SONOS Presents

Song: I’ll Carry You

Artist: Left, Canada

Album: Cellophane EP, 2011

Notes: Completely overlooked, bang-on midtempo melodic rock belter by unheralded Canadian quintet of brothers and cousins who all grew up in Langley, BC. Why aren't they signed? New album called 'Cycles' due soon. More at www.theleft.ca.


Modest Mouse - The World At Large

Song: The World At Large

Artist: Modest Mouse, Portland, OR

Album: Good News for People Who Love Bad News, 2004

Notes: A deliciously quirky number from the always inventive and wacky band from the North West. They're currently working on their seventh long-player - nothing from them since 2007.


Song: Let’s Stop Calling It Love

Artist: MoZella, Detroit

Album: Belle Isle (deluxe edition), 2010

Notes: A percolating shot of pop/soul pacey realism from Maureen McDonald aka MoZella who's incapable of recording boring music in virtually any style. An extraordinary, still undiscovered talent and L&F favorite.


Rayland Baxter - Hoot Owl

Song: Hoot Owl

Artist: Rayland Baxter, Nashville

Album: Not available, 2011

Notes: The fourth track already spun on L&F from his upcoming album which is ace. Born in rural TN, now based in Nashville, describes his music as 'Tropical Folk'. Top new tunesmith, more at www.raylandbaxter.com.


Jackson Browne - Fountain of Sorrow

Song: Fountain of Sorrow

Artist: Jackson Browne, Germany

Album: Late For The Sky, 1974

Notes: An old fan classic, never it (and him) never gets old. Described at the time of release in the '70s by Rolling Stone magazine as 'a masterpiece'.


Kate York - Kicking Stone

Song: Kicking Stone

Artist: Kate York, Nashville

Album: Fly Away, 2011

Notes: What a ballad - and such a pure unaffected vocal style, Kate's like a Brita Water filter when she sings. Yet another sterling non-country performer who makes her home in Nashville, helping to make Music City less linear.


Coldplay - Us Against The World

Song: Us Against The World

Artist: Coldplay, England

Album: Mylo Xyloto, 2011

Notes: Chris Martin and chums on top cliched form with yet another bed-sitter winner from their recent album. It's not in their DNA to abandon melody or perfectly execute their appealing brand of hook-filled pop-rock. A+ production.


Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Song: Helplessness Blues

Artist: Fleet Foxes, Seattle

Album: Helplessness Blues, 2011

Notes: Terrific rhythm changes in this lost nugget tucked away on their last album (though popular in Belgium!) Five-piece led by frontman and top harmonist, Robin Pecknold and signed to ever-hip Sub Pop label.


Nick Heyward - Kite

Song: Kite

Artist: Nick Heyward, England

Album: From Sunday To Monday, 1993

Notes: Garnered a few modern rock spins back in the early '90s, a fine lost gem from melody-imbued former leader of British popsters, Haircut 100.


Rosi Golan - Come Around

Song: Come Around

Artist: Rosi Golan, Brooklyn, NY

Album: The Drifter & The Gypsy, 2008

Notes: New York based, American-Israeli songstress who only picked up guitar and set her sights on a career in music at the age of 19. More at rosigolan.com.


Tom Waits - Pay Me

Song: Pay Me

Artist: Tom Waits, Pomona, CA

Album: Bad As Me, 2011

Notes: The 62-year old master, back with yet another sterling collection of oddball chestnuts. Stephen Deusner of American Songwriter' (great mag) writes: 'Even as he enters his 60s Waits still sounds as lively and as cagey as ever - indulging both his most brazen and his most sentimental urges to upend all our expectations'.


I'm From Barcelona - Always Spring

Song: Always Spring

Artist: I'm From Barcelona, Sweden

Album: Forever Today, 2011

Notes: A fresh, optimistic song about ambition by the oddly named Swedish troupe, I'm From Barcelona - which is one of the largest rock bands in the world - comprising 29 members all led by their principal frontman and singer, Emanuel Lundgren.


Bill Nelson - Do You Dream In Colour

Song: Do You Dream In Colour?

Artist: Bill Nelson, England

Album: Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam, 1981

Notes: An oddball progressive collage of sound from British art rocker, Nelson - formerly of the British new wave combo, Be Bop Deluxe. Bill's recorded more than 100 albums since 1971, also a renowned guitarist, and a clever producer - he used to helm albums for Gary Numan.


