Wreck of the Day by Anna Nalick. The most promising female singer songwriter to come along in some time. My understanding is that the A & R person who championed this wonderful artist and album is now out of a job, and people wonder why the music business is dying. It’s not illegal downloads, it’s lack of quality worth paying for.

Tiger Woods by Dan Bern. If you’ve got kids, it might be better to ask them to leave the room before giving this one a listen. Addresses the consequences of peaking early in one’s life and then feeling that everything that follows is a letdown. Uses a unique incident to illustrate the point. Bern is a cynic who will simply not let anyone or anything beat the hope out of him.

Choices by Bettye Lavette. Don’t bother trying to write or perform a song about regret unless you’re willing to have it dwarfed by this stunning and stark piece of material.

Hate (I Really Don’t Like You) by Plain White T’s. Sophomoric, yes. Vengeful, yes. Fun to listen to, hell yeah.