. I come from the “mixed tape/cd” era where I want to feel a little bit of everything when I listen to music.”

About our guest author, Suzanne Santo: Suzanne Santo was working as an actress and tinkering in music when Ben Jaffe, a musician who recorded music for TV and film, went to one of Santo’s solo gigs. From there, the duo formed the band honeyhoney and were quickly signed to Kiefer Sutherland’s Ironworks music label. (Kiefer went on to star in and directed their video for Little Toy Gun.) Given Santo’s killer looks and the band’s history with mass media, it may be easy to write the group off as simply a solid band that aspires to end up on sitcom soundtracks. But that’d be a huge mistake. The band’s latest record, Billy Jack is layered with banjos and acoustic guitars, evoking equal parts of Gram Parsons, Rickie Lee Jones and Buffalo Springfield. This is roots music with a modern twist, complete with tight arrangements and Santo’s heartfelt vocals. Amazingly, the band is able to walk the mainstream line (they opened for Christina Perri on her tour) and still keep their head in the Dust Bowl. Be sure to check out their rollicking live shows on these upcoming tour dates.

MP3: Turn That Finger Around by honeyhoney from their album, Billy Jack

Tim Easton and Gillian Welch

Tim Easton’s recommendation: “A long list here because it’s all the classics plus those that came before them. I could sum it up in the way the Rollings Stones interpreted “I Used To Love Her” and sold our American music back to us with new attitudes of freedom and complete liberation. I love the band that I see on any given night that is putting it out there, going for it in whatever style they know best. I love the emotional honesty of Lucinda Williams, and I stand in awe of the relaxed and precise delivery of Gillian Welch and David Rawlings. I love the Velvet Undergound, but who doesn’t? I saw a band called The Feelies when I was in college and I’m pretty sure they moved me to write songs too. My parents played classical records and I’m certain it moved me as a child as it does now. Then American classical music came along, otherwise known as Jazz, and you don’t stop.”

Tim Easton’s album suggestions: “Definitely Soul Journey by Gillian Welch. It seemed to be an album even she couldn’t get over for a while! Also, Lucinda William’s Car Wheels on a Gravel Road will inform any songwriter or artist on how to be honest and strong at the same time. With the Stones, it’s Beggars Banquet for me. I love the folk music in the middle of the rock and roll.”

About our guest author, Tim Easton: You don’t have to go further than Tim Easton’s 2006 release, Ammunition to learn about his extreme street cred in the alt-country/singer-songwriter community. The collection features production from Jayhawks’ co-lead Gary Louris and backing vocals from Lucinda Williams and Tift Merritt. Big time enough for ya? Yeah, we thought so. Fast forward five years and three Independent Music Awards later, we find Easton (who is originally from Akron, OH), releasing not one but TWO solid records: the electric, band backed Beat the Band and the acoustic collection, Since 1966 | Volume 1, both being released on Easton’s own Campfire Propaganda label. Easton puts on a fantastic show and tours often, so be sure to support this A-level indie and check his tour page.

MP3: Daily Life by Tim Easton from his album, Beat the Band

Keith Zarriello and Nina Simone

Keith Zarriello’s recommendation: “I am deeply moved by the music of Nina Simone. From the first time I heard her voice I was paralyzed. I will never hear another voice like hers for the rest of my life. She doesn’t get enough credit for being a true revolutionary. I think you could make an argument she was the first punk. She was so bad ass and yet so beautiful and vulnerable at the same time. Every cover she did became her own.”

New to Nina Simone’s music? Keith suggests you start here: “Nowhere is this more evident than on her live album, Nina Simone At Town Hall. It combines everything I love – the 1950′s (recorded in ’59), New York City and of course Nina herself.”

About our guest author, Keith Zarriello: Keith is the co-lead of The Shivers, the Queens based band that proves that all great indie music from New York doesn’t have to come out of Brooklyn. Classically trained church organist Jo Schornikow joined Zariello six years ago and since then the band has won praise from Pitchfork and The Guardian (UK) and has earned tour spots with big names like M. Ward and Deer Tick. With four solid records under their belt, The Shivers recently travelled to the UK to record their personal best collection, More in, get this, AN ALL ANALOG STUDIO (sorry, Pro Tools). Producer Adam Lasus (Yo La Tengo, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Helium) helped create an ultra-warm album that showcases both up-tempo hum-alongs (Used To Be) and brooding ballads (More, below). So go ahead and one-up your Brooklyn buddies. Support Queens, support The Shivers and check the dates for their live shows here.