Ross Copperman - Some Kind of Wonderful

Song: Some Kind of Wonderful

Artist: Ross Copperman, Nashville

Album: Not available

Notes: Top tunesmith, but this time on a cover version, written by the legendary songwriting partnership of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Originally a big hit for the Drifters in the early '60s.


Drifters - Like Sister and Brother

Song: Like Sister and Brother

Artist: Drifters, New York

Album: The Drifters Now, 1973

Notes: Sensational, simple, soulful - the sitar and horns-fused R&B pop stirrer from the early '70s by the longest-lasting group of any kind in the popular music era - they started in 1953 and still perform today.


Nina Gordon - The Time Comes

Song: The Time Comes

Artist: Nina Gordon, Chicago

Album: Bleeding Heart Graffiti, 2006

Notes: A beautiful secret song from the former lead singer of alternative rockers, Veruca Salt (she left in 1998). Nina is married to Jeff Russo, guitarist with Tonic.


Peter Bradley Adams - The Longer I Run

Song: The Longer I Run

Artist: Peter Bradley Adams, Birmingham, AL

Album: Leavetaking, 2008

Notes: The unheralded prince of top-drawer folk-singer-songwriting who can't make bad music. You could be blindfolded and throw a dart at a list of all his songs - no matter which one you hit, it'll be a cracker.


Railway Children - Every Beat of My Heart

Song: Every Beat of My Heart

Artist: Railway Children, England

Album: Gentle Sound, 1990

Notes: Originally signed to indie rock impresario, Tony Wilson's seminal Factory Records label which also spawned Joy Division and New Order, a college rock nugget recorded just before they split in 1991.


Sarah McLachlan - I Love You

Song: I Love You

Artist: Sarah McLachlan, Canada

Album: Surfacing, 1997

Notes: Too pure, too melodic, too perfect - just too good. At her balladic best the effortless beauty of a single which completely flew under the radar. Even better than 'Angel'.


Robbie Williams - Burslem Normals

Song: Burslem Normals

Artist: Robbie Williams, England

Album: Rude Box, 2006

Notes: Cheeky chappy, Williams, the hugely popular English performer who's never made it over here. Curious song was titled after a bit of graffiti Robbie saw in his home town of Burslem (in the north of England) where his parents used to run a pub. Includes a reference to 'chavs' (look up 'chav').


Orange Juice - Rip It Up

Song: Rip It Up

Artist: Orange Juice, Scotland

Album: Rip It Up, 1982

Notes: Before he embarked on a successful solo career, Scottish rocker Edwyn Collins served a post-punk apprenticeship in this band which squeezed out this delightful new wave bubbler.


Van Morrison - Someone Like You

Song: Someone Like You

Artist: Van Morrison, N. Ireland

Album: Poetic Champions Compose, 1987

Notes: An exquisite, immortal ballad (maybe his best) about a man lost in mid-life who's finally found the woman of his dreams. Now (sadly) overused at weddings etc.


Hannah Georgas - Chit Chat

Song: Chit Chat

Artist: Hannah Georgas, Canada

Album: This Is Good, 2010

Notes: A rather perky and engaging bubbler which should be picked up for a cell-phone tv commercial. Hannah was nominated for Best New Artist at last year's Juno Music awards north of the border. She'll be touring around the US with the wonderful Kathleen Edwards early next year.


John Mayer - Hummingbird (live)

Song: Hummingbird (live)

Artist: John Mayer, Bridgeport, CT

Album: As/Is, 2004

Notes: Little heard but A+ live number which Mayer has yet to record for a studio album. Wishing John - and indeed Adele - successful recovery from their recent throat operations.


Meredith Bragg - Next Time

Song: Next Time

Artist: Meredith Bragg, Virginia

Album: Nest, 2011

Notes: Excellent low-fi Chamber pop from undiscovered indie singer-songwriter who performs with his cellist wife, Elizabeth. They went down very well at this year's SXSW music festival.


Yvonne Fair - It Should've Been Me

Song: It Should’ve Been Me

Artist: Yvonne Fair, Richmond, VA

Album: The Bitch Is Black, 1975

Notes: The most bitter and twisted wedding song ever, an R&B corker by the late Fair (who died in 1994 at 51) who was formerly a singer in James Brown's backing band. Big influence on Adele.


John Cale - Hallelujah

Song: Hallelujah

Artist: John Cale, Wales

Album: I'm Your Fan: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, 1991

Notes: The definitive version of Leonard Cohen's classic composition - which has been otherwise completely over-recorded and ruined by muppet, Simon Cowell, by an array of his below-par 'X Factor' contestants and machine-fed artists including Susan Boyle and the dreadful Il Divo.


