Song: Fall

Artist: Cider Sky, Los Angeles

Album: Fall (single), 2012

Notes: Simply superb, why wasn't radio at large all over this catchy Modern Rock bubbler released in the spring? Act is an electro-acoustic duo based in Los Angeles fronted by a female singer from Hamilton, Canada- who has a boy's name: Simon Wilcox.

Song: The Hardest Part

Artist: Coldplay, England

Album: X&Y, 2005

Notes: Driving guitar work and piano rolls on this underrated nugget too good. Song was written as a tribute to Michael Stipe and R.E.M. Check out the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tp0r9197uo.

Song: Better Weather

Artist: Good Old War, Philadelphia

Album: Come Back As Rain, 2012

Notes: Delightful country/folk/pop from a tight trio from Philly who name themselves from taking abbreviated words in each of their surnames. More at www.goodoldwar.com.

Song: Taking You Home

Artist: Don Henley, Gilmer, TX

Album: Inside Job, 2000

Notes: A seamlessly constructed, highly romantic A+ ballad by a musical perfectionist. Never even made the top 50 on Billboard Hot 100.

Song: Gimme Twice

Artist: Royal Concept, Sweden

Album: The Royal Concept EP, 2012

Notes: Brand new alt-rock corker, with heavy shades of the Phoenix hit, '1901' - though the band is from Sweden. They only settled on their band name in the spring - switching from the Concept Store.

Song: Devil’s Ball

Artist: Double, Switzerland

Album: Double, 1987

Notes: Steeped in an '80s synth-pop style, a lost gem by Swiss male vocal/instrumental duo Kurt Maloo Meier and Felix Hug who were based out of Zurich. Big hit with 'The Captain of Her Heart'. Haug passed away in 2004.

Song: Here Tonight

Artist: Jon Allen, England

Album: Sweet Defeat, 2011

Notes: A beautiful McCartney-esque performance by an English Folk singer-songwriter blessed with such a pure vocal style. Jon is a graduate of the Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts - founded by Macca. More at www.jonallensongs.co.uk.

Song: Touch Back Down

Artist: Catherine Feeny, Portland, OR

Album: Hurricane Glass, 2006

Notes: Bloody brilliant - why wasn't this a smash? A top-drawer ballad by under-appreciated songstress. Catherine was signed to EMI for a while, but was subsequently dropped - obviously too talented. She's opened for the likes of Suzanne Vega, Dr. John and Martha Wainright.

Song: 5 Mile (These Are The Days)

Artist: Turin Brakes, England

Album: Ether Song, 2003

Notes: The duo of Gale Paridjanian and Olly Knight from London, pioneers of the splendid New Acoustic Movement genre which emerged in Britain in the late '90s. Six extremely worthwhile long-players by them over the past decade: Dave Grohl, who is constantly fighting foo, is also a big fan.

Song: Pride

Artist: Amy MacDonald, Scotland

Album: Life In A Beautiful Light, 2012

Notes: One of several fine Celtic rumblers on her third album. A self-taught songstress who was inspired to take up music after seeing fellow Scottish band, Travis in concert. Recently played five shows around Scotland over a 24-hour period: some fun footage of that achievement on her website www.amymacdonald.co.uk.

Song: Open Road

Artist: Matthew Mayfield, Birmingham, AL

Album: Five Chances Remain Hers EP, 2009

Notes: Superb atmospheric soundscapes graced by his distinctive gritty, soulful vocal. Look out for an autumn tour by Mayfield - well worth a gander in concert - dates at www.matthewmayfield.com.

Song: All My Days

Artist: Alexi Murdoch, England

Album: Time Without Consequence, 2006

Notes: Nifty acoustic guitar work and erudite composition, an evocative, organic gems which has been used a few times on screen including the always musically reliable 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Scrubs'.

Song: Uncertain Smile

Artist: The The, England

Album: Soul Mining, 1983

Notes: Ex-Squeeze keyboardist and BBC TV presenter, Jools Holland on the ivories backing up Matt Johnson who performed under the name The The on an excellent lost corker.

Song: Sun Drips

Artist: Letting Up Despite Great Faults, Austin, TX

Album: Letting Up Despite Great Faults, 2009

Notes: Dreamy shoe-gazing folk rock from curiously named band. The Austin-based quartet is firmly led by their main songwriter, Mike Lee, who also produces all their repertoire. Mercifully their website is abbreviated to www.lettingup.com.

Song: Never Let Her Slip Away

Artist: Andrew Gold, Burbank, CA

Album: All This and Heaven Too, 1978

Notes: This week's guilty pleasure, a delightful, deeply harmonious pop nugget which only managed a low chart placing back in 1978, never made the top 50. Gold was one of the West Coast's most successful pop/rock tunesmiths during the late '70s with hits like 'Thank You For Being A Friend' and 'Lonely Boy'. Andrew passed away too soon at the age of 59 in 2011.

Song: Sleeping With A Stranger

Artist: Matthew Perryman Jones, Nashville

Album: Land of the Living, 2012

Notes: Another dreamy pearl extracted from his subtle, plaintive new album which was largely funded by his devoted fan base. Matthew polished off some fab US dates with L&F preferred vendor, Katie Herzig in the spring and has some upcoming gigs around the country in September. More at www.mpjmusic.com.