MP3: Used To Be by The Shivers

The Shivers – More [Official Music Video]

Matthieu Santos and Robert Palmer

Mathieu Santos’ recommendation: “Robert Palmer is someone who’s always interested and moved me. When I was a kid, my dad was a huge fan of his and always had a bunch of his tapes in the car, so we spent many hours listening to him together. But aside from that aspect of nostalgia, I’ve come to really appreciate his music for its sense of curiosity, experimentation, honesty, and the scope of its stylistic range.”

New to Robert Palmer’s music? Mathieu suggests you start here: “Because his catalogue is so diverse, I think a good place to begin would be Addictions Volume 1, which was a compilation of his music that he curated. Of course, it contains the big arena-rock hits, but there’s a great selection of some deeper cuts as well, and it’s interesting to hear them all side-by-side. As far as individual albums go, I’d have to recommend Clues, which is mostly characterized by his growing interest in synths and sparse arrangements. Great stuff!”

About our guest author, Mathieu Santos: Many will know Mathieu from his role as bass player and founding member of Ra Ra Riot, a chamber pop group from Syracuse, NY that scored tons of positive critic reviews and opening slots for big bands like Death Cab For Cutie. Santos emerged from the recording sessions of Ra Ra’s second album energized and was able to bang out ten catchy (and just shy of experimental) songs for his own for his solo record, Massachusetts 2010. Per this Spin article, Mathieu was inspired by other artists that broke off from their bands and put out solid solo efforts, namely Paul McCartney and Stewart Copeland of The Police. The result is an upbeat, quirky collection that often puts Santos’ ehcho-y vocals and jumping bass lines in front. The album is unique to the core and is sonically bright. Mathieu is currently on tour with Ra Ra Riot and tour dates can be found here.

MP3: I Can Hear the Trains by Mathieu Santos

Matthew Sweet and Big Star

Matthew Sweet’s recommendation: “A band I really continue to dig is Big Star. I would suggest their Radio City album as a start, but also the off-the-rails followup, Third (also called Sister Lovers). #1 Record is also a classic, and features tremendous stuff by band mate Chris Bell. Alex Chilton had a commanding slant in the delivery of his various personal sides, and was as unafraid of extreme musical intimacy as he was delivering a raging rant. In this regard, Alex, to me, was like a John Lennon, someone who put all his feelings into song and had a great courage in his reaching. Beyond all this, crazy great guitars and drums are to be had throughout Big Star’s work. I highly recommend checking them out!”

Related: Paul Westerberg, Craig Finn and others on the passing of Alex Chilton

About our guest author, Matthew Sweet: You simply cannot talk about ’90s alternative music without recognizing the impact of Matthew Sweet. Literally there from the beginning, he worked with Michael Stipe pre-R.E.M., was in a band with Stipe’s sister in the ’80s and then went on to put out THE definitive power pop album (a claim that is backed up by this AV Club article with more accolades at the bottom of this post), Girlfriend, in 1991. From there came excellent guitar driven follow-ups, but Sweet also collaborated on the harmony drenched Thorns record (with Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins) and teamed up with Susanna Hoffs to record a pair of excellent cover records. In conjunction with the twentieth anniversary of Girlfriend, Sweet is back with a new collection titled Modern Art, an album that oozes with Beatles, Byrds, Beach Boys and Big Star flavors. Matthew is on tour now, supporting his new record and playing past favorites.

MP3: She Walks the Night by Matthew Sweet

More Praise for Girlfriend:
* Included in Rolling Stone’s Essential Recordings of the 90′s
* Included in Q’s list of the 50 Best Albums Of 1992

Ariel Aparicio and The Psychedelic Furs

Ariel Aparicio’s recommendation: “Richard Butler, or as I called him back in college “God,” has a voice like no other. Leader of the quintessential pop/punk/goth band of the ’80s, The Psychedelic Furs, Butler’s rasp and poetry has left an indelible mark on Rock & Roll. The Furs have a sound all their own – dark yet sexy, driving yet melodic, hypnotic yet invigorating. But the voice is the stand out instrument. No one sings like Butler. Plus, no one is as mesmerizing in performance. I had the honor of playing with The Furs’ current drummer, Paul Garristo, who’s been with them since the mid-’80s. He’s shared quite a few choice stories with me. When I covered their classic Pretty in Pink a few years ago, Richard himself ( I mean “God”) managed to hear it and approved. “I loved it,” he said. Needless to say, I melted. ”

New to The Psychedelic Furs? Ariel suggests you start here: “The Psychedelic Furs second record, Talk Talk Talk continues to blow me away 30 years later. Brilliant songwriting and an exquisite delivery. It has the rawness and full-frontal assault of any punk record, but with melodies that could be sung by Sinatra. When you listen to Richard sing, you hear others in his style but at the same time, it’s totally unique. That falsetto melts your heart. This band and this record will rip out your heart and then gently put it right back in.”