Sky Sailing - I Live Alone

Song: I Live Alone

Artist: Sky Sailing, Owatonna, MN

Album: An Airplane Carried Me To Bed, 2010

Notes: Simple, melodic, easy-flowing nugget from Adam Young, better known as the chap behind Owl City. One of a number of recordings made under his previous project name, Sky Sailing. Lovely melodic album.


Cat Stevens - Oh Very Young

Song: Oh Very Young

Artist: Cat Stevens, England

Album: Buddha & The Chocolate Box, 1974

Notes: A popular hart song in the US, though never charted in his native UK. Born Steven Demetre Georgiou, performed as Cat Stevens before switching again to his preferred Yusef Islam moniker.


Bette Midler - Hello In There

Song: Hello In There

Artist: Bette Midler, Hawaii

Album: The Divine Miss M, 1972

Notes: Too sad for words, the divine Miss M's take on an outstanding John Prine composition tucked away on her maiden album (which was co-produced by? - Barry Manilow (sorry).


Roz Bell - Sunshine On My Mind

Song: Sunshine On My Mind

Artist: Roz Bell, Canada

Album: No available

Notes: Breezy and delightful outing from Kevin Rosaire Bellemare, aka Roz Bell who's based in Toronto. More at myspace.com/rozbell.


Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad

Song: Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?

Artist: Moby, Harlem, NY

Album: Play, 1999

Notes: No other album in rock history has yielded so many songs subsequently used on film soundtracks and in tv commercials around the world than Moby's 'Play' - and yet not one of them made the Billboard Hot 100. Heavenly vocal contributions from the Shining Light Gospel Choir.


Don Williams - Good Fire Goin'

Song: Good Fire Goin’

Artist: Don Williams, Floydada, TX

Album: New Moves, 1996

Notes: Too good for prime time, an absolute pearl, simple country ballad written by Dave Loggins ('Please Come Home To Boston)., perfectly executed by the veteran gentle giant of Country music.


Curly Giraffe - The Flying Dutchman

Song: The Flying Dutchman

Artist: Curly Giraffe, Japan

Album: New Order, 2009

Notes: Surprisingly west-coast sounding melodic folk-pop from Japanese tunesmith, Kiyoshi Takakuwa who goes by the performing name, Curly Giraffe. Worthwhile, mellow, calm catalog recorded over the past ten years.


Ocean Blue - Between Something and Nothing

Song: Between Something and Nothing

Artist: Ocean Blue, Hershey, PA

Album: The Ocean Blue, 1989

Notes: Solid slice of old school modern rock, very British indie-pop/rock sound despite being an American band. At the dawn of their career they were signed to Sire Record by legendary label owner, Seymour Stein.


Ed Harcourt - This One's For You

Song: This One’s For You

Artist: Ed Harcourt, England

Album: Strangers, 2004

Notes: Lovely horn work on an easy-flowing love gem from a horribly underrated artist from Wimbledon in London. Formerly in a band called Snug - began his solo career ten years ago which has yielded six good albums.


Gillian Welch - The Way It Goes

Song: The Way It Goes

Artist: Gillian Welch, Nashville

Album: The Harrow & The Harvest, 2011

Notes: Organic, authentic, blues-tinged Americana by the wonderful Welch and her longtime collaborator, guitarist Dave Rawlings from her strong recent album.


Graffiti 6 - Annie You Save Me

Song: Annie You Save Me

Artist: Graffiti 6, England

Album: Colours, 2010

Notes: Superb track released as a single earlier this year but largely ignored. Promising UK duo of Tommy D and Jamie Scott who have previously worked behind the scenes with the likes of Jay Z, KT Tunstall and Alicia Keys.


Nikka Costa - Push and Pull

Song: Push and Pull

Artist: Nikka Costa, Los Angeles

Album: Everybody Got Their Something, 2001

Notes: Sterling, sultry groove from under-appreciated artiste who blends brawny soul, blues, funk and folk, a lovely stew. Daughter of Frank Sinatra's longtime musical arranger, Don Costa.


Lucy Kaplansky-Roxy Music - More Than This

Song: More Than This

Artist: Lucy Kaplansky/Roxy Music, Chicago/UK

Album: Over The Hills, 2007

Notes: Stunning, quiet, unrecognizable folkish treatment of the Roxy Music classic by Ph.D songstress impossibly segued into the delicious original.


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