Song: Largo

Artist: Grimethorpe Colliery Brass Band, England

Album: Classic Brass, 1989

Notes: A blissfully melodic 90-second instrumental break by musically inclined coal mining brass band from Yorkshire in the north of England. Featured in a British tv commercial for Hovis Bread in 1973 - which was an immaculately fashioned spot directed by the great Ridley Scott.

Song: Heart’s Content

Artist: Brandi Carlile, Ravensdale, WA

Album: Bear Creek, 2012

Notes: A sweet chorus, a simple ditty from her excellent recent album which is her most organic and roosty outing to date and on which she's wisely restrained her otherwise phenomenal and powerful vocal style (if only someone had advised Michael Bolton to do the same in his hey-day).

Song: The Starting Line

Artist: Keane, England

Album: Strangeland

Notes: Back in their comfort zone another melodic melter from their fourth CD. The album was partly recorded at the legendary RAK Studios in London which has been the creative base for a whole host of top UK talent since opening in 1976 including McCartney, Radiohead and Adele.

Song: New York For Life

Artist: Jovanotti, Italy

Album: Italia 1988-2012, 2012

Notes: Quirky, short diatribe about longing for the great cosmopolitan stew that is New York city while stuck in LA by a middle-aged Italian singer-songwriter and sometime rapper, a musical legend in his home country.

Song: When It Comes

Artist: Tyler Hilton, Palm Springs, CA

Album: The Tracks of Tyler Hilton, 2004

Notes: Every track on this album is a winner. One of L&F's favorite singer-songwriters of the past 10 years. More at www.tylerhilton.com.

Song: Mexico

Artist: Staves, England

Album: Mexico EP, 2011

Notes: Sweet harmonious honey on a largely overlooked cut by indie-folk trio of sisters, Emily, Jessica and Camilla Stavely-Taylor. They've opened for the likes of the Civil Wars and Bon Iver.

Song: Carry On (acoustic version)

Artist: Fun, New York

Album: Not available, 2012

Notes: A rare acoustic version of a rousing anthem from their recent breakthrough album. Indie pop trio from the Big Apple fronted by the energetic Nate Ruess.

Song: Emotion in Motion

Artist: Ric Ocasek, Baltimore, MD

Album: This Side of Paradise, 1986

Notes: Simple, uncomplicated, first-class melodic pop-rock from former Cars lead mechanic. The group reformed last year releasing their seventh studio album and undertaking a short tour - but their comeback fizzled out.

Song: Into The Fire

Artist: Foy Vance, N. Ireland

Album: Melrose EP, 2012

Notes: Sweet, understated gem by the Belfast tunesmith who's like a falsetto version of Ray Lamontagne. Performed alongside Pete Townshend and Snow Patrol and released a bunch of worthwhile EPs and one album since 2005.

Song: Clone

Artist: Metric, Canada

Album: Synthetica

Notes: One of several first-rate electro-rock numbers on the fifth album by Canadian combo fronted by Emily Haines, who recently said to Spin magazine that their new release was 'about forcing yourself to confront what you see in the mirror when you finally stand still long enough to catch a reflection.'

Song: Wake Up Everybody

Artist: Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, Philadelphia

Album: Wake Up Everybody

Notes: An old-school slice of impeccable Philly soul with a fine message for society. Harold was the original band founder and leader, but the voice and focal point of his group was the mighty Teddy Pendergrass - who was originally their drummer. Both passed away too soon.

Song: Mourning Dove

Artist: Green Pitch, Denmark

Album: Awake, 2011

Notes: A soft acoustic diamond by an intensely tuneful four-piece acoustic group from Copenhagen. Super-cute video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdo1IhdZI3E.

Song: Straight From The Heart

Artist: Richard Marx, Chicago

Album: Days in Avalon, 2000

Notes: Sweet and simple, a terrific lost gem by the king of the bouffant '80s hair style and signature ballad hits. Marx was very enlightening in discussing his song craft on an excellent PBS series called 'Songwriters In The Round' a few years ago.

Song: Aubrey

Artist: Bread, Los Angeles

Album: Guitar Man, 1972

Notes: A mournful tale about unrequited love, written and sung by the great David Gates for his legendary, melodic West Coast combo, Bread.

Song: Family Man

Artist: Roachford, England

Album: Roachford, 1988

Notes: Long forgotten R&B rock corker from little-known British singer, Andrew Roachford who stepped in as a vocalist for Mike & The Mechanics a couple of living years ago.

Song: Open Up Your Arms

Artist: Ren Harvieu, England

Album: Through The Night, 2012

Notes: Neat juxtaposition of contemporary lyrics with a soaring, vintage orchestral arrangement which wraps around her glorious vocal. Originally discovered on myspace.com, glorious maiden album by new English chanteuse.

Song: Rocketship

Artist: Jules Larson, Los Angeles

Album: Let's Stay Young, 2012

Notes: Another terrific ballad by the Los Angeles-based indie-pop songstress. She's taken the solo road over the past couple of years having previously fronted the Overnight Lows. More at www.juleslarson.com.

Song: Soul Drifter

Artist: Lindsey Buckingham, Palo Alto, CA

Album: Out of the Cradle, 1992

Notes: Too good for prime time, the unmistakable guitar genius and vocal inflections of Fleetwood Mac stalwart. Look for a reunion with Nicks and the Mac next year.

Song: All You Need Is Love

Artist: Nada Surf/Beatles, New York/UK

Album: Not available, 2006

Notes: Rare but extremely faithful update by Nada Surf of the Beatles classic, neatly segued into the iconic original by the Fab Four.