About our guest author, Ariel Aparicio: Ariel has been building a cult following in New York City for years. This eclectic Latino/rock & roller who is proud to proclaim equal love for punk, Gang of Four and Madonna has five albums under his belt and his most recent release, Aerials can be best summed up by the songwriter’s description of “…a dance record, but with all guitars.” Our personal favorite track is Sorry which features Lisa Germano (who you may remember as John Mellencamp’s fiddle player but you should, as other music nerds will, remember her for her outstanding solo records). Viewers of Logo TV will know Aparicio from his hotly requested videos, Pretty In Pink (clip below) and his version of Jim Carroll’s classic People Who Died. Be sure to check Ariel’s tour page for upcoming appearances and visit his official site to sign up for his Twitter feed and more.

Lydia Loveless and The Fever (Lydia Loveless photo: Paula Masters Travis)

Lydia Loveless’ recommendation: “As a 13-year-old growing up in the butt crack of nowhere, I really had never heard anything like The Fever before the day I heard them blasting out of my older sister’s bedroom. It sounded like John Lennon mining for diamonds with the seven dwarfs as his backing band. Geremy Jasper’s voice and lyrics were a big turn-on for me. The first time I saw them live was when I realized that the bands I idolized weren’t necessarily other worldly rock stars. I’d recommend starting with their album Red Bedroom. That’s where I started, and it’s worth it for the song Put it On You alone.”

More about The Fever

MP3: Gray Ghost by The Fever

About our guest author, Lydia Loveless: We first heard about Lydia Loveless when her album, The Only Man made a Donewaiting.com top albums of the year list. That album won her an 8 out of 10 rating from Spin as well as praise from The Chicago Tribune and Uncut magazine. Our interest in Lydia then moved closer toward mild obsession when she got signed by Bloodshot Records, the label that put out recordings by alt-country heroes Whiskeytown, The Old 97s, Alejandro Escovedo and Neko Case. Her latest effort, Indestructible Machine (CD Pre-order | Amazon MP3s) is a fantastic follow-up (Spin has already weighed in with another 8 out of 10 glowing review), full of the signature cowpunk that delighted on the debut. There’s plenty of straight talk, humor and a bunch of ‘explicit’ labels to boot. This twenty-one year old firecracker is on tour now. See her live, grab a brew and get ready to stomp your feet off.

MP3: Can’t Change Me by Lydia Loveless

Ben Nichols of Lucero and Joey Kneiser

Ben Nichols’ recommendation: “I went through my whole itunes library looking for what moved me the most. It was a tough choice. Some things I skipped over because they were too well known or too obvious, others because as much as I love them I don’t listen to them often enough to feel right writing about them. Made a list and narrowed it down to about 15 artists and bands that really hit me where it counts, from the Constantines to The Faces to The Night Marchers to Warren Zevon. But the record that has honestly been the most moving to me and the most listened to in recent times is All Night Bedroom Revival (available for free download) by a guy named Joey Kneiser. Joey Kneiser is best known as the lead singer for Tennesee-based band Glossary. This is a solo record however and I believe Joey plays everything on it. It’s mainly acoustic guitar with a few overdubs but never sounds like it’s missing anything. People discuss “brilliant songwriting” all the time and usually that just isn’t the proper description of whatever they are talking about… but that is exactly what these songs are. Bruised Ribs, The Big Ocean, and Funeral Flowers are three of the most moving on the record. Joey takes the best elements of Rock & Roll songwriting and combines them with the more thoughtful and emotional singer/songwriter style of doing things and comes up with exactly the right mix. Not too simple and not too complicated. Brilliant songwriting.”

MP3: Bruised Ribs by Joey Kneiser

MP3: The Big Ocean by Joey Kneiser

More about Joey Kneiser and Glossary

About our guest author, Ben Nichols: Ben Nichols fronts Lucero, an alt-country band that was formed in Memphis in the late ’90s. The band has been a critics favorite and has a backstory that can only be described as Wilcoesque. Their early albums have won the praises of critics and they have a steady following, but success was limited by the flailing music business. They’ve put out killer albums only to have their labels fold but they’ve persevered by starting their own label and putting on killer live shows. Ben also put out a solo record, The Last Pale Light in the West which was inspired by Cormac McCarthy’s novel, Blood Meridian. Be sure to check Lucero webstite to check the Lucero live dates and listen to album audio streams.

Don Miggs and U2

Don Miggs’ recommendation: “All time, it would be U2. What they consistently do amazes me. It’s never ‘by the numbers’ for them on album or live. They truly lead the way on how to mature gracefully in a rock band. My favorite new act is the Gaslight Anthem. Combining the heart of Springsteen and the guts of The Clash. It just works.”

New to U2 or Gaslight Anthem? Don suggests you start here: “Achtung Baby by U2 is just the perfect blend of a band mixing new sounds with familiar themes. And the songs just kill.

59 Sound isn’t the best Gaslight Anthem album, but it is where you GET the band and hear the promise and potential of a great American act. The album feels nostalgic and achieves a rare feat. It makes you smile and ache simultaneously.”

About our guest author, Don Miggs: Don Miggs fronts, yes, you guessed it, Miggs, a band that may be the hardest working group on the tour circuit. The band plays straight forward pop rock that is drenched in bright guitars and big hook choruses. They average 150 shows a year, landed opening spots with Duran Duran, Maroon 5 and Train and rocked as hard as one possibly can on Good Morning America. The band enlisted multi-platinum producer/engineer Ken Lewis (Fall Out Boy, Kanye West) to bring a bigger sound to their latest album, Wide Awake. Things continue to go right for these guys as they snagged Lindsay Lohan to star in their Banksy-inspired video for Let the Games Begin. Check the Miggs tour page to see when you can catcht them live.

MP3: Let the Games Begin

Serge Bielanko and Badly Drawn Boy

Serge Bielanko’s recommendation: “I’d say that Badly Drawn Boy and his record The Hour of Bewilderbeast move me more these days than much of anything else. I really can’t put my finger on it exactly, which is how it usually goes with the best stuff. It’s a combination of things, I think. The songs are beautiful and eloquent without even trying. And the music is this hodgepodge flea market of folk and pop, with magnificent clever beats and melodies. I can’t say enough about it really. There are a lot of songs on the record, something like 17 or 18, and that usually is a bad sign. Not here though. There isn’t any filler at all. None. Everything sort of flows together, songs ooze into other songs. I think it there might be magic spells hidden back behind the chords. Whenever I put it on, usually in the car, I see deer and rabbits and shit. Wild things come out of the forest. That doesn’t happen with most records, you know. I never had it happen when I played any other albums, so I quit listening to most of them.

I have never really admitted this to myself before, but I’m gonna do it here. Why not. I love this record maybe more than any record I have ever listened to. No lie. I find the whole damn thing inspiring and hopeful and pumped full of some kind of love that isn’t easy or free, but is worth it in the end. It isn’t a record to share with your friends while you sit around the kitchen table drinking beers and bullshitting. It’s more like a hundred dollar bill. You keep that shit in your wallet, it makes you happy/gives you a little peace of mind in a mad world. You don’t go flashing it around.

Does that make sense?

No?

Ok. Try this.

Badly Drawn Boy’s Hour of the Bewilderbeast is basically the soundtrack to meeting an old elf in a country pub and getting drunk with him out in the beer-garden, in the warm and pouring rain.”

About our guest author, Serge Bielanko: The last we heard from Serge musically was in 2008 where he belted out stirring vocals (check Wilderness below) on Marah’s masterwork, Angels of Destruction!. He then moved out to Utah, became a Dad and showed us another side of his greatness through the incredibly well written dad-blog, Thunder Pie. (We here at Rocktorch.com also return to Serge’s great tribute to Bruce Springsteen’s right hand man, Terry Magovern (scroll down for Serge’s piece) every so often, just to remind ourselves that dreams really do freakin’ come true!). But now, Serge is back in the band, joining brother Dave and Christine Smith to set the music world straight and, to put it plainly, we can’t fuckin’ wait. Spy the rehearsal video below and catch one of the US shows in VA and PA before they go off and conquer Spain. Serge, welcome back!

MP3: Wilderness

Related links:

* Marah’s official site
* Dave Bielanko of Marah recommends Dexter Romweber
* Christine Smith of Marah recommends Waylon Jennings